I'm pleased that my ostrich fern has made it through it's second winter, I
was worried about it.
It must be in the perfect spot because not only has it survived but there at
least 7 "pups" popping up around it.
How to separate and pot them up is the question for tonight. There would
never be enough room for that many fern plants in that spot! I can think of
family and neighbors to give them to but I don't know when to try removing
them.
I've heard that the perennials "sleep, creep and leap". Well this is the
ostrich fern's year to creep. If it has this many babies now, what is it
going to do in the "leap" phase next year?
Everybody, back up! Here come da fern. Here come da fern.
jo
nj
I think now is the right time, Jo.
karen, nj
at
> least 7 "pups" popping up around it.
> How to separate and pot them up is the question for tonight. There would
> never be enough room for that many fern plants in that spot! I can think
of
Your ostrich fern must be happy! They spread by extending their
rhizomes, at the tip of which grows a new plant. Now, just as they
are thinking about waking up is the best time to separate and move
one. Just dig around it - a few inches away from it. Keep your eye
out for the connecting rhizome - it won't be far under the soil - and
cut it with your clippers.
If you are planning on giving these away to people who might not
plant them right away, you might want to pot them up so they can keep
right on growing until they are planted. Or, if they will be planted
immediately (or within a few hours), put the soil ball in a plastic
grocery bag.
You want to take as nice a ball of soil as you can - they are not
terribly deep rooted - so the roots don't dry out.
When replanted, make sure they are kept moist - this fern actually
likes to grow in bogs, so it likes a lot of water.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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> From: riley
> I'm pleased that my ostrich fern has made it through it's second
winter, I
> was worried about it.
> It must be in the perfect spot because not only has it survived but
there at
> least 7 "pups" popping up around it.
> How to separate and pot them up is the question for tonight. There
would
> never be enough room for that many fern plants in that spot! I can
think of
> family and neighbors to give them to but I don't know when to try
removing
> them.
> I've heard that the perennials "sleep, creep and leap". Well this
is the
> ostrich fern's year to creep. If it has this many babies now, what
is it
Marge have you ever seen these under a black walnut tree? Just curious
before I try planting some in the tick heaven place to experiment. TIA
Barbara M. Martin
"Population Explosion" Mid-Atlantic Garden Report:
http://nationalgardening.com/regional/report13.html
Now at Cottage Garden: "April Fools"
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/253/99518
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I planted the fern where my AC pipe drips pretty constantly all summer and
on the north side of the house so it doesn't dry out from the hot sun.
Seems to have worked pretty well! :)
jo
nj
fern actually
Hello Jo,
You really got it right when you planted your ostrich fern... sounds
completely happy. That is what they do when happy... colonize the area. the
off sets are coming from underground runners. Simply cut the runners and dig
up the newer plants you want to separate and move. They will not object.
Pot up or roll in damp newspaper until you can locate a new home....
Gene E. Bush
Munchkin Nursery & Gardens, llc
www.munchkinnursery.com
genebush@munchkinnursery.com
Zone 6/5 Southern Indiana
at
> least 7 "pups" popping up around it.
> How to separate and pot them up is the question for tonight. There would
> never be enough room for that many fern plants in that spot! I can think
of
I had a feeling that now might be right because they are small enough to
handle but I wasn't sure. Thanks, Karen.
jo
nj
Now seems to be a good time to move a few other plants, too. I have dwarf
astilbes that can't be seen where they are, just looks like a pile of
greenery. I wish I could remember what I planted in the wrong place last
year, it's supposed to need bog conditions, too, so It should do well in the
same area. I know the plant just can't remember it's name. Since we painted
this room I can't find a thing!
jo
nj
the
> off sets are coming from underground runners. Simply cut the runners and
dig
> From: Barbara Martin
> Marge have you ever seen these under a black walnut tree? Just
curious
> before I try planting some in the tick heaven place to experiment.
