ferns plus

To Doug from the North:
 
<<<<< (see rant below)  For
 whatever reason, the rehydration of the root seems to be the key to
 survival in divisions in our experience. I would protect it from freezing
 or temperature fluctuations.
 
 <getting on soapbox alert!>  - note - not aimed at any individual or
 posting - just a general rant I need to get off my chest this week. :-)>>>>

Rant OK here!
 
<<<< conditions where the plant
 simply will not live. Meconopsis in the high heat and lack of humidity of
 the prairies, lavenders in heavy clay with no drainage. >>>>

Doug, I would not try Meconopsis (except cambrica) but I have been kindly 
gifted with some betonicfolia seed.  Digressing a moment, it always amazes me 
that there is so much of this seed available when the plant is nearly 
impossible to grow.  Back to growing this poppy - the seeds are "Unwin's", a 
British firm.  In a bright green star on the front of the package is the 
message "now easy to grow".   On the back of the package it reads that a 
much-improved germination method from their own laboratories is the magic 
contained in the package.

Has anyone, anywhere, been having success with the "now easy to grow" 
Meconopsis.  A package of Erygium alpinum is also "now easy to grow".  

<<<<< it is up to the
 gardener (and friends in groups like this if they are willing):-) to solve
 the puzzle.>>>>>

Agreed here, too.
 
 <<<<<If I can return to ferns for a moment, if folks are having trouble 
growing
 ferns then they might very well look to their soils. (Heck to your soils
 for almost every plant problems.);-)  Peat bed construction - from the
 Victorians down to NARGS bulletins have outlined in detail how to 
construct>>>>>

I have one of the first small books written by the husband and wife team of 
F. F. Rockwell and Esther Grayson.  The subject is wholly peat.  You would 
not believe this paean to peat moss. Among the many attributes is a chapter 
on root formation encouraged in a several ways by the use of peat.  Were you 
to read and accept all this book offers, you would not garden without peat.  
Experimentation was then, l927 I think, taking place on the chemical reaction 
of peat solutions on bare roots and resultant superior root formation

<<<<end of soapbox rant>>>>>

Sorry, I have added mine.
 

 
 <<<<Well, yes. In my experience, some ferns don't divide worth a darn - 
depends
 on the fern.>>>>>

Some of the very old clumps of tall native sorts have a rootstock five or six 
inches in diameter.  Try to divide that.

I know we are going to hear the peat/environment issue so I will say in 
ending that I always keep a bale or two of peat in the barn but I do not 
amend the gardens with it.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
 



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