Ferns of one kind or another can be grown in practically every situation in the modern home except perhaps in the sunniest windows. This is because, in their native habitats, most ferns grow in dense shade.
The choice of ferns suitable for the home is somewhat restricted, however, by the fact that some of them require high humidity during their periods of active growth while others thrive only in cool climates, both of which are absent in the hot, dry atmosphere of the modern living room.
Success in Ferns
To succeed with ferns in the home, a careful study of the needs of individual species is most important.
Your success with them will depend to a large extent upon your selection of the fern or ferns that will thrive under the particular set of conditions you can give them.
In experimental work on house plants at the University of New Hampshire, five widely different ferns were tried in private homes.
From most to least successful under all home conditions, the five ferns ranked as follows:
- Davallia canariensis, the rabbit’s foot fern
- Cyrtomium falcatum, the house holly-fern
- Nephrolepis exaltata, including numerous Boston fern varieties
- Pteris ensiformis, the variegated table fern
- Adiantum cuneatum, the maidenhair fern (least successful)
Davallia Canariensis
Preliminary trials with Davallia canariensis showed its high adaptability to home and office conditions. Only half a dozen plants were tried in the most difficult situations, and all succeeded.
The davallia is tolerant of heat, dry air, and neglect, although, of course, good care is rewarded by better plants.
It will also tolerate a sunny window, but it is most valuable in poor light and away from windows. At best, however, this plant is inclined to be rather straggly in appearance.
It’s a green plant with fine-textured foliage, of easy culture, slow growth, and especially interesting because of the “rabbit’s feet” stem ends which clamp over the edge of the pot or plant container. These stem ends may be detached and rooted in the sand to give new plants.
House Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum, the house holly fern, is another fern of easy culture. It is coarser in texture and larger at maturity. The foliage is shiny and dark green unless the plant is grown in strong sunlight.
Holly ferns in small wooden tubs are especially well adapted for use in large reading rooms or public places with good indirect light.
They can stand high or low temperatures in the home, but to be at their best, they must always have abundant soil moisture.
Cyrtomium is propagated from spores produced in regularly spaced spore cases on the underside of mature fronds or leaves.
The spores are like dust and so must be started in soil that is kept uniformly moist. Since this is slow and tedious, purchasing small plants from the local florist or a ten-cent store is generally preferable.
Boston Ferns
Of 22 plants of the Boston fern grown in homes for as long as 17 months, six of them were not satisfactory.
These failures were due almost entirely to drying coupled, in half the cases, with too much sun. The accompanying table shows that satisfactory plants can be grown in all locations.
That- there was a greater percentage of failures in sunny windows means only that more careful attention is needed in such locations since the plants dry out faster.
Another point indicated in the table and emphasized by the actual plants is that the Boston fern needs some sun to be at its best.
Although there were no failures with plants kept away from windows, none grew as fine specimens as those that received some sun or at least good north light.
Propagation
Boston ferns will stand 70° degrees Fahrenheit or slightly higher night and day. They will tolerate some drying but thrive on adequate soil moisture.
Like all ferns, they should be fed occasionally to keep them growing and the foliage dark green and healthy.
Propagation is usually done by division at the repotting time, though these ferns produce runners that may be detached and rooted to give new plants. Except for their appearance, the runners are not detrimental to the parent plant.
Table Fern
The green-leaved pteris or table fern is often used as a filler in pans of poinsettias. After the poinsettia dies, the ferns may be kept as a houseplant.
A variegated form, Pteris ensiformis victoriae, is more popular, although it is more difficult to grow in the home.
Of 21 plants grown in homes during the experiments mentioned, only three were classed as very satisfactory, two as satisfactory, and 16 as not satisfactory. Neglect and lack of light were the principal causes of these failures.
All the five successful plants either received some, though not full, sun, or else they were in good indirect light.
Of the 16 unsuccessful plants, nine received no sun at all, and three were grown part of the time in sunny windows.
Evidently, “table fern” is not a very suitable name for this fern, for good light seems to be its prime need. However, if other conditions are right, one or two hours of sun, or very good indirect light, should be sufficient.
Maidenhair Ferns
The maidenhair proved the most difficult of the ferns tried in the New Hampshire experiments.
Since maidenhair thrives in moist woodlands and dense shade, it is not well adapted to modern homes.
The few successful plants were grown in light north windows with no direct sun. Room temperatures of 65° degrees Fahrenheit or less day and night are desirable. Maidenhair will grow best in a room with no direct heat or as far away from radiators as possible.
Maidenhair ferns have a distinct rest period during which the tops may die completely, or new fronds may start up as the old ones die.
Fronds mature and ripen continually and are replaced by new ones if the plant is in the correct environment.
A cool location, adequate soil moisture, and good indirect light will give you your best chance of success with the maidenhair fern.
Ferns as Houseplants
There are countless other ferns occasionally used as house plants. Some of the aspleniums produce small plantlets along the leaves.
The “asparagus ferns,” seed-bearing plants, are more tolerant of sunlight and drying than most true ferns.
The bird’s nest and stag-horn ferns are more desirable in conservatories than homes; they are odd and interesting, but they require higher humidity than can be given them in home conditions. Many ferns, such as ciboriums, grow too large for home use.
Control Pests
The principal insect pests that attack ferns are the scale of various types and mealybug, control of which was discussed in “Decorate Your Home With Foliage Plants” in the October Flower Grower.
The spore cases on the underside of mature fronds should not, however, be mistaken for insects. They are the natural means of reproduction of many true ferns.
Soil Mixtures
Soil mixtures for ferns should be made up mostly of rotted organic matter. A mixture of two-thirds leaf mold and one-third compost is satisfactory.
Well-rotted and leached cow manure may be substituted for the leaf mold, or some peat moss may be added if your water and soil are alkaline.
Do Not Put Them Outdoors
During summer, ferns are at their best in north windows or on shaded porches. It’s a mistake to put them outdoors for a rest unless you give them a shady place and water them regularly.
It’s far better to take advantage of the more humid conditions of summer to build up a healthy fern that can stand the dry atmosphere and poor light of the home in winter.
44659 by W. D. Holley