In very cold climates, the spent fronds protect the fern's crown even through the frond has dried out. It should be pretreated to hold moisture. Ferns receiving too little light may fail to grow or may produce tall, spindly, undersized fronds. Unlike the Boston, Dallas, or Fluffy Ruffle ferns, the Kimberly Queen is more compact, tidier, and easier to care for. This Is My Garden is a website created by gardeners, for those who love to … They are an easy care fern that is a favorite with new gardeners. With lower production costs than ferns requiring either a greenhouse or a shade house for production, its popularity soared. Kimberly Queen Ferns from Fresh from Florida® are a dense evergreen fern with a shapely form and gracefully arching fronds. Do not fertilize a fern for several weeks after re-potting. This fern is also known to do well in fun sun, but it requires humidity and more regular waterings. Incredibly dry soil. This is a dense evergreen fern that has arching fonds and a shapely form. Photo: Helen Battersby. A 'Kimberly Queen' fern doesn't need pruning, with naturally attractive fronds that stay green throughout the growing season. Supplying a humidifier is another option. It may be placed as a layer at the bottom of the pot or added to the soil mix. One fern that is a little less demanding of indoor humidity is the Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepsis obliterata). If you have further gardening questions, reach us at our gardening advice line 416 397 1345 or by posting your question here in the Ask a Master Gardener section. Grouping plants will also help increase humidity or you can place the ferns in a room that generally has higher humidity. Bonemeal, a phosphorus-rich fertilize, may be added to the soil at the time of potting or repotting – 1 or 2 teaspoon under the roots. Now, let’s get your Kimberly Queen feeling like herself again. Roots need oxygen for life and growth. Even though the leaves on most fern fronds dry up during the winter, turn yellow and then brown, you may want to leave the fern fronds in place and rely on winter rains and cool temperatures to keep the plants alive. Your decision about what to do with the plant depends on what kind of fern you have, whether the plant is growing in the ground or in a container, and the landscaping style of your yard. Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 1-2” of soil are dry. Be the first to review this product . Where you live in Zone 8, it likely would not survive outdoors unless it is in a very protected location. Kimberly queen ferns have been shown to have detoxification properties and will help clean up indoor air. Horticultural lime may also be added to provide an alkaline soil which many ferns prefer. It originated from Australia and it is easy to grow indoors and out. That being said, some of these plants are easier to over-winter than others, but the Kimberly Queen fern is one of the easier ones. It should grow back fast, and it should grow back bigger and healthier than before. Doing this cleans up the plant so you can see the curled fiddleheads when the new leaves first come up, and you'll see the upright and bright green shape of the ferns as they begin to grow. Boston Fern Root Nodules. A basic 20:20:20 fertilizer or kelp or fish emulsion fertilizer is recommended. Fern roots are extremely hard and tolerant of this process. Ltd. Generally speaking, packaged potting soils, although a good base for your fern mix, do not provide adequate drainage. Trim a transplanted fern by half to help it thrive. They are also a fast-growing fern. In either case, when spring arrives and you see new growth, cut off any dry, brown fronds with sharp … Its an ideal plant to grow as a houseplant or in the garden. Nephrolepis obliterata. The Kimberly Queen fern is believed to smooth the surrounding air of pollution and pollutants, that is why it’s far a popular choice for homes in city regions. Ferns do well when root-bound so do not rush to repot. I recently bought a Kimberly Queen Fern because I have a really brown thumb when it comes to Boston Ferns, and supposedly Kimberly Queen is much easier to take care of and requires less moisture. Northern windows, except perhaps a bright unobstructed one in summer, are not bright enough for most ferns. Cut back all the fronds by half, reducing the water your fern needs to support itself. Kimberly queen, or Australian sword fern (nephrolepis obliterata), grows upright, rather than spreading out towards the sides, giving it a neater appearance & making it easy to care for. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Their dynamic and graceful leaves fill any space with gorgeous, natural color. Ferns: Wild Things Make a Comeback in the Garden; C. Colston Burrell, Ed. A Kimberly Queen fern does well in medium light. I have several new ferns from the original Mom plant. Learn more about these fantastic plants and how to take care of them here! Outside watering. Kimberly queen fern requires a standard watering regimen (once a week), but you should keep the soil in the pot constantly moist. Indoors this tropical fern likes bright indirect light, and is less sensitive to low humidity than the usual Boston Fern. Excessive heat or drafts, especially around windows in winter, are fatal. Some ferns will tolerate an occasional drying out without collapse of foliage. It originated in Australia and easy to grow indoors. Ferns are reasonably adaptable to slight variations in temperature but a uniform day-night cycle is best. Once it over-grows the pot, you will need to divide them to keep everyone healthy. The practice works best for ferns with thicker, rather than feathery, foliage, such as the sword fern, also called Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis'), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11. This technique lets the plant focus more attention on getting its roots … Roots need oxygen for life and growth. Our goal is to help Toronto