Re: flooding and ferns

I've had a terrible time getting maidenhairs that I've gotten mailorder to
thrive.  Almost all of the other ferns I have (over 35 kinds) are doing
fine. And maidenhairs are supposed to be "easy"!

I will mention names and say that Rosyln Nursery is unfortunately now on my
black list.  Out of ~27 ferns I got from them this year, about half were in
bad shape (completely crushed and/or rotting fronds or no fronds at all) and
4 of those never did anything but not appear at all or die.  The guy there
that deals with this is very unpleasant and hasn't returned my call from 2
weeks ago. (2 of the three azaleas I bought from them this year had 1 and no
leaves, and barely any roots, and neither of those survived. Grrrr.)  Last
year I got a Dryopteris Crasshizoma "Large erect 3'" easy to grow fern.
This year I have coddled that thing like a mother hen.  It has 2 fronds at
all times (the good news is, the fronds keep coming up) and the longest
frond is 1 1/2" (yes, INCH) long and about 3/8" wide.  The same type they
sent me this year had and has no fronds at all--probably dead.  I reckon
they misidentified this fern (but what is it??).  These are in line with the
worst stories with them of several more, but nevermore.

Anyway, back to better things....

E.g., back to ferns that like lots of water, I got one this year that is
very pretty (this is a Roslyn story that came true) called a Woodwardia
Areolata ("spreading 2' clump, glossy leathery fronds, moisture loving, zone
6).

Best!
Diann


> -----Original Message-----
> From: PRIMROSES [s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU]On Behalf Of
> GeneBush
> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2000 5:16 AM
> To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Re: [SG] flooding and ferns
>
>
> Hello Diann,
>     Different ferns have different root systems. The ones we are
> talking about
> here generally are shaped a bit like a closed fist with a raised
> plump thumb.
> Color is a brown-black. From this there will be masses of thin,
> wiry, feeder roots
> of the same color.  Most people never know the seize of the root
> system for it is
> about the same color as the soil and gets cut off when digging
> one. They just go
> for that big fist.
>     To hold down shipping costs and storage, many nurseries have
> learned that you
> can ship only that 'fist'. They will survive, but sure sets them
> back. Most of the
> wholesale orders I get arrive here that way. I pot them up, keep
> them moist and
> fed and hold them for at least 6 months before they can be sold
> to you. At the
> same time it is hard to keep all that alive during this hot
> weather in a 5 pint
> pot.
>     The ones with mostly fibrous root systems and small woody
> root where the
> fronds are attached, such as the Maidenhair, actually benefit
> from a bit of root
> trimming before shipping. Notice I said a bit...
>     Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
>           around the woods - around the world
> genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Diann Barbee Thoma <diannthoma@EARTHLINK.NET>
> Subject: Re: [SG] flooding and ferns
>
>
> > How can anyone sell a fern with no roots??  Now, I do know of a
> company that
> > sells them with very small roots, and even that makes me mad!
> >
> > Diann
> >
>
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