Asparagus fern (Asparagus sprengeri) is an ornamental plant that has the ability to grow rapidly. These plants are called ferns, but are actually part of the lily family. The leaves are small needle-shaped and curved stems that can reach a meter in length. Mature plants give rise to white or pink flowers and produce green, inedible berries. To properly care for an asparagus fern, you must create the right environment, breed the plant, and care for it regularly.
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Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Right Environment
Step 1. Choose the right location
Asparagus ferns can grow well indoors and outdoors. You can plant it in a pot, hang it outside, or plant it directly in the ground. You should choose an open area that provides enough space for the plants to grow well.
- Prepare a space that can accommodate plants at least 1.2 meters high and 1 meter wide.
- Think carefully about the location as moving the plant from the inside out can traumatize the plant. If you decide to change locations, do so gradually over 2-3 weeks. Start by moving it to a shady place, such as a patio or under a tree. Then, move it to a place that gets more sunlight until you can finally place it where you want it.
Step 2. Find a place with moderate temperatures
This plant requires temperatures between 10-24 °C. For the night, the best temperature is around 10-18 °C. Choose a place with a stable room temperature.
- Asparagus ferns can grow in damp or dry places, but they thrive in humid areas.
- To get humid air, you can install a humidifier in the room adjacent to the room where the ferns are placed.
Step 3. Choose a place with good lighting
This plant will grow optimally in a bright place, but not exposed to direct sunlight. Do not place the fern in a place exposed to direct sunlight. If you do, the plant leaves will scorch and fall off.
- You'll know if the plant is getting too much sun when the leaves turn yellow.
- Plant the fern in a place that gets morning sun.
Step 4. Look for soil with a slightly acidic pH
Asparagus ferns thrive when planted in rich, light, slightly acidic soil. The soil must also be able to absorb water well. Add peat moss to the soil or buy a planting medium mixed with peat. Peat moss is the remnants of several types of peat that partially decompose and become an appropriate growing medium for ferns.
Soil is considered to have good drainage if water can seep easily. You can check this by digging a hole and filling it with water. Let the water drain away. Soil is considered to have good drainage if the water level decreases by 3-15 cm per hour
Part 2 of 3: Growing Crops
Step 1. Breed the plant
You can grow ferns from seeds or roots. If you choose the seed method, plant the seeds about 1.5 cm deep in a container and place them on a warm, sunny windowsill for about 4 weeks. However, propagation of plants by the root method is the quickest and easiest way and is best done when the weather is cool.
- If you want to propagate a plant with roots, you can cut the roots in half or quarters with a knife and plant them in separate smaller pots. You can also separate the bulbs by hand. If you choose this option, you can separate the bulbs in a more natural way than using scissors. Bulbs should be replanted in separate pots.
- You can separate the good and bad seeds by placing them in a bucket of water and letting them sit for a few days. The bad seeds will float to the surface, and the good seeds will sink to the bottom of the bucket.
Step 2. Plant the seeds
After considering and preparing the right conditions, you can plant the seeds in pots, or in the ground. All you have to do is dig a hole in the ground twice as wide as the seed you want to plant. Then, cover the seeds with a little soil. You don't need to plant or water the seeds if you use bulbs instead of seeds.
For example, make a 6mm hole to plant a 3mm seed
Step 3. Water the seeds
You should water the seeds immediately and thoroughly after planting them. After a week or two, you should see the plants start to grow. During this time, you will need to water the seeds constantly. Whenever the soil is dry, you should water it.
- If you choose to plant bulbs, you should also water them immediately after planting. Water the tubers once a day or whenever the soil is dry.
- If the weather is hot, you may need to water it twice a day.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Ferns
Step 1. Apply fertilizer for the asparagus ferns you are planting
You can buy an all-purpose liquid (or diluted) fertilizer. Make sure you dilute the fertilizer to only half its strength. During the growing period, usually from March to August, you should fertilize every 3-4 weeks. After that, you just do it every month.
Types of fertilizer that can be dissolved are usually sold in liquid or powder form. Powdered fertilizer should be mixed with water. You can apply fertilizer with a sprinkler or spray. Spray or pour fertilizer until the soil is soaking wet, but don't soak it
Step 2. Water the plant regularly
As soon as the shoots begin to appear, you need to water them regularly. Asparagus ferns can withstand drought, but you should water them whenever the soil is dry. During the rainy season, you can reduce the frequency of watering.
- You can water the plants once a week during the rainy season. The heat during the dry season causes the soil to dry out more quickly, while the soil gets enough water during the rainy season. You should water your plants more than once a week if you live in a hot or warm climate.
- Before watering, make sure that 50% of the soil is dry and watch the shoots turn to light green leaves. Yellow shoots indicate that the plant is not getting enough water and brown shoots indicate that the plant is getting too much water.
Step 3. Prune the plant
Pruning stimulates the emergence of new shoots and keeps the plant looking neat. You should prune old branches at the beginning of the year (around March). Old and dead branches will look dry, wilted, and do not produce new shoots. Prune branches and shoots that are too long, or look dry or dead. Don't forget to wear gloves when pruning the plant so that the "needle" leaves don't hurt your hands.
- You can use garden shears or regular shears to trim the plants, no need to use larger tools.
- At this stage, the plant will produce white flowers and red berries. Know that the red berries that appear with the flowers are poisonous! Don't eat it!
Step 4. Move the plants
If the fern is grown in a pot, you should transfer it to another pot once a year (around March). Move the plant to a larger pot. Ferns are fast growing plants, and moving them to a larger pot allows the plant to grow freely without the risk of damage.
- You can move the plant to another pot more than once a year if the plant grows beyond the pot it is currently in.
- Fern roots can sometimes push through the soil and come to the surface. Make sure you leave about 2.5-5 cm of space from the edge of the pot when filling the planting medium.
Step 5. Deal with the pest problem
Asparagus ferns rarely have problems with insects or serious diseases that can cause the plant to die. So, you don't need to spray it with pesticides, just use insecticidal soap if needed. Ferns can sometimes be attacked by mites (spider mites), small insects (scale insects), and mealy bugs (mealy bugs). However, this problem usually only occurs if you move the fern from the outside in.
- Check the condition of the ferns before moving them indoors. If there are too many pests, you can trim the stems and leave only the stems that are at ground level. Don't worry, new stems will grow back.
- Insect problems should be resolved by trimming the stems. Try not to spray the plants if possible. Spraying will also kill insects that the plant needs.
Tips
- Asparagus ferns will look beautiful if planted in hanging pots and large pots placed on a small table or pedestal.
- This type of fern is perfect for covering the ground if grown in groups.
- The asparagus fern is a great choice for beginners or those who don't want to spend a lot of time caring for the plant.
Warning
- This plant can grow easily and quickly. This is the reason why ferns are considered a wild plant in some areas. You have to keep it under control.
- Ferns can cause skin irritation. Be careful when handling them, and wear gloves if you must touch them.
- The asparagus fern has spines. Wear gloves when handling thorns and needles to avoid injuring yourself.
- Keep this plant away from pets and children as it is toxic if swallowed.