residents use safe, effective, proven and sustainable horticultural practices to create gardens, landscapes and communities that are both vibrant and healthy. If plants are overwatered the oxygen is pressed out and the soil packs down so that roots eventually die from rot. Watering ferns from the outside are very different from watering indoors. It does well in the shade and sun. I bought them in a 3 gallon container for $.25. Thanks for any help >> Cajun: I acquired my Kimberly Queen Fern aka Macho Fern in the same exact way about 4 years ago. If you have any questions on things that I left out feel free to ask below, I’m happy to answer any questions! Grown by United Nursery, the Kimberly Queen Fern is a classic houseplant that has gained popularity in modern and contemporary decor because of its bold, upright and lush dark green fronds. But during winter, some of the older fronds may die back on a houseplant, and outdoors in cooler parts of its range, the top growth might shrivel and become partially or totally dry. I need some advice! The Kimberly queen is also a very resilient species, & can tolerate heavy winds & rains. This extremely adaptable fern looks beautiful when hanging on your porch in the summer or in your dining room during the winter. The Kimberly Queen fern needs even, regular moisture and regular fertilizing during its growing season to thrive, and it's usually pest- and disease-free. Leaving the fronds in place during the winter may also deter deer from finding tender new leaves in early spring and nibbling off the ends of the leaves; wait to remove the fronds until the new leaves harden off and become less appetizing. Also known as the sword fern for its straight and narrow, upright leaves. A single application is usually sufficient between October and March. Kimberly queen fern. Kimberly Queen I'm always leery of repotting ferns. Mine were also very well root bound and I took them out of the pots, used a saber saw to split the fern and root ball in … Its hardy and vigorous compact fronds will thrive in a bright environment both indoors or outdoors. As long as the plants are re-planted into a good quality, light potting mix, most will take hold to their new surroundings quickly. The Kimberly Queen fern adds softness and color to your porch or patio. However, when grown as houseplants, some fertilization will encourage better growth. During the active growth period – usually spring and summer – apply fertilizer once a month. What you can do is cut back all of the browned and dead fronds in late winter; cut all the fronds down to within a few inches of the plant's crown. Properly moist soil should look and feel damp. The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Kathleen Norris Brenzel, Care-Free Plants; Reader's Digest Association. Resting or inactive plants do not need fertilizer. But the ends of the fronds are drying out, and it's dropping part of the leaves. If the soil is dry 1.5 – 2.5 cm down from the top, it is time to water again. To book Toronto Master Gardener volunteers for talks, demonstrations, advice clinics, or other services, please contact us at 416 397 1345  or bookamg@torontomastergardeners.ca, 777 Lawrence Avenue East Toronto, ON, Canada M3C 1P2 | Phone: 416-397-1345, Copyright © Toronto Master Gardeners 2019, Growing Ferns as Houseplants- A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide. Signs of overwatering include soil that is still wet 3 or 4 days after watering, soil that feels soggy and smells sour and pots that are unusually heavy for their size. Light: Part Sun, Shade Zones: 4-8 Kimberley Queen or Australian Sword Fern – Nephrolepis obliterata If you haven’t guessed by its alternate name, Kimberley Queen originated in Australia. Be sure that the whole root ball is moistened and that excess water seeps out the drainage hole. Like the Boston fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata), it can vacation outdoors in the summer months. Kimberly Queen Ferns are easy-to-grow and thrive outdoors or as a houseplant. Pour boiling water over the peat, let it soak, and wring out the excess water after it has cooled. Offsets grow up from the roots as you see in my video. To increase the humidity you can mist twice a day with tepid water or set pots on pebbles in a tray with water. How to Prepare Wood Ferns for a Hard Freeze, Washington Post: Fronds With Benefits: A Guide to Ferns, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Indoor Ferns, Clemson Cooperative Extension: Hardy Ferns, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service: Ferns, USDA Agricultural Research Service: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, How to Remove Dead Leaves From Outdoor Ferns, How to Revive Your Boston Ferns After Left Outside in Cold Temperatures. Family: Lomariopsidaceae. Highly valued as an indoor plant, Boston fern thrives in pots or hanging baskets. Your Staghorn Fern likes to be kept consistently moist, so be sure that it’s getting enough water. Because of its narrow, straight upright leaves, it is also referred to as the sword fern. instock Narrow, sword-shaped fronds arch out elegantly on short, furry stems on this durable fern. One fern that is a little less demanding of indoor humidity is the Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepsis obliterata). Lundman belongs to numerous gardening groups, tends her home garden on 2/3 acre and volunteers with professional horticulturists at a 180 acre public garden where she lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. This is especially true if it grows in small pots. How do you split up large Kimberly Queen ferns? Thanks for watching! Water regularly, and don't let the soil dry out completely. Ferns generally grow best in filtered or diffused light, for example a bright position out of the direct rays of the sun or near a window filtered by a sheer curtain. Lemon button fern likes frequent generous watering. Produced by the Toronto Master