Ferns range in size from the tiniest button fern to the large Boston fern, and all of them are good indoor growers. Interestingly, the plants have been around for more than 300 million years; only algae and mosses are older.
Foliage plants such as ferns generally have long life spans and do well in partially shaded rooms. You can group them together in one pot, or plant them individually. The important thing is to keep the soil moist and humidity high.
- asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus, considered a "fake fern")
- bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
- Boston fern (a cultivar of sword fern, Nephrolepis exaltata cv. Bostoniensis )
- button fern (Pellaea rotundifolia)
- hare's foot fern
- leather-leaf fern
- maidenhair fern (Adiantum)
- rabbit's foot fern
- sword fern (Nephrolepis)
- staghorn fern (an epiphyte)
How to propagate a fern:
Ferns reproduce by way of spores--small, brownish regularly arranged dots or lines on the bottom side of mature fronds. Often mistaken for bugs, the spores, in nature, are carried by the wind and then start to grow on moist ground.
Propagating ferns yourself takes some patience, but it can be done. Brush spores from the underside of a mature frond into an envelope or paper bag. Let the spores dry for a couple of weeks. Next, sterilize a plastic pot by dipping it in boiling water. Fill the pot with seed-starting soil and spread the spores thinly on top. Cover the pot with plastic wrap and place it in a shady spot. After several weeks, a mossy mat will grow. Keep the pot covered. The mat of green that you see is actually tiny plants that make male and female cells. After several more weeks, new ferns will emerge. When they're two to three inches high, transplant them into individual pots.
Guests Terry Rennolds
Owner, Little Eden Plantscaping
15550 W. 72nd Ave.
Arvada, CO 80007
Phone: 303-422-3336
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