My penchant for ferns began way back before I started gardening. With the right soil, environment and light, little care is all they need in order to survive. Like an eagle’s wings widely spread out, the green fronds always add life to a garden, be it in a greenhouse or in a simple yard for that matter. Some of the owners of plant shops I frequently visit call them pakpak lawin which means eagle’s wings. Others call them dapo or pako.
Little did I know that my first ferns were Asplenium Nidus or bird’s nest. Having done a little research, I found out that they grow well with bromeliads. Being an epiphyte and a terrestrial plant, it thrives well in organic matter and in partial shade. In as much as I wanted to have them on trees for a rainforest garden effect, I only have palm trees planted in the small yard: the manila, foxtail and champagne palms. I noticed that repotting the ferns to a larger container would make them grow so fast that they may even look too big for the small yard!
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| Asplenium Nidus |
Look at these curly fronds of A. Nidus Antiquum. It is also called Osaka
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| A. Nidus Antiquum |
These odd looking fronds of Platycerium Superbum a.k.a staghorn fern attract me most. The first time I heard the word staghorn aside from its true meaning was when I had a patient with a staghorn kidney stone which means stones formed occupying the renal pelvis of the kidney, thus taking the shape of a staghorn. Now, I am still taking care of a staghorn, a healthy staghorn fern.
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| Platycerium Superbum |
Asplenium Cristata Scolopendrium has long fronds that appear to have torn edges and curled. Moist, well-drained soil is a must for almost all types of fern. Direct sunlight can easily burn the fronds even for a short period of time.
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| A. Cristata Scolopendrium |
And the last two ferns in the garden and still counting...
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| Dryopteris Crispa |
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| Dryopteris Complexa |
