29/01/2023
Ferns .. is a large family of plants, from tiny ground clinging plants to giant fern trees.
Climate...
Most of them grow in moist, shady, warm climate. These types are the ones which are largely grown in home gardens.
So let's talk about them ..
Soil
porous, light, full of humus.
In fact only home compost made from rich biodiverse greens and Browns
Or
Only leaf compost / leaf mold
Make excellent growing medium for ferns.
Container -
Any container with wideouth and shallow depth..
Soil depth.. 6 to 8 inches with broad surface area is ideal to grow ferns.
Moreover, their fibrous roots start growing all over from all directions if they find suitable escapes. And then these roots grow succurs whichgriw into new plants.
Therefore hanging baskets with wide mouth and 6 to 8 inch radius make excellent containers to grow common ferns. The ferns grow like balls in hanging baskets as you see in them in my garden.
Light and water
They do not like direct sunlight...
Remember where do you see ferns in the nature? .. under trees,
On shady slopes!
So grow them exactly like this.. under trees, in semi shade, in East direction where only morning sun comes or in green net.
They love moisture... So bathe them liberally every evening. Particularly in summer.. bathe them twice a day if required. Keep their growing medium moist, akways.. like their natural habitat of spring side humus.
Multiplying and Repotting ..
Ferns multiply from roots. So take out that extra hanging root knot and plant it separately.. begin a new ferm pot.
Ferns over grow quickly if they get all the above mentioned needs fulfilled.. so they need reporting every 2 years.
In hanging baskets when they percolate from the bottom side which they do over 3,4 years, i cut the basket and replant the entire root ball in a bigger basket... So my baskets start getting bigger and bigger.. 8inch, 10, 12, 14..
How to layer baskets
Select metal wired baskets
Line them with coi liner
Fill in lightest soil that you have.. our *Bhoomija* soil has been giving this signature success for years.
..and plant fern.
The coir pot and our Bhoomija soil create that humus layer the ferns need.
