Growing Ferns
A Few Simple Tips For Growing Ferns
If you are a plant lover or gardener, you may find that growing ferns can be a bit of a challenge. It's not at all like growing beans, or squash, or sunflowers, none of which are particularly difficult to work with. A fern on the other hand, can be a little picky in choosing the surroundings it will flourish in. As a general rule, when you are growing ferns, the environment needs to be very close to the environment the fern evolved in.
The fern requires a constant supply of moisture, both from the soil and from the air. Not only is a proper regimen of watering the plant necessary, but a proper degree of humidity is not only necessary, but essential. Most ferns live in the shade. A few types can tolerate direct sunlight for short periods, most types cannot. When growing ferns, you need to be aware that they prefer a rather constant climate, and a climate similar to that where they evolved. In that sense, ferns are a bit fragile, and to some extent, homebodies. Many types of fern come from tropical regions, and cannot tolerate frost. Certain tree ferns, such as found in Australia and New Zealand, are more hardy, as is the Sword fern, found on coastal areas of the United States and Canada.
Also, ferns will generally not propagate when grown under conditions that differ in climate from their native habitats. Sword ferns for example, may propagate in a garden setting in the Pacific Northwest or northern California, where they are at home. Other ferns, planted in the same garden, may not.
While the exact composition of a growing medium needed for a healthy plant may vary a bit from type to type, you generally can't go too far wrong by following a few simple rules. Ferns grow best in a medium which is well drained, yet will at the same time hold sufficient moisture. These two requirements may seem to be at polar opposites, but a mixture containing peat moss, sphagnum moss, or other organic materials, will normally satisfy both of these needs. You can buy premixed growing compounds, especially prepared for ferns, in many nurseries. Or you can try mixing you own. Buying premixed growing compounds is probably the easiest approach, if you're planning on growing ferns indoors in containers. Besides the moisture-retaining mosses, a good mixed growing medium should include sand and/or limestone, along with high quality garden soil. Charcoal and manure can be added, for improved drainage and added nutrients.
Different types of ferns can be radically different in appearance, from the characteristics of the fronds, to differences in height, width, and shades of coloring. If you live in a moderate climate, a fern garden may be something worth trying. If you can find a spot out of direct sunlight, and one where temperatures do not dip below freezing at any time of the year, you can probably plant several varieties, sharing common environmental requirements. If you do have periods of frost in the fall, even just one or two incidents, you'll need to remove the ferns from the garden, put them in containers, and keep them indoors, until it's safe to put them out again.
Ferns are for the most part pest and disease resistant. The best way to ensure having healthy plants is to check them carefully when you're purchasing them, and don't bring any home that have any signs of insect life or disease. Ferns do not tolerate most insecticides, and often the plant must be discarded if an infestation is evident. Scale and mealy bugs are the most common pests you are likely to encounter.
The biggest challenge you will probably encounter, will be maintaining a proper level of humidity. If you can get that right, or even close, you have a good chance of successfully growing ferns.