General Fern Culture
SOIL: ?? potting soil, ?? Canadian peat, add
crush pine bark, shredded cypress mulch,
lots of coarse vermiculite, coarse
builder's sand, oak leaves, pine needles and saw dust.
WATER: Only when the soil is dry two
inches deep. Add enough water so the excess
water runs off. This is called (leaching)
washing the soil of the salt build up.
SUNLIGHT: At least fifty percent filtered
sunlight is required. Less sun - the plant's
new growth is very slow. More sunlight the
plant can be burned, and also, the plant will
require more frequent fertilizing.
FERTILIZER: Use half of the recommended amount of the fertilizer. You
can burn the roots and also the foliage will appear
crispy brown on the edges. The excess salts in the inorganic fertilizer
will burn. You can kill the plant.
DOUBLE POTTING FOR HUMIDITY: Do not mist the plant to produce the
necessary humidity. Place gravel in a larger
container to raise the container the plant is in to the surface of the
larger container. Place the plant's container on the gravel. Line
the area between the containers with sphagnum moss, coarse vermiculite
and charcoal. Keep the sphagnum moss damp at all
times. Only water the soil of the plant when dry two inches deep. Leach
the soil when watering the plant.
LIME: the maiden hairs, pteris, pellaea (Button), Doryopteris pdedata
(Band fern), Birds nest and Asplenium (Mother's fern)
require lime water every time the soil is dry. The lime mixture water is
two tablespoons of powdered dolomite per quart of
water. The other ferns require the lime water mixture once a month. The
tree ferns do not require the lime.
Please, do not over water, as this is the big problem of growing ferns
and other plants. A plant somewhat on the dry side will
survive longer than a wet one. The plant will add magnificent beauty to
your home and the enjoyment you will receive will be a
hundred fold.
There are several good sources of fern culture available for fern
growers who are interested:
International Tropical Fern Society
Manatee County Fern Society (Chapter)
Bonnie Christensen wrote:
