Four seasons ferns | The Press

Cultivated for ages as houseplants, some species of ferns are now taking summer vacations outdoors. Garden centers now offer them as annuals for the terrace, balcony or flower bed, but they can also overwinter at home. Presentation of some summer vacationers.

Pierre Gingras
special cooperation

An exceptional “Macho”

Boston ferns are among the most popular in homes, which is probably why garden centers offer them as summer annuals. Moreover, in 2013, the “Macho” variety was among the award-winning plants of the Quebec promotional program Les Exceptionnelles. Because “Macho”, larger than the original Boston, has panache. Its rapid growth is appreciated by annual lovers who do not want to wait all summer for their plant to grow. Its dark green arching fronds reach around 45cm in height, but the plant can easily spread 60-90cm. Other interesting characteristics, it can withstand the sun, especially if it is in the ground, and will survive if it ever lacks water for a little while. As she likes the heat, she will also appreciate your winter interior. Its rapid growth requires that it must be transplanted from time to time in a larger pot to ensure all the desired comfort.

A little disheveled

Nephrolipis exaltata “Fluffy Ruffles” is aptly named: it is all disheveled, which gives it a certain charm. Very furnished, its dark green fronds seem crumpled, hardly exceed 45 cm in height and are rather erect. It does not tolerate direct sun very well and requires constant humidity, like most ferns. Indoors, “Fluffy Ruffles” will be happy if the ambient temperature does not exceed 20°C in a well-lit and airy environment. My specimen, which spent almost six months outdoors last year, is currently doing wonderfully without any special maintenance.

A miniature shrub

Blechnum “Silver Lady” is a miniature shrub fern whose fronds are reminiscent of large feathers with sometimes silver highlights. Dark green, they are fleshy, erect and can reach 90 cm in height. In cultivation, they rarely form the typical trunk of the species in its native New Zealand lands. Easy to care for, “Silver Lady” likes heat, but not the sun. Please note: it is not resistant to hard water (hard water).

Small green tornado and bird’s nest

In the smaller formats, here are the asplenium “Hurricane” and the Boston fern “Pom Pom”, whose name alludes, it seems, to the pompom waved by the cheerleaders. Let’s just say she’s cute as hell. Easy to care for, the plant forms a small, soft, rounded and compact clump of about twenty centimeters in height. Aspleniums are part of the “bird’s nest” ferns because of the structure of the plant. Much like a tornado, the glossy leaves of the ‘Hurricane’ cultivar curve to the right. The plant grows slowly, hence its rather high price.

Shade and humidity

The reason the horticulture industry sells ferns as annuals is that they secretly want the plants to end up in the compost come fall and for you to buy new ones the following year. Still, most will brighten up your indoor winter and summer again with some proper care.

With the exception of the ‘Macho’ variety, which thrives in the sun, the plants should be placed in a lightly shaded spot during the summer. We water when the surface of the soil is dry, but by completely bathing the plant and eliminating any residual water that may accumulate in the saucer under the pot. In hot, dry weather, watering is closely monitored. Fronds that turn yellow or dry out usually indicate a water supply problem. You can fertilize from time to time with an organic fertilizer, about two or three times during the summer.

The ferns should come home as soon as the weather turns cooler in September. They must then be placed far from a heat source, in a well ventilated and cool place where the light is bright, near a window to the north or northeast, for example. In winter, beware of excessive watering. Good ambient humidity will be encouraged by placing the plant on the surface of pebbles partially bathed in water.