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Ostrich feather Ferns
TropicalDream
Posts: 29
I planted 5 Ostrich feather ferns in a shady spot in spring, but did not realise that under a big tree, they would need lots of watering. They struggled through the summer and are all shriveled and brown.
Do ferns recover next season if watered correctly, or should I cut my losses and buy new ones?
If I plant in the same shady spot under a tree, is there any other issue apart from sufficient watering that I need to take care off for healthy growth?
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I bought some too and they didn't grow but I can still see the crown. I am hoping they will come back next year.
I would lift them and move them to somewhere shady but wetter, or even put them in a big pot and try and revive them that way. better to salvage than to replace.
Should I cut away the burnt fronds? Unlikely that they will green up. Is it a good idea to move them to a pot indoors over winter and see if they revive?
Most ferns and Matteuccia in particular, require a constantly moist environment.
In dry shade, a mulch of leaf-mould, garden compost or similar helps to conserve moisture.
Exposure to wind, causing a drop in humidity and so increasing the rate of water-loss from the fronds, can also be a problem and in windy areas, a wind-break provided by larger shrubs, etc is useful.
There will be no need to move the ferns indoors - they are fully hardy and if they are going to revive, will do so outdoors.
If you move them into containers, just place them somewhere shady and maintain soil moisture.
Occasionally, ferns may be attacked by vine weevil larvae, which eat the roots and cause the top-growth to wilt and turn brown due to lack of water uptake.
Hope this helps.
pbff