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How do you identify an asparagus fern?
Asparagus fern produces long, upright or trailing, branching stems sparsely covered with sharp, stiff spines in the axils. The rounded stems, up to 6 feet long, are green to brown in color and have a shallow indentation along their length.
How do you take care of asparagus ferns?
Reduce watering in autumn, and water more sparingly in winter. Feed once a month with a liquid feed in spring and summer. Provide some humidity by grouping plants together or misting regularly, especially in summer or if the central heating is on. Repot every couple of years, in spring.
Is asparagus fern an indoor plant?
Asparagus Fern Care. If you live in hardiness zones 9 or above, you can grow asparagus fern outdoors as a perennial. Outdoors, these plants will prefer a partial shade location in relatively dry, well-draining soil. In all other climates, it can be planted as an annual or kept indoors as a houseplant.
How big does an asparagus fern get?
Asparagus setaceus plumosus is also known as Lace Fern, Common Asparagus Fern or Climbing Asparagus. Although it is called a fern, it is really a member of the lily family. It is fast growing and easy to care for and can reach a height of 2.5m unless pruned.
What plants look like asparagus fern?
Horsetail. Horsetail is a weed that looks like Asparagus fern. The only closeness with asparagus is visible in stems that closely resemble the former.
What is the difference between asparagus and asparagus fern?
Part of the common name is accurate, however. Asparagus ferns are closely related to edible asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). While asparagus ferns don’t produce anything we can harvest and eat, they are versatile, reliable, easy to grow and useful in a variety of gardening situations.
Should you trim asparagus fern?
Prune asparagus fern to keep it in shape, and cut any dead stems at the base. Though asparagus fern responds well to pruning, beware: Its soft-looking leaves conceal sharp thorns, so it’s best to wear gloves.
Why is my asparagus fern yellowing?
Overwatering is by far the most common cause of yellow leaves on your fern. The asparagus fern is thirstier than many other plants, so it can be easy to accidentally overcompensate and give it more than it needs if you’re not checking the soil. You should only water after 25% of the soil volume is dry.
How do you make asparagus fern bushy?
Take a sharp pair of clean scissors and make a snip where you would like the stem to end. You can do this with all of the elongated stems given that they don’t make up over half the plant and then place your asparagus fern in a brighter spot and your plant should start to grow bushier rather than leggier.
How often should I water asparagus fern?
Water garden plants once or twice a week, so the soil doesn’t dry completely. Asparagus ferns are moderately drought tolerant, but they will grow at a slower rate without sufficient moisture, notes the University of Florida.
Do asparagus ferns come back every year?
The short answer to this question is: An Asparagus Fern is a perennial plant. There are some plants that are planted, grow, bloom and die all within a yearly cycle and to have the plant a second year it needs to be replanted in the spring.
Can you overwater asparagus ferns?
Overwatering or underwatering are also culprits in the yellowing of asparagus fern leaves. Overwatering can damage the roots, which in turn will show up in the leaves. If the problem is underwatering instead, the leaves will appear dry and somewhat crispy, and the soil will clearly be dry.
How do you make a fern bushy?
Instead, trim off the side fronds at the base. Also remove old, discolored fronds near the soil to allow new growth to come through. Remove the unsightly stems to the base as well. The remainder of the plant can be clipped along the outer edges to the desired shape.
How fast do asparagus ferns grow?
Quick Reference Growing Guide Plant Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial White/emerald green Spread: 2-5 feet Asparagaceae Growth Rate: Fast Asparagus Water Needs: Moderate densiflorus, retrofractus, setaceus Common Pests: Aphids, mealybugs, scale, slugs, spider mites, whiteflies Crown rot, leaf spot, root rot.
Can asparagus fern grow outside?
Outdoors, asparagus fern does well in shade or part shade. It can take full sun if it stays relatively moist. Regular watering is important, especially if you grow asparagus fern in hanging baskets.
What is the name of the plant that looks like asparagus?
Giant Agave Plant: Asparagus Lookalike Agave plants are members of the asparagus family, and send up a flower spike in the early spring from the center of their rosette-like leaf clusters. These spikes continue to grow taller until the flower spike looks like a giant asparagus plant.
Do all asparagus ferns have thorns?
Planting asparagus ferns Caution: Despite their soft, fluffy appearance, asparagus ferns actually have small thorns, so wear gloves when handling them. Re-pot in a larger planter if the pot becomes root-bound or you notice vigorous root growth lifting the soil out of the pot.
Is asparagus fern poisonous to humans?
Symptoms: This plant is not considered toxic. Contact with the sap can cause skin irritation and dermatitis. The prickles may also cause mechanical injury. Warning: Seek medical attention if exposure results in symptoms.
