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Posted: Jun/21/2008 9:11 PM PST
I planted a fern garden this spring and everything is doing well. Except my Japanese Painted fern died. It's a shady area and I keep it moist. The fronds broke off, or rotted, or were eaten, right at ground level. It was just heartbreaking watching them droop one by one. The area is infested with pillbugs - could they have chewed on it? I didn't think they bothered big plants. |
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Posted: Jun/22/2008 8:34 AM PST
I'm not sure- I have found that the Japanese Painted Fern can be really picky. I have one that is just sort of "surviving" |
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Posted: Jun/22/2008 9:44 PM PST
Hmph. Everything I read says "easy to grow" or "indestructable" or something. Thought it was a sure bet. I'd go get another one but I'm afraid the same thing would happen. |
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Posted: Jun/23/2008 6:39 AM PST
It may have been from too much water. The roots may have started to rot, and that attracted the pillbugs. I have found that I am sure to kill "easy to grow, indestructable" plants LOL! Whereas the pickier plants I have no problem with  I would suggest replacing it with a Ghost Fern- It gets large and lush with silvery type foliage. It also doesn't need watered as often either. I'll try to get a pic of mine- it really stands out in a shady spot 
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Posted: Jun/24/2008 8:31 AM PST
Thanks! I've read about ghost ferns but haven't seen one. I have lots of "woods" ferns out there that we brought in from our favorite hiking spot, and they are really indestructable. And a couple wild maiden hair ferns I brought in a few years ago and divided, a cultivated maidenhair fern which looks completely different from the wild ones, a Dre's Dagger, and some summer potted bostons and an asparagus fern which the neighbor threw out in the alley mostly dead, and we divided and rehabilitated them. I guess I'll have to bring those in this winter. They are all going crazy except the Japanese, which was most expensive and which I liked most. I mulched the whole area with pine litter yesterday and some compost so hopefully it will improve and acidify the soil and give the pill bugs something to eat. Do you think it's too late to continue planting? The spot is very shady and protected. |
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Posted: Jun/24/2008 8:43 AM PST
You should be OK since it's a shady spot. |
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Posted: Jun/28/2008 8:14 AM PST
Hey I have two healthy new fronds pokingn up through the mulch. Maybe everything will be allright..... |
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Posted: Jun/30/2008 1:13 PM PST
Mine looked pitiful last year. It was tiny so I moved it under a shady spot that has a little better drainage and as long as I water it every couple days it seems to be happy. It's getting bigger, but it's still small. |
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Posted: Jul/01/2008 2:48 PM PST
I have not been able to grow a painted fern in my garden. This year I put one in a pot with some flowers and it's growing fine. Guess I will try putting it inside this fall. |
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Posted: Jul/05/2008 11:46 AM PST
I too love Japanese painted fern. I purchased one last year, potted it and placed it in a shady location. Did okay for a while then started to look not so okay. I decided to take it out of the pot and plant it in ground. It seems to really like it's new location and ground. |
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