Planting Fern in pot

Details
Foliage as fine as a feather, which brings to mind the softness of undergrowth. There is nothing like a Fern in a pot to brighten up a shady spot!

A return to favour
Ferns have been used since the 19th century. At this Victorian period, there was a real passion for these plants, the « ptéridomanie, or Fern madness ». Nowadays, one appreciates again their lightness and their natural, beautiful greenery in total accordance with today's natural way of gardening. In pots, they enhance other plants, whether flowering or with decorative foliage. It's really simple: It is impossible to fail an association of plant with Ferns as they go well with everything!

Humidity and humus
Ferns are plants which like humidity, even though there are a few exceptions. In pots, one has to make sure to give them some summer heat, at the hottest time. If the Fern is thirsty, it can go into rest while waiting for better days, but it will lose its foliage. All of them cannot withstand it. These ‘living feathers' do not like also to have their roots soak in water. Avoid letting the saucer full of water for more than half a day after watering. This is the only requirement of Ferns. Well watered, they live a long time, without asking for a lot of looking after.

Planting
Chose a pot which is big enough to give them enough water' reserve to face up to watering by fit and starts. If you do not have a lot of space, plant them at the bottom of a plant, in a big pot. They are not sensitive to the roots' concurrence of other plants and content themselves with very few nutritive elements.

Steps by steps
1 Remove the plant from its cultured pot.
2 Place it in a large pot of at least 20 cm in diameter.
3 Fill the pot with a humus enriched compost.
4 Pat and tamp slightly with your fingers.
5 Water straightaway, until the soil reaches saturation point.
6 Place the pot amongst other plants grown for their decorative foliage.

Care
A Fern does not ask for much care, apart from regular watering. Cut the dead leaves at the end of winter, to make space for the young leaves which are going to appear. Be moderate with adding in fertilizer: Ferns are rather sober. Add a little compost rather than risking burning them with too much fertilizer. Ferns once established in their pot like tranquillity!
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