What are ferns plats and the perfect place to grow ferns?

Ferns are perhaps the oldest plants to date, having started there evolution 400 million years ago. Ferns were present before seed bearing plants.

During the carboniferous era, ferns used to create super sized forests. Nowadays evidence of ferns can be seen by examining coalfields which have fossilized ferns buried deep within the earth. Ferns include ancient fossil ferns and Lycopodia.

Ferns thrive in positions that have medium temperatures, are very humid and protected from direct sunlight. Ferns are heavily populated in tropical rainforests. Ferns that are grown indoors will flourish if similar conditions are simulated in the home. However this does not mean that ferns only grow in these regions. In Europe there is the lady fern ( Athyrium filix femina) and male fern (Drypteris filixmas).

Asplenium trichomones have also been identified in sub artic regions. Some ferns such as Ceterach officinarum survive in hot, dry regions while others such as Salvinia prefer life on the water surface.

Ferns ground or air

European ferns can either grow on trees or on the ground. Ferns that grow on the ground are known as Terrestrial ferns while those that grow high up in trees are called Epiphytic ferns.

Terrestrial ferns normally grow along the stream and river banks, among rocks and close to springs. Terrestrial ferns grow in moist positions that are relatively medium light. A perfect example of a terrestrial fern is maidenhair (Adiantum).

Epiphytes on the other hand invade the tress trucks and hanging branches. They do not require a lot of soil but however need frequent rainfall to supply their water and nutrients. Epiphytes ferns receive plenty of sunlight in these high positions. Examples of epiphytes include Staghorn ferns (Platycerium) and birds' nest fern (Asplenium nidus).

Epiphytes have modified funnel-like leaves which allow them to capture falling twigs and leaves this later decays and is used as humus which will supply nutrients and trace elements. It is possible to grow epiphytes as indoor ferns but they have to be planted in loose compost.

Ferns can also grow as both terrestrial and epiphytes such as sword fern species. Knowing what type of fern you are dealing with will help you determine the best possible position to propagate the ferns indoors

Ferns and marvellous shapes

Ferns come in different shapes and sizes. They do not produce any form of flowering but produce huge leaves with unique patterns and shapes.

There are numerous shapes of growth and can be used to produce different varieties when growing ferns as indoor plants. Ferns also grow in different ways:

  • Ferns grow upright for example Arachniodes adiantiformis

  • Some droop elegantly such as maidenhair fern ( Adiantum)

  • Some hang and look beautiful in hanging containers and produce a splendid fern pillar.hanging ferns include Adientum caudatum.

  • There are also climbing ferns such as lygodium and these can be trained on sticks and wooden posts.

  • Some grow producing shapes similar to trees such as hard fern ( Blenchnum) which form hard structures.