Asparagus Fern Question

I moved a big pot inside and it is turning yellow and shedding and putting out new shoots at the same time. What's going on? Is it just shock or am I watering too much or not enough? I don't do "house plants" very well! Any ideas? Doris

Doris: I have had the same problem with Asparagus Ferns in the past. Mine would have yellowing and falling needles from being too dry. I don't have any in pots anymore. I have some HUGE ones that are in the ground. They are invasive down here and will take over. They are MONSTERS! I love the looks of them, beautiful plants, but I hate those thorns! We sometimes in the winter have frost and occasionally a hard freeze .... mine get frozen but it doesn't kill them! We had some in the front yard that my husband tried to pull out with his truck and it broke the ropes!! They get massive root sturctures! Good luck with your potted ferns .... I'm sure someone here on DG will be able to give you some advise on keeping them though the winter.

Lin

Doris, I will second Lin. When dry they will shed. I wonder too if the change in lighting is causing some of this. Did you move them in to provide protection or for "green" in the house? They will probably do fine outdoors if you leave them in a sheltered area and cover or frosty nights. Mine stay out all year with only a cover on really bad nights. They bloom and put on red seed pods. I have also had volunteer plants from the seed. And yes, again I agree with Lin. I HATE the thorns!

Thanks for your responses. I had to leave the computer last night and just got to check back. I think you are right about the water and light. This is the first large one I've grown . I didn't know they had thorns 'til a while back when I accidently found them! I'm careful now! I really wanted it in the house for the "green" and I'm sure it would die back here if I left it out. For example, it's supposed to be in the teens by morning and predicted to be below freezing for 15 hours straight. I'm not good at covering and uncovering. I work away from home leaving in the dark in the morning and coming home in the dark in the afternoon. I will try to get more water to it and hope it adjusts. Thanks again -doris

Boy I understand the working away and coming home in the dark. Makes you want lots of green in the house. Good luck! pod

It's looking better. I'm watering more. Maybe there's hope. Thanks & Merry Christmas! -doris

Doris: I think a lot of people do grow these indoors as houseplants, it probably is just adjusting to the location change from outside to in! Good Luck and keep us posted on how it fares indoors over the winter!

Lin

Try putting the fern in your shower and giving it a good dosing, letting it drain before you remove it.

I have one in a container that I've had for over 30 years. It started out as a houseplant but now it spends it's summers outdoors and it's winters rest in my unheated grow-shed under lights.
My experience is they really dislike heated homes in the winter. Home heating is dry heat, they need more humidity and cooler tempts then they can get in a home during the winter.
When I grew mine indoors, it would start yellowing and losing it's leaves as soon the heaters were turned on. Sense I started wintering it over in an unheated but above freezing environment, it keeps it's leaves and looks beautiful all winter. Also, I don't water it as much as I do in the summer. It can rot the roots if they're kept too damp while the plant is resting.
Your plant won't die from this. But unless you can find a cooler place for it in the winter it will continue to shed it's leaves and make a mess. Once it's warm enough outside to turn your heaters off, your asparagus will stay green again.

Joy

I have five huge ones that I bring in every winter. I keep them in a barely warm place and water them very little. Mine look lush, however they do throw out those huge, gangley, long things..I end up cutting them off in the spring.

Those long things will eventually grow leaves up and down them.

They can be beautiful house plants if you can give them what they need. Mostly it’s the humidity. If it’s not too hard to move take it into the bathroom when you shower. If it's too big you can just mist it. You can put a larger tray under it and fill that with stones and water sit your plant on top of it and make sure you always have water in the lower tray.Don't let the plant sit in the water you'll rot the roots. Is it hanging over or near your heat source. I know someone who brought in a beautiful planter and sat it on a table right in front of their window which was also right over the hot air vent they never even gave it a thought until the plants started dying.

It's looking better but I'm sure it is warmer than it likes to be and the lack of humidity is a problem too. I'll keep you all informed. Thanks again. Doris

Never tried to grow one indoors; is it hard to separate a section of one of my pots to try in the office?

speckle,

Nothing to separating a section.
Just tip it out of the pot, and use a butcher knife and cut what ever size section you want, and repot it.

If you're not familiar with the root system, be prepared to be shocked. Should be a massive bunch of radish like bulbous roots. Just whack away whatever you want- won't hurt it any.

Enjoy,
Deanna

Thanks; I think I'll try to put one in my office.

Will fluorescent lights do, anyone have pros/cons with those?


Regards,
David

Be careful of the thorns. They were my biggest problem. I planted a couple of very small asparagus ferns in the corners of my window boxes they got huge. In the fall I took them out and divided them into several pots that's when I was painfully reminded that they have thorns. Holly

David,

Flourescent lights are fine- but, remember-for them to count as an actual light source for your a.fern, they need to be no further from your plant than 12-18 inches.

Deanna