Green & Growing

Ferns have been grown Household ferns may indoors since Victorian be the well-known times. And ferns grow out- Boston fern, the doors in cool and shady Staghorn fern or one of places often next to hostas. the less common varietFern fossils indicate they ies. The staghorn fern are of some of the earliest has fronds which are plants that evolved. much wider and resemThe Ostrich fern Matteuccia struthiopteris is native to this area and has the characteristic fiddlehead form in the spring. This shape unfolds as the plant grows with the spiral unrolling (so to speak) and becoming the top of the frond. It grows four to six feet tall and is a perennial. ble moose antlers. These and other varieties provide an interesting contrast to the form of other indoor plants. The Boston fern acquired its name because it was shipped there from the sub-tropics and became a popular houseplant. This variety in particular wants humidity and would grow well in a

The Japanese Painted fern Athyrium bathroom with indirect light. This niponicum, originally from Asia, will plant is also said to be a good air purialso grow outdoors in this area. Its sil- fier removing toxins from the air.very fronds and low growth habit makes it appealing to gardeners. It needs consistent watering and mild winters to survive. Ferns are unusual because they grow from spores dropped from the parent plants instead of from actual seeds. A simplified explanation is that

Outdoor ferns grow on the shady the adult plants drop both male and and cooler sides of buildings or in the female spores which mate and prodeeper shade of woodland areas. duce new plants. The spores appear as small dots on the bottom or back sides

GREEN AND GROWING By Linda G. Tenneson

of the fern fronds. Houseplant ferns are propagated by divisions made from existing plants.

Houseplant ferns are native to the tropics and prefer a cool temperature and high humidity. A daytime temperature of 72 F or lower and a nighttime temperature of 60 degrees is preferable. A humidity level of 40 to 50 percent is best for ferns; although a 30 percent humidity may be tolerated.

Humidity around a plant may be increased by placing the container on tops of rocks which would elevate it in a larger container that has a few inches of water in it. Do not allow the water to reach the bottom of the pot with the fern. Check the water periodically to wash out any algae which may have formed on the rocks. Misting ferns early in the morning is another way to increase the humidity around them.

Ruffled or fluffy ferns, those with dense foliage, are sensitive to too much water on their fronds. Ferns with broader or thicker leaves may need to be misted daily in the winter. Ferns like moisture, but not standing water. Use care not to over-water — especially in the winter. Potting soil with perlite or a similar substance will increase drainage.

Check the website extension.umn. edu/houseplants/tropical-ferns for indoor fern culture. These websites provide detailed information on both indoor and outdoor ferns: extension. uga.edu/publications/detail. html?number=B737 and u.osu.edu/ eeob3320/category/ferns/.

Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v

Variety crop trial results available

The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences have published the 2022 Minnesota Field Crop Trials. Visit varietytrials.umn.edu/2022 to see variety trials for nine different Minnesota crops.

Crops included in this year’s trial include barley, canola, corn grain, corn silage, oat, soybean, spring wheat, winter rye and winter wheat. Due to a delay in processing data, a full report for winter wheat will be available in mid-December.

This article was submitted by University of Minnesota. v

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