Gardeners, these Gardening Guides provide introductory information on a variety of gardening topics. In winter a full southern exposure is beneficial for some ferns since the sunlight is usually of shorter duration and weaker intensity. Unlike a Boston or Dallas fern, the Kimberly Queen or Australian sword fern (scientific name: Nephrolepsis obliterata) grows upright, rather than spreading out towards the sides, giving it a neater appearance and making it easy to care for. Keep a consistent watering schedule, when the top 2”-3” of the soil are dry. Ferns will not tolerate a strong summer sun but some will accept an east or west window in summer. She has written about plants, garden design and gardening tips online professionally for ten years on numerous websites. Its long, almost erect sword-shaped fronds never leave a mess. Ferns vary considerably in their temperature requirements as these usually depend on the native environment of the species: they grow not only in the tropics but also near the Arctic and Antarctic. I saved mine from last summer and put them in a greenhouse. I want to separate them and grow more ferns. Where winters are very cold, wait until spring to groom the plant by removing the fronds. The Kimberly Queen fern is believed to clean the surrounding air of pollutants and toxins, which is why it is a popular choice for homes in urban areas. The humus, usually sphagnum peatmoss, provides additional organic matter. The best time to repot is in the early spring. In addition, you may add horticultural grade charcoal which absorbs toxic gases and salts caused by poor aeration in water-logged soils. Use medium or coarse grades. Use sharp sand or builder’s sand not fine sand. Perlite, white, sterile, volcanic rock, may substitute for sand. The downfall to keeping them indoors for the cold months is that they will likely drop a lot of their fronds, thus more maintenance on your part in terms of cleaning up after them. If you accidentally let your fern’s soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to wrinkle and brown. To perform best ferns need a soil suited to their needs. If your fern plants grow in a naturalized, woodland setting, you can leave the fronds in place to naturally decompose; new fronds will easily push up through the spent foliage. Sand or perlite is added to improve drainage and aeration of the soil. Kimberly Queen Fern is a selection of the species that has gained considerable popularity among Florida growers because they discovered it can be grown in full sun as a nursery crop in outdoor growing beds. Ferns receiving too much light are less luxuriant, lose their colour and may develop brown leaf margins. With fertilizing applied in the spring, and division in the fall, there is not much maintenance required in the winter for most ferns. Outdoor ferns provide graceful, reliable foliage for shaded areas all through the warm months of the year. Fern Growers Manual, Barbara Joe Moshizaki, Ferns and Fern-allies of the U.S. and Canada, David B. Leilinger, Ferns of Grey and Bruce, Bruce Grey Plant Committee, For printable version, click  Growing Ferns as Houseplants- A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide. If you ever repot or transplant a mature Boston fern, you may notice balls on roots … Kimberly Queen Fern. When the roots of the Nephrolepis obliterata have its current pot, repot in the spring, moving the plant into a pot only one size larger. Indoors, give your fern a medium level of indirect light, no additional fertilizer and a bit less water than you gave it during the growing season outdoors. All About Kimberly Queen Ferns Kimberly Queen Ferns make a bold statement. Ferns generally need little fertilization in humus-rich soil to maintain normal growth when grown outside. Common Name: Kimberly Queen Fern, Boston Fern, Sword Fern. Mine are huge, but the extended cold we had made them look bad, so I cut them back and want to separate … When you move a fern, it may need some help getting settled in its new location. In warm climates where temperatures are consistently above 50 F. (10 C.), the fern is easily grown outdoors. Maidenhair Spleenwort. Overall, I would put this plant on my Easy Houseplant list. Be sure the pots are on the pebbles above the water line. Like the Boston fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata), it can vacation outdoors in the summer months. A perfect subject for hanging baskets or containers indoors or on the patio in summer. Toronto Master Gardeners are part of a large, international volunteer community, all committed to providing the public with horticultural information, education and inspiration. Be sure to purchase a horticultural grade of charcoal. Air temperature is warmer close to the ceiling so hanging plants must be watered more frequently than table or floor plants. Growing from just a few inches tall to more than 50 feet, ferns in a wide variety of species grow in all parts of the world. The often misspelled "Kimberley Queen" name correctly has a second "e" in the first name as is trademarked by Westland Laboratories Ply. Kimberly queen fern, $65 Photo: Bloomscape This medium-sized Kimberly Queen fern from Bloomscape is low-maintenance and non-toxic, meaning it’s safe for your naughtiest pets to munch on. However, ferns sold as houseplants have been grown in greenhouses and will do best in a temperature range of 19 -27 degrees C with a 5 degree C drop at night. Kimberly Queen Fern. :) Instagram; @jordan_has_pets. Easy Houseplant – Kimberly Queen Fern. Bring the plant back outdoors when nighttime temperatures rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A basic soil mix for ferns would include one part packaged general houseplant soil, one part humus and one part sharp sand or perlite. They might survive outdoors with heavy mulch as protection, but to be safest, you should dig them up and grow them as houseplants over winter. 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