Creating a collection
Creating an exotic fern collection is a rewarding and interesting hobby. An interest in indoor and tropical ferns often starts with the purchase or gift of an indoor fern. The appreciation of their beauty and ease of care perhaps leads to more being acquired. Before long, a small collection starts, maybe along with other tropical plants. Usually, these ferns include an eclectic mix of species and the collection may remain so—just more extensive. As interest and knowledge increases, some collectors then decide to specialise in a few genera or types of ferns and, before long, a curated collection is established.
A display of Athyrium in pots for a plant show (© Peter Blake)
​Displaying Ferns
An important consideration when curating a collection is working out how you want to display your ferns. For indoor and tropical ferns there are two ways to approach this. The first is keeping individual species or cultivars in separate pots, containers or mounts. The second is to create a natural looking display in a specific section of your glasshouse or even in a large display pot or terrarium in your home. The latter could use a variety of substrates like: tree fern stumps, cork structures, pieces of wood and a prepared bed for terrestrial ferns. The overall effect could display a range of ferns that are happy growing in different ways. Displays like this are sometimes themed to specific geographic areas or biomes. Attractive terrariums and aquariums can be used to display small ferns and create specific environmental conditions.
A mixed fern bed in a glasshouse (© Matthew Reeve)
Outdoors, exotic ferns can be used as part of your general garden scheme, just like other perennial plants. There are ferns which suit every aspect and location in your garden. Ferneries or stumperies are specific areas of your garden that are devoted to growing ferns. Spring bulbs are excellent companion plants in these areas, particularly around deciduous ferns. Ferneries and stumperies will often incorporate tree stumps, wood and rocks to provide planting pockets and a natural backdrop on which to grow and display the ferns.
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The monoculture approach allows you to easily move ferns into different positions and is perhaps ideal and practical if you are keeping a strictly botanical collection. In itself it can look attractive and you can position the pots to showcase your best looking ferns in key positions. Greenhouse staging and plant stands can add different vertical dimensions. Watering is easy to control using this method, although pots may dry out quicker than if the ferns are planted in a bed. The substrate in each pot or container can be easily tailored to the individual fern. Keeping ferns in pots, of course, makes it much easier if you plan on showing ferns for competitions or exhibitions.
Ferns growing in an artificial rock wall in a glasshouse (© Peter Blake)
Creating a natural display can take a little more work, particularly at the planning stages. There are many techniques you can use to create the core structure. If you are planning on building a natural display in your greenhouse, one method is to plant directly into the ground. Depending on your soil-type the ground may need more or less preparation. This will require adding plenty of compost and some good quality bark. If your soil is very compacted it would be worth digging this through. If your soil is a heavy clay you will also need to add grit or something that will permanently improve drainage.
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Another method is creating raised beds. This will allow for more control of the substrate and has the added advantage of bringing the plants closer to your eye level. This method can be particularly useful for xeric ferns. Several large public collections use raised beds filled with sand. Their xeric ferns are planted in terracotta pots and then sunk into the sand. This is a good way to regulate water for these ferns. At the other end of the spectrum, adding pond liner or polythene, with some perforations, to the bottom of beds will reduce water loss and drainage. These wetter conditions may benefit certain tropical ferns that prefer their toes a little wet. It may require a degree of experimentation.
An Adiantum growing in a terracota pot in raised bed of sand (© Peter Blake)
​​​Another approach is to use benches and greenhouse staging. There are many permutations available to suit most needs. If you plan is to build a permanent display then ensure it is strong and resilient enough to take the weight. All metal staging will corrode over time, so check the structure from time to time and maintain as appropriate. Using deep shelves can allow you to have sufficient depth of substrate to plant terrestrial and shallow rooted ferns. The depth can be increased further with clever and creative use of old tree fern trunks and lightweight or artificial rocks. Just be aware of the weight, especially when watered. Do not forget the space under the benches. By using this space, your growing real estate can be expanded particularly with the use of artificial lighting. This space can also be useful for housing terrariums or aquariums or as an ideal place for nurturing sporelings or newly propagated ferns.
A Davallia mounted on a piece of cork bark (© Peter Blake)
If you plan on growing epiphytes it is possible to construct tree-like supports above your beds or benches. This can be achieved in many ways. Cork bark can be attached to a metal support. To help with maintaining moisture levels on the cork, these structures can be packed with a substrate—compost and bark mix, bound together with a clay loam. Any gaps can be packed with moss or fine bark attached with silicone sealant. Over time the effect can be very natural but plan well, as these structures can be tricky to change once set up.
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If your greenhouse or hothouse has a solid wall it may be possible to create a stone structure by stacking rocks against the solid wall, a little like a dry stone wall. This will suit many epiphytes and lithophytes. Crevices can be packed with other substrates and this can be ideal for many ferns. It is possible to achieve this with many types of rock. However, limestones will affect the water chemistry and this will not suit some ferns. Lightweight rocks, like pumice, may be particularly suitable. Many Victorian ferneries used this aesthetic using an artificial rock, known as Pulhamite. Modern, lightweight artificial rocks are available that are made from many types of material.
Several Platycerium growing indoors in hanging baskets (© Peter Blake)
​​Indoor hanging baskets and other hanging structures can be attractive in indoor ferneries. Wall hooks can be used to hang chains or metal mesh, onto which plaques or baskets can be attached that will work for many epiphytes. Shelves and plant stands can also help to use the space efficiently and create different growing conditions for different ferns.
​Labelling Ferns
Do keep records of the ferns you have in your collection. Take time to either label your plants or make clear notes on where you have planted them. Never rely just on your memory. Many collectors will develop their own accession numbering system. This will be a code that identifies a specific plant in their collection. A spreadsheet can help maintain your record and also log information about where you acquired the fern or notes of propagation and so on. The Exotic Fern Group has a free database that members can use to maintain records of their collections. Check the labels annually to make sure they are still legible and replace faded or damaged labels. There are many methods of creating labels. Be sure to choose a method that is easy to read and permanent.