Herself's Houseplants

It is kind of amazing how many ‘asparagus ferns’ there are out there. This one is also known as Emerald Fern. Be sure to check the Latin name when you buy plants online or you might not be getting what you think you are getting.

This fern is also not really a fern. There are many pretenders to the fern family out there. This one has small white flowers when it is happy in the mid summer. It also has bromeliad type leaves in the form of scales along the stems. You’ll have to use a magnifier to see them.

Emerald ferns prefer to have constantly moist soil but not to sit in water. I generally keep mine slightly dry and they have been doing quite well.

They prefer a bright window but will do just find in an east or west exposure.

You’ll have to keep trimming the top back other wise they flop over. This will help to fill them out as well. Be careful trimming these plants as there are some nasty thorns hidden beneath those delicate looking branches.

I’ve trained these ferns to climb up thin trees and posts ( when in pots indoors) , they will happily spiral up posts up to a few inches thick.

Neither heat nor cold bothers these plants much, I’ve had them in 110′F heat and as low as mid 30′F. They will die back if it gets cold enough to freeze so bring them in on really cold nights. Mine came back from the roots after a hard frost.

See also:
The power of indoor house plants

This fern, which is not really a fern, grows well from a basket and will cascade down the sides once it gets larger. What appear to be leaves are really the stems and like an air plant the leaves are scales along those stems.

Asparagus fern does not want bright light, an east or west facing window will do just fine. It may even do well in a north facing window if you are in an area that is frequently sunny. It will start to turn yellow if it needs more light.

Water enough to prevent it from drying out completely but no more. Which means to water when the top 1/2″ of soil feels dry when you push your finger into the soil.

Small white flowers can appear in the spring followed by red berries. The berries are poison.

See also:
Clean the air with house plants

More information:
Aspargus densiflorus

Credits:
Thanks for the photo