Christmas Ferns
I bought some Christmas ferns from an online nursery. Even though they are evergreen, they arrived "dormant," which doesn't make sense to me (but that is beside the point). After I planted them last summer, some of them put out a few fronds. However, none of the ferns grew very large (some of them just a couple of inches). As the fall season set in, two or three of them completely lost their fronds. That being said, several of them are still as green as ever. Does this mean that the ferns that lost all of their fronds died? Also, does anyone have any advice for growing Christmas ferns? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Hello supernnyl. Ken here in the Chicago area. Sorry to hear about
your Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides).
Most ferns like to be in light to heavy shade. They should be
mulched to keep the roots cool and damp.
Ferns like soils high in organic matter. The soil should be well-drained and
not dry out. If the soil is typical Georgia clay, be sure to add organic matter
to help break down the clay and help with drainage. The ph of the soil should
be between 4 and 7.
Ferns are very slow when it comes to new growth after planting. When you
planted them, the tips should have been just above the soil surface.
The ferns that lost their fronds are probably dead but spring will tell.
Remember that the soil should be evenly moist but not sopping wet. Do not
let the soil dry out.
Take care and keep us posted on what happens.
your Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides).
Most ferns like to be in light to heavy shade. They should be
mulched to keep the roots cool and damp.
Ferns like soils high in organic matter. The soil should be well-drained and
not dry out. If the soil is typical Georgia clay, be sure to add organic matter
to help break down the clay and help with drainage. The ph of the soil should
be between 4 and 7.
Ferns are very slow when it comes to new growth after planting. When you
planted them, the tips should have been just above the soil surface.
The ferns that lost their fronds are probably dead but spring will tell.
Remember that the soil should be evenly moist but not sopping wet. Do not
let the soil dry out.
Take care and keep us posted on what happens.