Ferns Forum

Thanks for the picture, I just love it. I GOOGLED the plant and from what I read it says that it will withstand the heat and humidity here on the east coast of the U.S. I really would like to order one from this provider.
http://www.fancyfronds.com/store/getdisweed.cfm?ItemID=120

Hooray...a new fern!!!
Pati

WOW !! I posted before I saw the full plant....that is just spectacular!
Pati

Pat the reference on that site said it was rather slow, not in my experience, I bought it as a small plant and it bulked up quite quickly.

LOL Wallaby1.....EVERYTHING here grows faster. I always get too greedy in my shade garden and it's already overgrown....and it's only May! But there's always room for one more!
Pati

I have had trouble getting some varities going so I decided I would try native this year. I like the idea and why not. The ones that I have had the most luck with are the ones I brought home from our cabin in Northern MN.

zenpotter..........and you have pictures to share?
Pati

Pati, They are in there, but it is a bit early for them to be very big. I don't have any from last year or a least can't find any.

Pauline

What a lovely picture! I especially like the shells and of course anything pink always catches my heart. I look forward to seeing more pictures as they grow.
Pati

Pati, The bleeding heart are one of my favorites. My purple tulips are old enough that I didn't get many this year so I will need to add new ones in the fall. The columbine is going to start blooming any day now. I am glad you like the shells, I make them myself out of clay.


Pauline

Lovely Pauline, I like the drooping ends of the fern, great combination! Do you know what the fern is?

Pati I took a side on view today of the P aculeatum, it still has some to go but gives an impression of the size. Also got a good top view if you want it!

wallaby, sorry I went out to check the fern and the tag is gone. I do have to find a better system of labeling I keep loosing them.

I can't find a reference to P aculeatum that shows what zone it grows in does any one know?

If you look at Pati's fancyfronds link above it says z 4,5,6,7,8.

So far I have remembered the names, but now I am putting them on the computer I'm giving them names, there comes a point where other things take over!

Thank you, too bad I didn't look back sorry about that.

i would be interested in having a forum. Linda

Wallaby1 I would love to have a top view. That fern is sure turning out to be a "gotta'-have!
Pati

OK here it is, still got some growing to do, it has a lovely vase shape

Close up of the pinnae

wallaby1, that last picture pushed me over the edge and I went back to Fancy Fronds to order. According to what they said, in nature this fern grows alone so I ordered one. WRONG...their minimum order is $20.00. So, I'll look over the other ferns they have to offer and see what I can do about meeting the minimum.

Ferns here are so "iffy". Since I live in the south I thought a Southern Wood Fern would be a good addition. I nursed the poor straggly thing for almost a year and suddenly last month it sprang to life. I still don't know what made it take a notion to grow, but it's lovely now.
Pati

Here's some Tree Ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) I took a pic of yesterday.

Pati I'm sure you will find some to go with it! This fern has never shown any distress, even in the hottest of weather, hot being in 2004 2 months with no rain and up to 33C, and its at the base of a huge tree, albeit a built up bed the tree roots do grow up anything, even into pots. If you get no joy, I think I have a self set growing in a pot somewhere.

growin those tree ferns must be in a sheltered spot, is it under semi cover? Oh, by the way, Happy Birthday!

The tree ferns are beautiful. What is the coldest zone they can be in? I sure would like some.
My autumn fern are showing signs of life, sending up some small fronds (is that what they are called?).
My shade gardens are filling in, I just love them. Marie

I couldn't resist posting this photo of my maidenhair (adiantum pedatum) unfurling. The trillium tagged along when I dug up the fern from the cottage about six years ago. I give away about a third of this fern every other year: it's a tough plant and very happy in this spot!

Thanks wallaby, yes they are in an open-air, glass roof entrance to an apartment. I have seen snow drift in right to the edge of the planter.

MyRee, they are Zone 8a/b but need a very protected moist place in your climate. If you can find a constantly moist and humid spot and provide mister, they'd do ok.

TIME FOR ACTION ........ I think perhaps you all need to get the word out to all the people who might like a Fern Forum asking them to post here.

Please post on related forums requesting they post here if they are interested.

Judy

Zone 8b, Southeast, TX
Today I added two more ferns to my fern dale:
Lacy Rabbit's Foot Fern 'Plumosa' (Davallia fejeensis)

Southern Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum).
I plan to put a pond in my fern dale for extra moisture as ferns like this environment.

Keep the good news coming fern fanatics. LOL :)

Sudie, have you thought of using a fogger-head on a timer? It can significantly increase the humidity and you can run it in the middle of the night.

I'd most likely read the forum, but I don't know much about ferns... But I think it would be valuable to have a forum for them.

Diann

I'd also be interested in a Ferns and allies forum.

