| Houseplant
Cultural
information: All members of the Asparagus family
are quite easy to grow. They are actually related to the Asparagus
spears we buy at the grocery store. Florist use Foxtail Fern as a
filler green in flower arrangements.
Keep your "Foxtail Fern" in
any sunny location and it will be happy. The brighter the light
the better. Foxtail Fern can also be kept out doors in full sun
when grown in containers or beds.
Check Foxtail Fern for water weekly.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. A mature pot bound Foxtail Fern
can consume quite a bit of water so it may be necessary to water
the plant two or three times. Remove any water from the drip tray
that has not been absorbed by the plant within 24 hours.
Feed monthly with Peter's Houseplant Food if the Foxtail Fern
is actively growing. Bi-monthly if inactive.
Foxtail Fern grows from tubers below the soil line. Tubers are
kind of like a small dirty white bulb. To propagate a Foxtail Fern
remove the plant from its pot and break or cut the tubers into the
desired number of plants you wish to end up with. Re-pot each
tuber clump using a good quality potting soil. Water thoroughly
and within a couple of months you'll have several happy Foxtail
Ferns.
Common houseplant pests include: In the 35 years I've worked
with this plant I don't ever recall seeing one with insect
problems.
Asparagus ferns are readily available in the spring, but
difficult to find during the winter. "Bottle Brush
Ferns" are usually available in 6" or 8"
containers. |
