Some ferns are sensitive to being covered with water, even for a few minutes. In fact, too much light through a window can actually burn the plant’s foliage. Several common white insects infest ferns. Contact your local UGA Extension office to find out how our team of county agents can assist you. Soil Mix: One-third potting soil, one-third peat moss, one-third sand, gravel and charcoal (in equal parts).
White oil is safe and the most effective way to treat scale on most things. They congregate in sheltered corners of the plant and suck the sap. Some of 17 or more selections or named varieties are grown today. Some indoor gardeners add charcoal chips to the gravel.
With this in mind, keep them away from southern facing windows. Introduce natural predatory insects that kill the whiteflies to control the population. Forced air and steam heat tend to dry the air and reduce the humidity below the point where ferns can survive. Water only when dry and do not feed. Without a fairly high level of air moisture, most ferns will be unattractive and unhealthy. There are several ways to overcome dry air.
If you do this, remove the plants as soon as they are soaked, usually when the bubbling stops. For best results, replace the gravel periodically or wash it thoroughly at three-month intervals or as algae, etc., start to develop in the water or on the gravel. Shift it to the next pot or divide it. Woodlanders, Inc.: 1128 Colleton Ave., Aiken, SC 29801, (803) 648-7522. To treat a mealybug infestation, use a systemic insecticide on your ferns or a soil-drench insecticide if the mealybugs are around the root area.
To know when to water ferns and all other plants, you must develop a sense of feel of the soil. Before usong a pesticide read the lable carefully. When ferns are grown outdoors during summer, they should be located in the cooler areas of the garden, usually in deep shade or on the north side of the house or a garden structure. Soil Mix: One-third garden or potting soil, one-third peat moss, one-third sand. Always maintain the water level just below the surface of the gravel so the bottom of the pot won't be standing in water. The main requirements after dividing are to water the roots and new soil thoroughly and to provide a humid atmosphere by misting the first few weeks. This eliminates disease problems. Check the fern variety section for specific mixtures for different types of ferns. Growing ferns inside your home is a real challenge. Is Castillo soap solution ok on vegetables? Pull the root ball apart so you can spread the roots outward to the edges of the pot.
They may be white or brown, depending upon the insect. You may injure your skin and eyes if you handle the solution improperly. Soil Mix: Use a mixture of peat moss, oak leaves, chopped sphagnum moss between flat frond and wood slab. The basics of growing ferns in the landscape are the same as growing them in pots. Usually, for maidenhair, a tablespoon of ground limestone is added per gallon of mixture. After you clean old pots or soak new ones, put gravel or broken crockery in the bottom. They are also safer for the plants. You can add humidifiers to your home heating system or buy a self-contained electric humidifier. They are well drained because of different components like coarse sand, gravel and charcoal. However, for a wide range of them, you can expect to water fairly heavily, particularly during the growing season.
Light Requirements: Low or subdued light at all times except during winter when bright light is needed due to dark cloudy days. Remember that some ferns grow rapidly, while others are extremely slow. The most common pests that appear as white insects on ferns include mealybugs, fern scales, thrips and whiteflies.
If you want to kill the plant's root system within several days, saltwater is a natural, highly effective option. Comments: Most unusual of fern family, strictly epiphytic growing in crevices or on trunks of trees. Fronds on tiny wiry stipes. Mist plants daily during heating season. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC. Comments: Good for beginners. This gives the transplants plenty of time to regenerate roots. Other months keep out of direct sun. Light Requirements: Low to medium light. -The moisture and light categories give the range of conditions in which the species generally occur, indicated by the "x". In time, you will learn the growth characteristics of the ferns you enjoy. Newer selections such as plumosus and sprengeri may be easily grown from seed. Ferns have relatively few pest problems. Good for beginners because of ease of culture. Mealy bugs are soft and appear to be covered with a white, mealy or downy substance. Grows rapidly.
The male fern scale insects are white, tiny, double-winged and gnat-like, according to the University of Minnesota. Any person that uses the translated site does so at that person’s own risk.
