Houseplants: Foxtail Fern

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daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 24, 2009 09:50 PM	Can someone please tell me proper care for Foxtail Fern? I understand it is not a "true" fern. I have read in several places that it does well as a houseplant, but have found very little on how to care for it as a houseplant.
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) October 24, 2009 10:53 PM	The asparagus "ferns" are tough as nails. They do well in the ground in the South, and usually come back each spring unless there is a freeze below 20 degrees or so. They can take extreme heat. But as for house plants, the foxtails need lots of room- the "fronds" can get quite long- and if they shed "needles" (modified leaves) because of reduced light that is a pain. These plants don't wilt- if they get dry up to a certain point they just die and turn white. They do have nodules on the roots that store water, so they can go longer between waterings than a lot of plants. When you do water, put them in a sink or whatever or set them outside and run water through the pot several times. Thoroughly soak the potting mix. If you have a sun room or enclosed porch, the extra light would be to their advantage. Don't move them outdoors for a day or two. That's a waste of your time.
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 25, 2009 07:27 AM	Thanks dp72. I see that we are both in zone 8a, and that has me thinking that when spring arrives I will put it in the ground. Do they multiply? If so, at what rate? I read somewhere that they do well in full sun/part shade. Any insight? I picked this plant up at our local botanical gardens' fall sale, last weekend. I didn't even bother to ask them how to care for this one. Duh! I need to winter it inside this year and put it out in the spring.. I dont have a sunroom and my back patio is large and covered but not enclosed. Will it do well in an East facing window with bright indirect sun?
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY October 25, 2009 11:19 AM	Foxtail fern is similar to my plant. I have an asparagus densiflorus "Sprengeri, and you have asparagus densiflorus "Myers. If you decide to plant it in the ground, you can always divide the plant and keep one for a patio pet, too :). Anyway, my plant takes all kinds of abuse, and leaves me yellow piles of leaf litter as payback, but keeps going. I drag it out in the partial shade for the summer. Don't over water in winter and you should be fine!
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) October 25, 2009 10:17 PM	I can't advise you much on growing them indoors although I'd say the more light the better. Indoor light is only a small fraction of outdoor light. I can tell you they will tolerate FULL SUN. They are almost heatproof. The foxtail "Myersii" doesn't grow as fast as the Densiflorus, but as the last post said you might divide yours in the spring and soon you would have two nice full plants. Oh, they will take partial shade also. They are really flexible about their light requirements. No disease or insects will bother them. TWO things will kill them- extreme dryness and freezing. That's it.
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 26, 2009 02:16 AM	or a 15 yo with a basketball they can destroy things faster than you can move....LOL
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 26, 2009 10:55 AM	Daisy: Here's the link to the Foxtail Fern in Plant Files with information and photo's: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31438/ I think a couple of the photo's are in the wrong location, they appear to be A. densiflorus Sprengeri rather than the Meyersii which is the Foxtail.
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) November 10, 2009 05:12 PM	Is it ok to plant this in the ground now? Must I wait until spring?
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) November 10, 2009 05:43 PM	I'm not sure but I'd think in your zone it might be better to wait until spring so it will have a whole year to get established before next winter. I'd be afraid planting this late in the year it would die if you have a freeze. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along with some advice.
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY November 10, 2009 05:49 PM	The plant file says hardiness zone 9 up, and you are zone 8 I think. Maybe wait, or divide your plant and keep a start of it going, just in case. This is a cute plant :)...
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) November 10, 2009 05:54 PM	I really like it.. My friend and I went to Bellingrath Gardens and Home (located here in Mobile, AL) this weekend. I go there often and they had it everywhere... interesting to see the variations in color depending on how much light it was in.
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) November 10, 2009 06:17 PM	I wouldn't put it in the ground this time of year. It will freeze every so many years when you have an unusual cold spell. Most years it will come back. When it does freeze, you can replace it. The variations in color do have to do with light, but since it's propagated all over the world, variations in the intensity of the green are inevitable without regard to how much light it gets. That's how new cultivars come about. The genetic material can mutate minutely and cause the green to be lighter or darker.

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