CHAPTER III 



Resting Ferns 



Under natural conditions most Ferns have a period of 

 rest, and under cultivation it is an absolute necessity 

 with some. Taking the Gleichenias, if they are kept 

 too warm during the early part of the winter they may 

 continue to grow for a time, but when the time comes 

 for them to make their growth naturally, they will fail. 

 The beautiful Pteris scaberula is sure to fail if kept warm 

 through the early part of the winter. Most Adiantums 

 if given a period of rest will start away with more 

 vigour. Where grown for cutting from, some may be 

 dried off early in the autumn and restarted in time to 

 make good fronds for winter use, and these plants 

 may be kept in heat. Yet it is those which are rested 

 from early in the autumn until January or February 

 and then restarted which make the most satisfactory 

 growth. It is surprising how quickly they will make 

 new fronds. Very little water should be given until they 

 are well started ; they may then have liquid manure. 



I have found that the ordinary Pterises will, if rested, 

 make better plants than those kept in heat through the 

 Winter. It is the same with Cyrtomiums. And I believe 

 that many of our choicest Ferns have been lost through 

 giving too much warmth during the early part of the 

 Winter. I have also found that with our hardy British 

 Ferns, that when grown in pots they are considerably 

 weakened if kept warm enough to make new fronds in 

 the Autumn. The secret is that they exhaust the 



16 



