Ferns are very popular and there is a wide range of beautiful plants. Ferns are grown for their beautiful foliage and their gracefulness. Most of our house ferns are natives of the tropics. Some are a lot more hardy than others. Some are easily grown while others are more difficult, but they can be grown if given the right care and potted in the correct soil.
Ferns as a general rule want a soil that is acid. Oak leaf mold is the ideal condition. A good potting medium is two thirds oak leaf mold and one third good loam, with a little sand and a little well rotted fertilizer. This is a basic potting soil and it varies a little with certain species. Many people prefer a potting soil of one third leaf mold, one third peat moss and one third loam, with a little sand and a little well rotted fertilizer. The there are other would go the easy route and buy a bagged potting mix. Either one proves very satisfactory. Maidenhair ferns are an exception and they do not like an acid condition. It is best to use a leaf mold or a compost with no acid condition for these plants.
Watering Ferns
Watering is an important factor in order to have beautiful ferns. Very few ferns want overhead watering. Most ferns will turn brown if they are watered upon their foliage. Ferns should be kept very clean and a good spray to prevent pests should be used at regular intervals. Spraying with this insecticide will keep your ferns clean and keep them healthy. I like organic natural control like with neem oil insecticide.
Ferns want to be kept moist at all times with the exception of a few that have a rest period and these should be watered lighter at this time. Most homes do not have the proper moist atmosphere that ferns like. Some people boil water and the steam brings about a good humidity. The roots should never be allowed to become dry. Clay pots are great for growing containers but plastic pots work well too. A pot dries out very fast and then lets the roots around the edges of the pot to become dry.
Fertilizing Ferns
Feeding ferns is very important. There are many commercial liquid fertilizers on the market and they are exceptionally fine for feeding ferns. In using liquid fertilizer never use it on dry soil. For feeding ferns use it in a weak solution and use it every two or three weeks. You will have much better results if you use this often and weak than to use it seldom and use it strong. Blood meal is very good for ferns. It promotes nice color and this is something you want. Use about a teaspoonful once every six to eight weeks. Never use at the same time you use liquid fertilizer but use it in place of one of these feedings and be sure to let a week elapse before and after feeding. Sprinkle this around the edge of your pot. In watering it will penetrate to the roots. It is never wise to work around the soil of your potted ferns as they have many tiny surface feeding roots.
If you should live in a district that has alkaline water, growing ferns will be difficult. Many people use rain water for their ferns.
Sunlight and Ferns
Most house ferns do not want full sun. It is best to give them a well lighted position than to give them sun. If you have a good light window set your fern back where it will not get the sun but will get good light.
Ferns In Hanging Baskets
Ferns grown in hanging baskets are very beautiful and showy. Use ferns that have creeping roots for this purpose. They love to creep in the damp moss that you use to line your basket with. When watering these baskets be sure to use a very slow stream of water or you will wash the soil out through the wire. A certain amount of this soil is washed out even with a light stream and you should replace this soil ever so often. Use the same potting mixture and place a light layer on the top of your basket. Potted plants loose a small amount as some washes through the drainage hole and this should be replaced. Never cover the crown of your fern and if there are fuzzy creeping rhizomes never cover these. Upon potting your ferns it is wise to pot them at the same level that they were previously potted. A fern covered too deep will never grow.
Polypodium Knightii is an exotic fern to grow in a hanging basket. It is good for six to eight years in the same hanging basket. It is considered one of the most beautiful basket ferns. Polypodium Aureum (Golden Polypodium) is a very novel fern. There are creeping fuzzy rhizomes and these will creep over the basket. It is a very easy fern and a fast grower. The foliage is very novel. There are long stems and on these stems there are leathery leaves and it is winged in appearance. There is an abundance of raised yellow fruit dots and this is where the name was taken from. This is also known as the Haree’s Foot Fern, because of the fuzzy rhizomes taking on. a foot appearance. Polypodium Mandianum (Bear’s Paw Fern) is a curious species. The lower pinnae are sterile, broad and pointed; the upper ones fertile, contracted and recurved, suggesting open claws, and covered with bright yellow soil. This is one fern that prefers to be grown in peat alone. It can also be grown in a hollowed log, being sure to give enough room for the surface fuzzy rhizomes to spread. This will give you a new way to grow a fern. They are very showy and are easy to grow this way. If you are fortunate to live near a desert where Mesquite or other odd plants grow these branches or stumps make very novel logs. In roaming the woods or mountains you will run across old tree logs that are very picturesque. These can be easily hollowed out and the peat moss placed in here and your fern planted. Some of the Maidenhair ferns love to grow this way. If you can find a log that is flat or one that can easily be flattened on one side and the to part hollowed out this can be hung up against a wall.
A very novel and unique fern is Platycerium (Staghorn Fern) and is the hardiest of all rare ferns. It can be grown in a hanging basket but is best grown fastened to a log or charred wood. It may also be grown on cork. It is given straight peat moss or leaf mold or the two combined. There is very little root stock: This is one fern that must only be watered when the leaves begin to droop and the watering is then a thorough syringing of the leaves. It must be given plenty of indirect light. The foliage is very broad and uniquely forking fronds. The fertile fronds are winged almost to the root stock, spreading into fan shaped blades above.. The smaller barren fronds are almost round.
Drynaria Heracleum (Fish-Tail Fern) is an odd exotic fern for .potting. .The fronds split and fork at the base and resemble a fish tail. Davallia Canariensis (Rabbit’s Foot Fern) is another novel fern for pot culture. The rhizomes are covered with pale brown scales, which creep down and overhang the pot. This looks like the rabbit’s feet are clasping the edge of the pot. This species should be watered sparingly in rest periods. Davallia Fijiensis has graceful drooping fronds that are very feathery. This species must be _watered sparingly during rest periods. Onychium Japonicum (Carrot Fern or Japanese Claw Fern) is a delicate, fennel – like fern. Pot loosely and keep the crown well above the surface, and keep the fronds free from direct water.
There are two rare ferns that grow’ more like a tree. The fronds are very beautiful and the fern is an attractive potted specimen. It will grow quite rapid and is a bold. outstanding fern. Dicksonia Antarctica and Alsophila Australis are known as The Australian Tree Ferns.
There are a great many more exotic ferns and a collection of well cared for ferns is something to be very proud of, and is worth more than the work and effort given these. The foliage is very restful and the luxuriant beauty gives a wealth of pleasure.