Winter Care. The males are only 1 mm long and have white armor with three ridges. Beautiful effects of shadows and light because of texture on pinnae. Bulletin Most indoor ferns are separated into several pieces by root division.
In mixing and handling the bleach solution, exercise caution. You might see a sticky, clear liquid called honeydew on the fern fronds.
Soil Mix: One-half peat moss, one-fourth potting soil, and one-fourth of an equal parts mixture of sand, charcoal, manure. Sanitation is important in keeping down diseases. Keep moist April to September.
It is most like one of the main ingredients of the soils where many ferns naturally grow.
A better approach is to plant the fern in a clay pot and set inside the decorative container. If you use a mix with charcoal, you might try chips from aquarium supply stores. Denatured alcohol is an effective agent for control of two particularly troublesome pests, scale insects and mealy bugs. For large plants, need to report and shift to larger pots twice per year. The reproduction of ferns from spores is different from other plants because there is an in-between stem (asexual stage). Never expose ferns to full sun in summer. Use regular fish emulsion.
Reaches maximum size in one year. Relevance. Humidity is one of the most limiting factors in fern culture. Other times of year, water only when dry.
Most other pests of ferns are larva stages of insects, and in certain types of years can do quite a lot of damage (use malathion).
Keep moist at all times. Scale insects are likely to occur along the veins on the underside of the fronds. Potting new plants is relatively simple.
Locate in shade during spring, summer and fall.
Grateful appreciation is expressed to Rodney Coleman for assistance in the preparation of this publication. Noted for dark shiny green leathery foliage.
I dropped a bar of ivory soap in a gallon of water and left it until it all de-solved. 'Verona,' a dwarf three pinnae form of Boston, is an example of those best adapted to indoor culture.
Wash it occasionally with warm water and a soft brush.
Fern Growers Manual. Growing mediums vary considerably for the many types of indoor ferns. Upright growth seldom over 8" to 12". Recent updates, initiatives and programs from UGA Extension. Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) are a versatile plant that can be incorporated into your landscape in a variety of ways. For more than a century, we've provided research and education through a
Many types and selections of Nephrolepis are available.
Many selections such as 'Excelsum,' 'Goldelese,' 'Ideal,' 'Kensington Gem,' 'Matador' and 'Maximum.'. Light Requirements: Two hours of indirect sun in winter, early a.m. or late afternoon. Timber Press, Portland, OR. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, University of Florida: Boston Fern Production Guide, University of California: Whiteflies Management Guidelines, University of California: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes. Brush alcohol on them and wipe off the insects... For a larger problem or oudoor ferns, Malathion.
|, An Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution, County and Club Meetings, Environmental Education, Livestock Programs, Project Achievement, Summer Camp, Aquaculture, Beef, Bees, Dairy, Equine, Small Ruminants, Poultry & Eggs, Swine, Invasive Species, Pollution Prevention, Forestry, Water & Drought, Weather & Climate, Wildlife, Adult & Family Development, Infant, Child and Teen Development, Money, Housing & Home Environment, Corn, Cotton, Forages, Hemp, Peanuts, Small Grains, Soybeans, Tobacco, Turfgrass, Food Preservation, Commercial & Home Food Safety, Food Science & Manufacturing, Nutrition and Health, Blueberries, Grapes, Ornamental Horticulture, Onions, Peaches, Pecans, Small Fruits, Vegetables, Home Gardens, Lawn Care, Ornamentals, Landscaping, Animal Diseases and Parasites, Ants, Termites, Lice, and Other Pests, Nuisance Animals, Plant Pest and Disease Management, Weeds. The individual spore is extremely small and germinates into a flat leaf-like body called a prothallium.
No fertilizer is needed for fall transplants. Northern window ideal. Light Requirements: Avoid direct sun but strive for high light. Control thrips with pesticides labeled for the specific insect. Add charcoal — 1 pint to a gallon of soil mixture.