Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips
Melinda Myers
Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.comMelinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.
The easy-care asparagus fern is a great houseplant for both beginning and experienced gardeners.
The ferny foliage and common name are a bit misleading. It is not a true fern but rather a member of the lily family along with edible asparagus, lily, amaryllis, and hosta.
Showcase its long upright and trailing branches in a hanging basket or container set upon a pedestal. What we call leaves are actually short, modified stems that not only look but function like leaves. The barely visible true leaves and stiff sharp spines grow at the base of these.
Asparagus ferns are drought tolerant but do prefer consistent moisture spring through fall and slightly drier conditions in the winter. The leaves will turn yellow and drop off the stems when plants receive insufficient light or water. Remove dry stems to improve the plants appearance and adjust the growing conditions.
A bit more information: When grown in bright light these plants often form clusters of small fragrant white flowers followed by green berries that eventually turn red. These berries are a favorite treat for birds. The birds drop the seeds in natural areas, making this an invasive plant in Florida, Texas and Hawaii. Although it is hardy in zones 9 to 11 and the roots may survive in zone 7 and 8, it is safer to only grow it indoors where it has or may become invasive.