Had the opportunity last week of buying a Blechnum brasiliense 'Volcano' ; travelling from Nottingham via Lincoln we stopped at a local garden centre (!) .
Two of these were on offer , but being a typical GC their lives were hanging on a thread. Bone dry and suffering .
I nearly bought one to nurture it back to good health , but at nearly £80-00 each I decided not to .
Hello fern lovers! I just bought my first fern, an Arachnoides Aristata Variegata. I got it to go in a wall mounted pot in a north facing shady porch.
The pot is a little small but I hope it will be OK. The internal dimensions are 22cm x 13cm, and 17cm high. I was thinking of potting with all purpose compost mixed with some small stones, and lining the pot first with black plastic and putting some holes in the sides, so that moisture stays in the soil more when I water it.
If you have any tips on caring for this fern they would be much appreciated!
Or if you think the fern won't like this pot, then I could put something else in this pot. I do have a peppermint plant I could take a cutting from and try to grow it in the location instead.
Hi @Pink678, that's a lovely fern. See e.g. https://www.alchemyferns.co.uk/product/arachnoides-aristata-variegata/ for more information. (1) though it is classed as being hardy they may require some additional winter protection in cold areas with the help of a heavy mulch to protect the roots. As you have a new-from-nursery plant, it will not be very strong yet, and it does not have a lot of time to develop a strong root system before winter. I would not leave it outside this first winter, but rather in a cool space like a greenhouse.
(2) they are especially when young susceptible to slug and snail damage. This is my experience; I've lost a few of these ferns to exactly that (my garden is a relatively harsh place). Long term your solution of a wall-mounted pot may be good.
(3) I'd make sure the compost has a good loam component.
Thank you @micearguers, I bought it online so didn't know what it would be like, and I was so pleased when I opened the package as it looks very healthy.
I think I will bring it inside then, when the weather gets cold. I have a garage, but maybe even that would be too cold if it's frosty, so maybe I'll bring it indoors over winter.
Very good news that at least the mounted wall pot should protect it from slugs, even though it is a little small.
Thank you very much for the potting soil tip. I had to look up loam as I am very inexperienced in gardening! I have a bag of sand, the type used for sandpits. I also have soil from the garden (better than multipurpose compost I hear), and a bag of some fine stones as shown in this picture.
Can you suggest what kind of % of each I should use, for the potting?
And do you think it's a good idea to line the pot with thick black plastic, for more moisture retention?
Thank you @B3 that's very helpful to know. I'll be careful and bring it in when it gets cold. Do you have any tips on how to care for them? Or it is just a matter of watering them?
Sorry. I'm definitely no expert! But there are others who know ferns. I keep mine in a sheltered patio. Most survive but some don't. My fault probably😐
@Pink678. I am an amateur of course - I've read a lot about ferns and care, and have some experience, but my suggestions are not necessarily spot on. With that caveat, for the medium I would then suggest a mix of garden soil, compost and grit/pebbles. I would forget about the sand, I think it could just contribute a claggy component. Horticultural sand is coarser. I'd go with something that feels nice; something in-between 50/50 or 60/40 soil/compost (well mixed), and then add grit. I generally do a 'scoop' so that's not very helpful. You don't want the weight of the end result to be dominated by the grit. I don't want to cause panic, but garden soil can contain small organisms that could nibble the fern. I don't think it needs to be an issue. Lining with plastic is fine, but I would ensure there is some drainage so there is no risk of the fern sitting in a puddle.
The main thing is the dry-wet cycle (not parched dry). Most plants like a variation of dry/wet, but it varies depending on many factors. In your case, the most important ones are that it's a newly (re)-potted plant and that it's autumn. In autumn plants evaporate less, so they need less water and less frequent watering. As long as the soil feels 'quite moist' the fern would not need watering. In winter it should need no watering or almost no watering, assuming it's not being kept in a heated room with dry atmosphere.
great advice @micearguers, thank you so much. It's really helpful as I really have no experience at all with this. I do also have some very fine sand (for brushing into paving gaps in patio), but I see that would be even less use than the sandpit sand. I will go with the amounts of compost + soil + grit/pebbles that you mentioned. Hmm yes I was wondering about little creatures in garden soil. I guess I will look as I dig it, and then just hope there aren't any microscopic ones with a taste for ferns. Really helpful advice on the watering, I feel more prepared now!
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I do also have some very fine sand (for brushing into paving gaps in patio), but I see that would be even less use than the sandpit sand.
I will go with the amounts of compost + soil + grit/pebbles that you mentioned. Hmm yes I was wondering about little creatures in garden soil. I guess I will look as I dig it, and then just hope there aren't any microscopic ones with a taste for ferns.
Really helpful advice on the watering, I feel more prepared now!