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Ferns have wealthy roots, but grow today in many houses

During the late 1700s, ferns were expensive curiosities that only the wealthiest folks could afford. Very little was known about them, too, and the only way to possess a fern back then was to import one from the tropics.

Ferns have been around for millions of years, and are largely responsible for coal and other fossil-fuel deposits found world wide.

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But ferns also make fantastic house plants and today, fortunately, are available everywhere fine plants are sold. Of all the ferns available as house plants, however, "Boston ferns" (Nephrolepis exalta) are the most popular house-plant-type ferns to grow.

Boston ferns are native to the tropics. They thrive on bright, filtered light, as well as daytime temperatures in the 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 60s.

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Indoors, Boston-fern "fronds" (stems with tiny leaflets) typically grow 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Upper fronds are erect. Side fronds arch gracefully. These ferns do best, by the way, when they grow in humid areas where soil stays moist and drains freely.

Which reminds me, and with regard to watering: During the early 1800s, Captain Bligh —the notorious captain that caused the crew of his ship, The Bounty, to mutiny —periodically transported ferns from the tropics to England. And, a main reason Bounty's crew mutinied was because Bligh used his crew's drinking-water rations to water a shipment of breadfruit trees.

I know how Bligh felt, though, because I've sometimes put the wants of others aside to accommodate watering needs of my plants.

In any case, Bligh must have learned his lesson, since none of his subsequent crews ever again mutinied.

This week in the garden

Have you been hankering to sow some seeds, even though it's too early to sow the seeds of most plants?

I've satisfied my desire to sow seeds by sprouting beans, mustard and onion seeds in a kitchen window, to eat as sprouts.

It's easy to do. Simply soak some "edible" seeds in water overnight, before putting the seeds in a saucer.

Cover the saucer with a wet paper towel. Place the saucer in a window, and keep the paper towel wet for about a week.

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