Re: Blechnum penna-marina

Hi Jolanda,

B. penna-marina, in my country of origin at least ( NZ ), grows in a lot of different places, so what your plant can deal with might depend on its origin. I've got a big bucket filled with a form grown from spore I collected in the high country near Lake Tennyson ( northern South Island ). It thrives in the hot weather ( 28-32 C ) we get during the best part of our summers and is fairly tolerant of dry winds, direct sun and the bucket drying out. I've also got sporelings of a taller form I collected in the bottom of a bush gully, I doubt very much that these would be anywhere near as hardy once fully grown.

I think there's still a fertile frond on the hardy form - only the one produced this year, perhaps because of our cool wet summer - if it's still there after the weekend's winds I can send it to you if you like. Should still be viable spore in it.

John in Sweden.

>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: David Nicholls <dcn@dcnicholls.com>
>  Subject: Re: [ferns] Blechnum penna-marina
>  Sent: 18 Sep '07 06:19
>  
>  Jolanda,
>  
>  B. penna-marina grows natively in the mountains to the west of Canberra,
>  in high sphagnum bogs.  It's used to cold weather and survives happily
>  under feet of snow, but it must have "wet feet" all the time.
>  
>  It does experience quite high daytime temperatures in summer (up to mid
>  30's C), but usually cold nights.
>  
>  It tends to grow low down, out of the wind.
>  
>  http://www.home.aone.net.au/~byzantium/ferns/descriptions/blechnum/bpenmar.html
>  
>  Regards
>  
>  DN
>  Canberra, Oz.
>  
>  Jolanda wrote:
>  > Dear Fernatics,
>  >
>  > During May I imported a lovely Blechnum penna-marina, from the UK. I
>  > planted it in a pot, as it was easier keeping the moisture high, through
>  > our very dry winter. It really did well, up to  two weeks ago, when I
>  > saw it is no longer as happy. I still keep the humidity high and soil
>  > moist. I have it an area that gets light, but no direct sunlight, on a
>  > bench in my fern-garden. Currently our natural humidity is 25% and we
>  > cannot wait for the rain to come. During the past two weeks we had
>  > rather high max. temperatures of 33 - 35 degrees C. Could this be the
>  > reason for my Blechnum not to be so happy?
>  >
>  > I would also appreciate any other tips on growing Blechnum penna-marina.
>  >
>  > Frondly regards
>  >
>  > Jolanda
>  > South Africa
>  
>  --
>  _________________________
>  David Nicholls
>  http://www.dcnicholls.com
>  
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