Stretching a Client's Plant Budget With Ferns
For a couple clients I do their small window boxes and planters and, with the budgets they give me, I find ways to stretch the dollar. One way I do is through dividing my own plants or purchased plants that I find at the garden centers. I have been doing this for many years and find that it is rewarding for me to see the look on their faces when I fill their yard with beautiful things.
The most divided plant I do for most are Boston Ferns and Kimberly Ferns. These are 2 ferns that can be divided easily and fill up an empty pot. Plus Kimberly ferns get tall and can take some neglect during the summer. They grow fast and can tolerate morning sun and a bit of noon day sun here in zone 7 as long as they are well watered. Boston Ferns love the shade of an overhang on a porch or in a mighty Oak. They do not like to dry out but can be brought back from wilt.
I overwinter my Kimberly ferns and each year I have to man handle with the help of my brut of a husband to get them out of the humongous pots they are in. They grow tight in a pot which makes for some sweating and cussing to get them out. The Kimberly Ferns survived being in the garage despite the coldest temps on record for us here in VA. The looked sad and lost fronds but they survived which allows me to hack off parts of the original plant for clients.
Unlike my precious Japanese Painted Fern (or any other plant I may have in my gardens where I am gentle and treat them like my children)-I use a sharpened tool, shovel, or knife to cut the ferns. I find that both Boston and Kimberly have wire like tendrils and fronds that connect each other on top of the soil making it too much to try and pull apart. So I resort to a sharp knife on the Bostons while I sharpen my tool on the grinder to slice through the Kimberly.
I buy and divide every hanging fern. So instead of buying 2 ferns I buy one a split. This goes for most perennials and some annuals. That is why I scour the rows of plants to find the ones that look like there are 2 or more plants in the pot. I am all about saving and all about stretching my dollar. I hope this tutorial helps you stretch your gardening dollar.
The most divided plant I do for most are Boston Ferns and Kimberly Ferns. These are 2 ferns that can be divided easily and fill up an empty pot. Plus Kimberly ferns get tall and can take some neglect during the summer. They grow fast and can tolerate morning sun and a bit of noon day sun here in zone 7 as long as they are well watered. Boston Ferns love the shade of an overhang on a porch or in a mighty Oak. They do not like to dry out but can be brought back from wilt.
I overwinter my Kimberly ferns and each year I have to man handle with the help of my brut of a husband to get them out of the humongous pots they are in. They grow tight in a pot which makes for some sweating and cussing to get them out. The Kimberly Ferns survived being in the garage despite the coldest temps on record for us here in VA. The looked sad and lost fronds but they survived which allows me to hack off parts of the original plant for clients.
Unlike my precious Japanese Painted Fern (or any other plant I may have in my gardens where I am gentle and treat them like my children)-I use a sharpened tool, shovel, or knife to cut the ferns. I find that both Boston and Kimberly have wire like tendrils and fronds that connect each other on top of the soil making it too much to try and pull apart. So I resort to a sharp knife on the Bostons while I sharpen my tool on the grinder to slice through the Kimberly.
I buy and divide every hanging fern. So instead of buying 2 ferns I buy one a split. This goes for most perennials and some annuals. That is why I scour the rows of plants to find the ones that look like there are 2 or more plants in the pot. I am all about saving and all about stretching my dollar. I hope this tutorial helps you stretch your gardening dollar.
Boston Fern on sale at Lowe's for $6. Need 3 for a client and so I purchased 2. But confession: these were on the clearance rack for $3 because they were not looking so good.
Start spreading the fronds apart. they are wiry and thick but you will need to pull the fronds apart and you will start to see separate plants and the original plant in the middle
Where you see a division, take out your sharp knife and cut straight through. Ferns do not have real deep roots and pulling them apart is too much work
My super sharp yard sale knife. Nice slice and 2nd plant
But wait...I see another plant after further inspection so I slice that one off too. 3 for the price of 1!
The original plant is intact and a bit larger and then there are 2 more that will go in a 6" pot for now until they start growing (which only takes about a month of fertilizing)
Potted up and ready to go. Just saved $12 and within the month these plants will all be filling in the pots with regular fertilizing and watering.
This is one of 4 Kimberly ferns and 1 of 2 in these large ceramic pots. It took us about 15 minutes of cussing, laughing, and tugging to get them out
kimberly ferns along with other ferns, do not have deep roots. They send out roots that will reach the bottom of the pot but the bulk of the roots are at the top 4-6" of the pot just under the fronds. I have to fill the bottom foot of these pots because they are about 3' or more high. I tried using plastic jugs and was not impressed so going back to rocks and broken bricks.
My handy dandy sharp tool. Took me a few minutes of pushing with my foot to get through the top of the roots. I worked my way up slicing the roots at the bottom and kept pushing the plant apart until it became very difficult and I had to sharpen the tool again. I then was able to slice through the top of the plant. This fern I made 1 large plant to put back in my humongous pot and 2 medium plants which I will use at a client's home. Savings: $36 for 2 plants at Lowe's.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 of 33 comments
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I haven't tried dividing my Boston Ferns but this inspires me to try it this spring. I have kept them in the house for the winter where the t temperature is rarely above 70 degrees. I mist them daily and water them heavily - every 2 to 3 days.
I'm in central Ohio where the outdoor temperatures have been below zero and the garage temps have been near freezing but usually in the 40's.
I'm looking forward to splitting my BIG ferns this spring.
Thanks for the information.
Audrey
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My Boston Fern is a giant. I have had it in the same pot since 1990. Once a year I add fresh potting soil and a packet of organic fertilizer. I water it lightly once a week or during the California summer twice a week, It sits on my porch out of direct sun and the leaves are vibrant green. It is also in an area that occasionally gets a light breeze if we have any Santa Ana winds.
Frequently asked questions
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Will Boston ferns winter over in a zone 5 if I put them into a heated 45-50 degree garage? If so, does it bother them for the door to be open and closed while getting the car into and out of the garage
So are these ground plantable in VA without having to dig them up during the winter
I love flowers especially ferns,I have moved into an apartment now how well would a fern do