TIA
----------
No, I haven't. I have mine under a dogwood (Cornus florida) and a
Bloodgood maple and they suffer in summer drought...been hanging on
for many years tho' but they go dormant early. Have no clue if they
react to juglone but I expect they would be much happier without tree
root competition:-)
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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> From: riley
> I planted the fern where my AC pipe drips pretty constantly all
summer and
> on the north side of the house so it doesn't dry out from the hot
sun.
> Seems to have worked pretty well! :)
----------
No wonder your ferns seem happy; that sounds a perfect spot. Was
just reading 'Ferns for American Gardens' and the new plants are
actually connected to a stolon, not a rhizome, but the author
confirmed that you just dig up the pups and cut the connection to the
mother plant. Said the babies will have enough roots to grow on
with.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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I've had my ostrich fern bunches of years (lived here 10 years). They don't
spread that fast, IMHO, even when established. And they are VERY hardy.
Never lost any to winter.
Sue, Zone 6a
Shade/ Rock/ Water/ White Gardening
One is nearer to God in a garden than anywhere else on Earth
at
> least 7 "pups" popping up around it.
> How to separate and pot them up is the question for tonight. There would
> never be enough room for that many fern plants in that spot! I can think
of
> I'm pleased that my ostrich fern has made it through it's second winter, I
> was worried about it.
> It must be in the perfect spot because not only has it survived but there
> at least 7 "pups" popping up around it.
Congratulation with the success :-)
I love this fern too - but I am so lucky to live where it is growing wild
and is one of the most common ferns - but that does not make it less
attractive. So I started to plant it in my garden and then people started
to give comments about how nice it looks - and since I use to say my place
is a wild garden as well I think they do not find it strange - I love the
way it looks when it starts growing
Hosta is other nice shade companion plants for this spot of north side of
your house
- and of course Astilbe as well. I once transplanted some old Astilbe plat
my parents had planted on a dry border and they use to be very small -
after I planted them in a new more shady place and more wet and clay soil
they grow amazingly maybe 3 times taller!
Arnhild
They might be happier but the only relatively moist good rich bottomland
soil I have is in wet oak woods and under a black walnut. :) It is down hill
by a seasonal stream and there is a swale there that keeps things moister
longer, it is also a relatively cooler danker low spot. Tick heaven in other
words. I want to grow some ferns but in my garden they go dormant in
midsummer when it stops raining. I have a lonely christmas fern that's been
hanging on for years and years and some painted fern that has survived
several years in pots.... not quite the effect I am after. A neighbor gave
me some ostrich fern., it goes dormant by about the end of June but keeps
spreading anyway. bleck
lol never say never
Barbara M. Martin
"Population Explosion" Mid-Atlantic Garden Report:
http://nationalgardening.com/regional/report13.html
Now at Cottage Garden: "April Fools"
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/253/99518
My Bonsai Potato Photos http://www.suite101.com/topic_page.cfm/253/3890
Well, Barbara, since Gene is growing one under a walnut and that's
where it's moist in your garden, I say go for it! Want some more
Xmas ferns? Email me privately if so.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Barbara Martin
> They might be happier but the only relatively moist good rich
bottomland
> soil I have is in wet oak woods and under a black walnut. :) It is
down hill
> by a seasonal stream and there is a swale there that keeps things
moister
> longer, it is also a relatively cooler danker low spot. Tick heaven
in other
> words. I want to grow some ferns but in my garden they go dormant
in
> midsummer when it stops raining. I have a lonely christmas fern
that's been
> hanging on for years and years and some painted fern that has
survived
> several years in pots.... not quite the effect I am after. A
neighbor gave
> me some ostrich fern., it goes dormant by about the end of June but
keeps
Marge.. thanks for saying they go dormant early "cause that confirms to me
that I have Ostrich Fern... does like to spread!!! Marge Mac
> From: Marge Macdonald
> Marge.. thanks for saying they go dormant early "cause that
confirms to me
> that I have Ostrich Fern... does like to spread!!! Marge Mac
----------
You're welcome, Marge. Matter of fact, was just reading up on them
in John Mickel's fern book and he says they really don't like the
heat in the south, which is one reason they go dormant early. I
expect they'd last longer in a bog but can't prove that:-)
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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