Monday 18 July 2011

Ferns in Pots.



Will ferns grow in pots?

A friend was recently selling his lovely old farmhouse following a personal tragedy, and I asked if I could have a piece of a particularly attractive fern that was growing by his barn.


I split the root in two and planted them in these heavy simple terracotta pots, where they have been for the past two years.
They look great (maybe not so in the pic) in the semi-shade outside the poolside exit of my studio, and seem to be flourishing.

But I really have no idea if ferns will survive long-term in pots... maybe you have experience of such things. If so (and you have put ferns into pots yourself) perhaps you would let me know! One can only learn through the wise advice of others.
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16 comments:

  1. Well Cro over here we have ferns in pots and they love it,we do re-pot every few years as some ferns tend to get root bound,but I am a non gardener so perhaps some good gardeners will come up with advice.

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  2. Hello:
    Absolutely without problem. Keep in a semi-shaded position, as you obviously do, and do not allow to dry out completely in summer. Remove, i.e. cut to base level, old fronds as they die off - most likely in winter.

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  3. The Victorians had a thing about ferns. Whole books were devoted to them. The next time I see one, I'll get it for you if you like.

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  4. Goodness Tom, you'll have me turn into a Fern-Fanatic. I don't think I'll be having any more, but very kind of you, dear sir!

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  5. Thank you for that H. That's good news. I would hate for them to die, as they are souvenirs of an old friend.

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  6. I love Ferns of all kinds - they'll grow in pots alright. I've got ferns growing through small gaps in the decking, in cracks in the slabs and self seeding in tiny pots all over the bloomin' place and all are doing fine.

    When you think about some of the natural environments in which they grow (eg rock faces)then as long as they've got plenty of water and in the shade....

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  7. Chris. We have some very nice miniature ferns that grow wild here. They seem to manage OK by themselves.

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  8. I'm a bit of a fernatic too. We planted one in the middle of an old tree stump and it looks great.

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  9. I have a Boston fern in a pot on the patio. Love yours, Cro.

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  10. Do you think any fern experts would say how easy it is to grow new ones from spores?

    Esther

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  11. EM. I've always wanted to try that. It looks and sounds fascinating.

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  12. I've got a fern growing (uninvited) in the soil of my little glass green house. I've tried covering it with black plastic, pulling it up - but it still grows - they're tough little boggers! Growing in pots should be no trouble. I do actually like ferns as long as they grow where they're supposed to!

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  13. Large blousy ferns are a signature of Niagara on the Lake Cro. I have one growing in a hanging pot in my backyard right now. She's as ostentatious as they come.
    Unfortunately, our winters are too harsh for them to survive, so we just replace every spring!

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  14. I am thinking of a lovely light and airy fern leaf imbedded in the top layer of a lighter green almost transluent bar of soap scented with Lily of The Valley Frangrance Oil.

    And that is all I have to say about that :)

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  15. I have a collection of house ferns that stem from a single plant my sister gave me more than thirty years ago....babies & more babies....

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  16. Not only do ferns grow in pots, they positively thrive in them. In fact they are damn near indestructible. Minimal care needed, just do as the H's say above and they'll live forever.

    Donna: I'd buy that!

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