I really do love ferns,,,,,,,Hate to admit it, but I was at my Dad's in Northern MN and loved the ferns in the woods,,,,so, I dug some out and brought them home. Planted them where I wanted them and they were absolutely perfect for about 2 years.

After that they were like weeds,,,they came up all over the place. I dug them all out except for the original ones. 2 years later,,,dug All of them out,,,(that was about 4 or 5 years ago) or so I thought,,,I still get a stragler here and there. I planted them by the side of the garage so they could do whatever they wanted,,,now, the things Won't spread!

I've been scared of Ferns ever since. Marie has told me not all Ferns pop up everywhere, some stay in their little clump,,,,but I'm still scared,,LOL

So, Yes,,,,I would Love a Fern Forum so I could be enlightened.

Kelly

I would be interested in this here fern forum.

I had ordered three ostrich plume ferns from Springhill, they did not look to good in the bareroot arrival but planted them anyway. THEY grew, very hardy I must say. I am in 8b zone and have begun planning a shade to partial shade walk-about garden and wanted to add tropicals and natives, hostas and ferns and such to it for a serenity factor/addition to my backyard.

Any ideas as to what I can plant next to the ostrich plume ferns. I noticed the bleeding hearts in the above post. Great Idea. I am up for suggestions (limited budget... please try to remember) and could you provide pictures, they really bring the while idea and concept together. the walk-about is a work in progress, so i am willing to try new ideas. I haven't put anything inthe ground yet, still trying gather materials for the design and landscape.

Ideas?

calvin

This message was edited May 20, 2006 3:57 PM

nivlac,
Give those Ostrich ferns room to grow. If they are happy they will take off and in few years you will be giving then away/transplanting them. Keep them moist in the summer, the more sun - the taller they will get and the more moisture they need. They do not like to be watered from the top. The vase shape will spread out from the weight of the water and doesn't spring back. So we put down a soaker hose a few years back and when we need to water we just hook it up. If they don't get enough water they may go domant early, but will be fine and come back the next year.One of my favorites. Ours get a bit of high noon light and get about 5' tall. We have Hosta and around them and we are forever digging out the running ones. Love em!
Shady

thanks Shady.

Not quite sure as to what hostas I have. I keep trying to remember to look them up but always get side tracked. I know I have multiple varieties, they were also part of the purchase as a shady hosta garden collection. They too are doing great.

calvin

Friday I planted 2 more hosta, 2 sword fern, 2 meadowsweet and some astilbe in my shade garden. I planted 3 elephant ears and several dinner plate dahlias for sun. Tomorrow out goes all my greenhouse plants. Still rather hampered by sore healing shoulders, gardening is part of my therapy. I am going to increase my north side shade garden from a straight walkway to a winding one. I can't wait to plant more of my favorite shade plants. Marie

Just had to show my ghost fern, I don't know if there are two plants or just the one, I planted one. I love it though.

Finally able to put my ostrich ferns in the ground. placed rocks around my shade tree and filled it with compost about 7 inches worth and a light cover of mulch-pine.

before putting the ferns in the ground one of them fell over. I don't know why?

I thought that if I got it in the ground it would perk back up and stand striaght like the rest. Well, that did'nt work. the other 2 ferns are doing great and the one that fell over just shotup another leaf from under the compost. I hope the new home is rewarding to them and the other plants.

the ostrich on the bottomleft is the one that fell over.

another look at the raised bed..............

another thought............. just to add to cov=nversation.
It is not really a fern but anyone know anything about the fern leafed bleeding heart. It would be a real treasure in my shade garden.

The pics above is only about 1/4 of the actual shade garden to be. I have to work in stages due to work and family demands.

take care everyone,

calvin

Wow how did you do those pots??Good idea I'd like to try those..!!

nivlac, that is a neat bed! Don't worry about the fern that fell over, they look to be quite young and often do that when they haven't got a large heart. The weight of the fern frond can do it, perhaps if you pack a bit more soil around it, keeping it below the heart that may help. Keep it watered until it has it's roots in well too.

Some info on Dicentra eximia

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/components/7566-23.html

Demstratt,

I took rebar and hammered it into the ground. bought the pots and placed the first one upside down with the rebar through the center hole. This is the base, I used one size smaller than the pots used for the plants. then placed each pot at a tilt. It may seem a little unstable but with a little postioning and dirt and and all the weight really adds to the stability.

hope you are ab;e to try it. I posted the instructions a little more detailed in another thread but can't remamber where it was...... more than likely it was somewhere in the Texas Gardening forum. If I can find it I will edit this post.

calvin

wallaby1,

thanks for the sp. name

running low on time and laptop power got to go.

Know where I gan gain possession of one of this bleeding hearts?

calvin