Five Evergreen Ferns For Your Greenhouse

Winter is rolling in, even as autumn goes splashing its colors around

. The changing seasons make greenhouses more and more attractive. And this year, for your winter displays, youll need ferns. Ferns are the design element that holds all arrangements togetherthats why florists are so fond of them.

So which ferns will thrive under glass? My friend Judith Jones, the owner of Fancy Fronds in Goldbar, WA, is my go-to source for all things fern. I caught up with her by phone, on her way to the San Francisco Airport to meet Martin Rickard, English author of The Plantfinders Guide to Garden Ferns. They were planning to spend time examining ferns in the wilds of Oregons Siskiyou Mountains. These fern folks have way too much fun.

Practical Tips for Beautiful Results

Judith first gave me some general information. Fernsand most house plants in generaldo best in cool (40 to 50 degrees) situations. Wintertimes progressively lower light levels and shorter days signal most plants to stop growing. However if theres too much warmth and humidity, they wont rest. The resultant growth is often too soft. So keep your plants on the cool side.

Circulate air throughout your greenhouse. This lowers the humiditya good thing (less fungi) in cool housesand allows plants to dry off. Judith says that this drying toughens the plant cuticle, making them more resistant to diseases.

And heres the aesthetic bonus. With air movement, Judith advises, you can place your plants closer together for fuller and more beautiful displays.

Five Fabulous Ferns

Use evergreen ferns with substantial waxy foliage. Choose several of the same kind for design impact.

Dwarf holly fern (Cyrtomium caryotedium) grows 12- to 15-inch light green fronds with serrated edges.

Harts tongue fern (Asplenium [or Phyllitis] scolopendrium) shows off upright strappy frondsan excellent contrast to the lacier ferns. An unusual form, A.s. Undulatum, puts out wavy edging that spirals around the central stipe.

Lace fern (Microlepia strigosa) has 3-foot arching frilly fronds that add the touch of the exotic to any arrangement.

Tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum) has dark green lustrous fronds, to 2 feet tall. Best known for its springtime golden bristles.

Australian tree fern (Cyathea [or Sphaeropteris] cooperi) has 10-foot arching fronds and a woody trunkalthough avoid the scales which can cause skin irritation. High, wide and handsome for the larger greenhouse.

by: Mary Kate Mackey

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