HI all Have got a maidenhair fern which is doing well.New growth is starting to appear,is it time for a haircut or let it go?………..AL

I’d only give it a hair cut if the old growth is looking scraggly. Otherwise let it be, it sounds like it is happy as it is.

I’d give it a haircut now…but that’s because we have hot weather already and I use the cut fronds as mulch for the new ones coming on…

……….thanks BG.I usually burn off the brown bits with a match,but wife kinda looks at me with hate in her eyes……….AL

… but then I don’t have one so what do I know! lol!

al said:

……….thanks BG.I usually burn off the brown bits with a match,but wife kinda looks at me with hate in her eyes……….AL

I think my mum used to burn off the ends if picking it for the vase…

reaches into the deep recesses of her memory

al said:

……….thanks BG.I usually burn off the brown bits with a match,but wife kinda looks at me with hate in her eyes……….AL

Just as long as the fern isn’t named after the wife….. I think ya safe;P

bluegreen said:

al said:

……….thanks BG.I usually burn off the brown bits with a match,but wife kinda looks at me with hate in her eyes……….AL

I think my mum used to burn off the ends if picking it for the vase…

reaches into the deep recesses of her memory

My nanna did that for Iceland Poppies….. Made the flower last longer in the vase.

we use to have a wild patch that grew by the creek that ran down the side of our property. Could never grow it in a pot though. That patch is long gone now – the creek has been piped in and it’s all townhouses now.

I think my mum used to burn off the ends if picking it for the vase…
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I think mine did, too…those were the days…

It depends: if they are australian native maidenhair, maybe the old fronds need to be burnt?

Dinetta said:

I think my mum used to burn off the ends if picking it for the vase…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I think mine did, too…those were the days…

It depends: if they are australian native maidenhair, maybe the old fronds need to be burnt?

I think it sealed off the ends and stopped the moisture bleeding out.

…….thanks for all the replies people,BTW I,m AL,used to be 46150 but cant remember password or something ? so created a new register old timers disease?????…………….Al

They are heavy feeders and thirsty, I fert with thrive every 2 nd watering , once a week. They need to be kept moist , a thick mulch helps.

bluegreen said:

we use to have a wild patch that grew by the creek that ran down the side of our property. Could never grow it in a pot though. That patch is long gone now – the creek has been piped in and it’s all townhouses now.

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One of my SIL can grow the natives, but I have not been successful…maidenhair are like that, they like some people better than others…worse than c_a_t_s in that respect…

That is sad re the demise of your wild maidenhair..they are so charming in the wild, kind of like the little finches and wrens are in the bird kingdom…

al said:

…….thanks for all the replies people,BTW I,m AL,used to be 46150 but cant remember password or something ? so created a new register old timers disease?????…………….Al

I figured as much as you always signed your posts “Al” anyway :)

al said:

…….thanks for all the replies people,BTW I,m AL,used to be 46150 but cant remember password or something ? so created a new register old timers disease?????…………….Al

LOL called CRAFT moments……

al said:

…….thanks for all the replies people,BTW I,m AL,used to be 46150 but cant remember password or something ? so created a new register old timers disease?????…………….Al

Hi Al….gee the old crowd is coming home to roost (sorry about that pun, Rook)….I thought I recognized the name Al but yeh, I suffer from Old Timer’s as well …got the lightbulb moment when you put those numbers up…

Happy Potter said:

They are heavy feeders and thirsty, I fert with thrive every 2 nd watering , once a week. They need to be kept moist , a thick mulch helps.

Thanks for the tip, Happy…my mother never fed any of her pot plants, ever…but she did put burnt bones in the potting mix for the ferns…atrocious soil straight out of the yard….she was, however, religious about watering them…

Dinetta said:

Happy Potter said:

They are heavy feeders and thirsty, I fert with thrive every 2 nd watering , once a week. They need to be kept moist , a thick mulch helps.

Thanks for the tip, Happy…my mother never fed any of her pot plants, ever…but she did put burnt bones in the potting mix for the ferns…atrocious soil straight out of the yard….she was, however, religious about watering them…

My Mum never bought potting mix in her life. Just soil straight out of the garden.

Hi Al. I don’t know if SA maidenhair are the same as our queensland types but I only cut mine back if they have missed being watered and the fronds start to curl up. They rarely come good with late watering so I cut them off and start again.

The other time I cut is when the fronds are covered in spores because they are on their last legs anyway

One of the oldest ferns alive but still one of my favourites.

if you let it go, will it still remain a maiden?

aquarium said:

if you let it go, will it still remain a maiden?

How did it get its name anyway???