Indoor Ferneries for Winter— By G. a. Woolson v««« 



HOW TO MAKE FERN GROTTOES AND WARDIAN CASES— SPECIES THAT WILL STAND THE 

 RADIATOR HEAT OF OUR LIVING ROOMS, AND HOW TO SELECT THEM— WHY OTHERS FAIL 



nr^HE dry heat of our homes in winter is 

 -*- not at all favorable for the growth of 

 native ferns, which by right should rest at 

 least four or five months of the year. A few 

 species, however, break the natural order of 

 things and may be kept growing indoors with 

 fairly good results. 



The cheerful little polypody is always 

 pleasant to look upon. It is astonishing 

 how this rock-clinging species holds its 

 own in any situation. It is especially at- 



The dwarf sword fern (Nephrolepis cordata, var. com- 

 pacts) takes up less room than the Boston fern and sur- 

 passes it in brilliancy of coloring, but is more delicate 



tractive grown in birch-bark baskets accom- 

 panied by herb robert, with its happily 

 contrasting foliage. 



As an all-round fern the ebony spleenwort 

 {Asplenium platyneuron) takes prominent 

 rank. My plant was taken from the pine 

 woods in July, and a year later had not 

 materially changed. The only noticeable 

 difference is the loss of one or two of the 

 old fertile fronds and a profusion of new 

 sterile ones clustering about the base. 



THE SECRET OF SUCCESS 



The secret of success in this indoor cultiva- 

 tion is the simulation of natural environment 

 of the root growth. Thin bits of limestone 

 or other rock must be placed against the fern 

 roots, and moss and earth enough added to 

 hold them in place. This is the one impera- 

 tive demand of the ebony spleenwort. I 

 have never taken up a specimen whose roots 

 were not resting on or against or tucked 

 under a stone of some sort. Aspleniums 

 as a rule are limestone-loving ferns, but the 

 ebony spleenwort is sometimes found on 

 certain slate formations. 



An unusually fine plant of the dainty 

 maidenhair spleenwort {Asplenium Tricho- 

 manes) has been growing for years like an 



ordinary potted plant. The natural habitat 

 is much the same as that of the ebony spleen- 

 wort, but I have seen fine plants luxuriating 

 in deep leaf mold, which accounts for the 

 success of the specimen in question. 



THE PREFERENCE OF THE WALKING FERN 



The walking leaf {Camptosorus rliizophyl- 

 lus) prefers a rocky foothold, but grows re- 

 markably well indoors with an apology of 

 mineral matter beneath its roots. It is an 

 exceptionally interesting fern because of its 

 unique habit of growth. Spores are not 

 only wafted hither and thither by fitful 

 winds, but the long, tapering fronds rooting 

 at the apices throw up other progressive 

 plants. This is the tramp of the fern 

 family — the sole member of the group that 

 literally walks a crack in the rock. The 

 root growth of the walking leaf seems to be 

 a matter of circumstance, for the species 

 thrives equally well in the outdoor world, with 

 much or little nether development. 



For cultural purposes full-sized specimens 

 growing in thin moss are to be avoided; they 

 can be made to grow indoors 

 or outside, but it saves time 

 to select plants from earth- 

 filled crevices or from thick 

 sheets often found on the top 

 or at the base of rocks. 



The staying qualities of 

 the fronds are unpreceden- 

 ted. I have in mind one 

 remarkably fine specimen 

 with adherent plantlets, all 

 carefully taken up and prop- 

 erly placed on the platter 

 with moss. New growth ap- 

 peared, other fronds rooted 

 at the apices, but the original 

 fronds were in good condition 

 for two years. A few weeks 

 only of this time were spent 

 in the cellar for enforced rest. 



A FERN THAT WITHSTANDS 

 THE RADIATOR HEAT 



Strange as it may seem, 

 the purple cliff brake {Pellcea 

 atropurpurea), which often 

 hangs from an almost in- 

 visible seam on the face of a 

 perpendicular cliff, subjected 

 to intense heat in summer 

 and all the bitterness of a 

 bleak New England winter, 

 is a first-class fern for indoor 

 winter culture. It is a rapid 

 grower, flourishing but a few 

 feet from a coal fire or ra- 

 diator, in a north or south 

 window. It quickly forgives 

 neglect, and, if allowed to 

 dry up out of doors or in- 

 doors, recovers when brought 

 276 



into a moist atmosphere. It makes but one 

 imperative demand, and that is the privilege 

 of standing still. Over-zealous culturists 

 usually like to turn things around, but re- 

 volving cliffs are not in the natural order 

 of things. The slender black stipes are 

 very susceptible to change of light, and 

 warped and twisted fronds result. 



All the above ferns hold their freshness 

 under adverse circumstances, but rarely send 

 out new growth until February. 



In acclimating ferns taken indoors in late 

 fall or early winter, avoid, as far as possible, 

 a rapid transition from a cold atmosphere 

 outside to c-r-heat inside. A gradual rise 

 of temperature will insure the best results. 



Screens are very useful in shutting off 

 heat. An occasional showering keeps the 

 foliage healthful. Over-watering is always 

 disastrous. 



Native ferns indoors are subject to the 

 ordinary plant pests, chief of which are green 

 aphis and slugs. Confined fumes of tobacco 

 will answer for the one and whale-oil soap 

 suds for the other 



Where the dry, heated air of ordinary living rooms is injurious to 

 the more delicate ferns they may be grown in a Wardian case. The 

 dwarf sword fern, hart's tongue, bladder fern and braKe are seen here 



