Wednesday, February 24, 2010

What's Growing In Emily's Garden: Staghorn Ferns


Hello, I am Emily, your weekend garden girl at Dig. I will be popping into the blog now and again to be sharing some of my own plants with you. I will also be keeping you up to date on my garden, which will be coming to life again very soon! I hope you enjoy my offerings!

I will begin with Fern. Yes, her name is Fern, and yes, I name my plants although not very creatively. Fern is a staghorn fern, Platycerium. Staghorn ferns are very unique looking, with two different types of fronds. Basal fronds, which grow to be a brown papery looking protective layer for the root system, and fertile fronds, which are green horn-like fronds that grow up and out of the protective layer, giving this plant its common name.

Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, a type of plant that prefers to grow above ground deriving nutrients from the air, dust, or whatever it has attached itself to. Like many young staghorn ferns that you find in nurseries, mine was originally planted in soil. Just recently I mounted it onto a wooden frame with some older staghorns that were in need of some love and attention. To mount your fern, just put sphagnum or peat moss between the mount and the basal fronds, using floral wire to attach and support it.

I would like to think that Fern is enjoying her new mounted home with a couple of friends. Perhaps the older staghorns will enjoy her company as well, I will keep you updated. Stay tuned to find out what else is going on in my garden! Until next time, cross your fingers for spring to come soon!




1 comment:

  1. Garden Shop growing my own food is what originally got me interested in gardening.

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