Fun with Ferns

Ferns

Ferns are a lacy, whimsical plant that add visual interest to any room. Their beautiful delicate appearance and easy needs make them an ideal choice to grow indoors. They gained popularity as indoor plants in the Victorian Era and the word “fern” comes from an Anglo-Saxon word (fearn) which means feather. These plants happen to be one of the only plants that do not produce flowers. They produce spores to reproduce. Ferns are native to the tropics and so enjoy high humidity, making them a good option for a bathroom. You can also mist them daily with a spray bottle, and if the humidity levels are not right, you may notice the tips of the fronds turning brown or dying. Another option to increase moisture levels around ferns is to double pot them. Place the potted fern in a larger container that is lined with moist sphagnum moss and be sure to keep the moss moist.

Table of ferns

Depending on the type, ferns can have a variety of sunlight needs. Some like indirect sunlight, some will do fine with dappled or morning sun, and some can handle full sun. Check the tags on your chosen variety to ensure proper conditions. Their soil should stay evenly moist—not too wet and not too dry. When overwatered, their leaves will turn yellow and wilt. Water slowly and evenly until water runs out the bottom of the pot into the saucer. Ferns like light applications of houseplant fertilizer to stay happy and healthy.

Different ferns and plants

Ferns should be repotted every couple years. If your fern starts looking lackluster, rejuvenate it with some outdoor time in the warm months. Place the pot in a shady spot so it can experience the fresh air and rain.

We currently have an incredible selection of ferns so if you want to give this beautiful plant a try, come see us! Our friendly associates can get you set up with everything you need to make your indoor fern a success.

More of the Latest

With Spring being our busiest time down at Garden Supply, it seems impossible to walk the nursery without seeing more new plant arrivals, more goodies in the Greenhouse, and more beautiful blossoms in bloom.  And although the weather has turned a bit cold on us again, there are lots of options for planting right now, including cold-hardy choices and plant protection products.  Come see what we have available, and as always, our experts are on hand with the answers to all your gardening questions. Here are a few of our latest and greatest that caught my eye this week.

Take a look at this very beautiful Lilac Daphne.  It has gorgeous lavander flowers which are not fragrant but make up for it on a bright spring day. This lovely plant would be very showy in your perennial bed.

More choices for the shade garden are arriving, too.  These ferns would be beautiful in your woodland landscape, or in hanging pots from your porch.

And a true gardener's favorite, the tomato plant, is starting to arrive.

These little guys are still going to benefit from a bit of cold-weather protection.  We have just what you need.

These Dalene season starters have been around for years, and owner Keith Ramsey swears by them.  Fill the outer chambers with water and you are set to go.  They protect the plants when overnight temperatures drop below freezing.  Ideal for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons and other vining plants.

We also recomment giving your tomato plants a dose of self-release fertilizer.  You will grow bigger and juicier tomatoes with just one feeding of Dynamite Organic Mater Magic Premium Plant Food.  As always, we have everything you need to get started.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!  I'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.

The Countdown Begins

Good morning everyone!  Happy Monday!  Here's wishing you a great beginning to a new week.  And it's a very exciting week at Garden Supply.  Our annual Spring Garden Party begins in just 6 days, on Saturday  March 13th at 10 a.m.  Be sure and mark your calendars because you guys are not going to want to miss this!  We can't wait to see you there. And in the mean time, we have tons going on down at the garden center.  New plants are arriving daily and the Greenhouse is full to bursting with beautiful spring and Easter decor.  Take a look at this glorious shipment of Variegated Winter Daphne that has just come in.

This lovely plant is noted for its fragrance, which carries long distances and can often be smelled before you even see the plant in early spring.  The flower buds are purple and as they open will reveal an almost white center which is very beautiful.

It is an evergreen, so will keep its leaves year-round.  The leaves are decorative, as well, in dark green with white edges.  It is very dense and has a rounded form that will grow from 2 to 4 feet tall and about 2 to 4 feet wide.  This particular shrub is said to be one of the best of its kind.  With its smaller size it would work well around patios or in a small yard.  It is hardy to zones 6 to 9.  If you like fragrance, this would fit the bill!

If you're looking for a burst of color and greenery, we've got you covered.  The Greenhouse is filled with a wide array of flowers and plants that are sure to please.  We've got pansies, orchids, begonias, tulips, hyacinths, hydrangeas, cyclamens, ranunculus, and primroses in full bloom.  It is absolutely magical in here.

While you're in the Greenhouse, be sure to check out our collectible Penny McAllister figurines.  They are guaranteed to bring a spring smile to these last lingering days of winter.

Penny McAllister's whimsical and sweet collections bring new charm to folk art.  The sewing bug bit Penny at the tender age of 5.  Nearly 50 years later, the former elementary school librarian has woven her passion for folk art into a dream occupation, making paper mache creations full of wit and whimsy.

"The chip on my nose, the worn paint on my clothes...they're all supposed to be there! I was designed this way, lovingly aged" by Penny McAllister

As always, there is more to see and do at Garden Supply.  Stop by and pay us a visit!  We'd love to see you!  And be sure to check back here soon for more snippets from the garden.