The Care of House Ferns

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 6

The Care of House Ferns

Some people are not very successful with their house fern's because they do not attend to a few simple rules. These are very easily learned and. once acquired, they become a habit. Some ferns require a certain amount of sunshine and others none at all. “Sword” ferns and the asparagus sprengeri need only a small amount, while the asparagus plumosus, or table fern, requires none. Correct watering is a great - thing. The natural habitat of a fern is a cool, damp, shady place, and it is necessary for the fern to receive water through its leaves as well as through its roots. It is a mistake to water a fern a little at frequent intervals. THOROUGH SOAKING It should have a thorough soaking once or twice a week by placing the plant in the kitchen sink or in a petrel tin of water from three to five minutes, at the same time sprinkling the fronds thoroughly with an old brush. After that, allow the pot to drain before placing it back in its howl. Often plants are allowed to stand with stale water In the bottom of the bowl; this causes root rot and early death. In extremely dry localities, two thorough soaldngs a week and a daily sprinkling of the foliage will produce splendid results. To ascertain if the fern needs watering, press ihe soil with your Auger; if it is moist, it does not need more water. It is best to let the soil get quite dry between regular soakings, but do not let it remain so too long'. Letting it go dry for a brief period keeps the plant sweet by permitting the passage of fresh air through the surface soil.

Next study the soil requirements. The best kind is the very old leaf mould which is found beneath large trees. If this is not available, take any fairly rich soil and mix it with sand, to prevent it packing or becoming hard. If the soil is too rich the plant is over-stimulated, with the result that the fronds grow long and lanky or turn brown. RIGHT KIND OF POT The right kind of pot is essential. If you take one too large the young plant develops too many roots, with the result that it cannot throw up new fronds. On the other hand, too small a pot will cause your fern to become pot bound. You can judge the right size by gently turning the plant out of the pot; if the roots are thickly matted, if needs repotting. If the fern is young it will require re-potting every nine months: but if old, in the largest-sized pot, all it needs is to have the soil freshened every half year. The best way to do this is to take a little of the old soil from the top and replace it with new

No woman who really sews ever finds her work-basket big enough to hold all she requires, but there is a most sensible new basket-work one which is of an attractive shape. Closed it is like a high, round linen basket on short feet. Open it consists of four round sections, the first and third sections swinging out to the side and making a double affair of if, with all parts open at once, and the whole made extra steady by reason of the increased width.