I don't grow many ornamental plants but I love maidenhair ferns, I think that they are beautiful. I have some on my desk at work to help my day be less dreary.
Years ago I heard of variegated maidenhair ferns, they sounded really nice. I looked for them and no one seems to sell them. For some reason there are very few pictures of variegated maidenhair ferns anywhere on the internet. Considering how few images I found, I started to wonder if they actually existed, or if they were just photoshopped images.
I searched for a variegated maidenhair fern (
Adiantum raddianum 'Variegata') for years. For some reason very few people own variegated maidenhair ferns in Australia. I found a few people who used to have one, and some places that used to sell them but no longer do, but getting one myself proved difficult. I spoke to a few fern collectors, all of which had fond memories of once seeing this plant, but none who currently had one. All of this convinced me that they did exist. Then I eventually tracked one down, and I bought it.
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| Variegated maidenhair fern Adiantum raddianum 'Variegata' |
My variegated maidenhair fern was tiny when I got it. The little fern is growing nicely and I hope to be able to divide it and when it is larger I would love to grow some spores from it. I will be curious to see if spore grown plants are all variegated, or if only a percentage are variegated, or if none of them will display variegation. I have asked a few fern collectors and none of them seem to know.
I looked on the internet and there are only about half a dozen pictures of these elusive and enigmatic plants. This makes it difficult to decide if you really want to get one. If these things are so great why have so few people posted pictures of them on the internet? The lack of pictures made it difficult to know if they really exist. I am happy to say that variegated maidenhair ferns do exist, and they are very pretty. I think the lack of pictures is due to their rarity. I don't know why they are rare.
As you can see my fern displays diversity in its variegation. Some fronds have more white than others. Even on one frond it shows a lot of variation, some pinnules are entirely white, others are entirely green, and most will be green with splashes and stripes of green.
As so few people have ever seen these delightful ferns I took some pictures of my variegated maidenhair fern
Adiantum raddianum 'Variegata' to show the world how pretty variegated maidenhair ferns are.
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| Variegated maidenhair fern Adiantum raddianum 'Variegata' |
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| Variegated maidenhair fronds Adiantum raddianum 'Variegata' |
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| Variegated maidenhair fern frond - some pinnules are entirely white |
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| Variegated maidenhair fern pinnules range from entirely white to almost entirely green. |
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| Variegated maidenhair fern needs repotting |
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| Variegated maidenhair fern in a larger pot |
At this stage I only have the one small variegated maidenhair fern. I really like it. I can hardly wait for my plant to grow larger. I hope in spring to be able to divide my fern so I have more of them, even if I can split it into two I would be happy.
Eventually I hope to be able to sell variegated maidenhair ferns through my
for sale page, but that will not be for a while yet as my plant is too small to divide yet.
How do you care for your maiden hair? I have a varigated one also and have just noticed some of the tips are turning brown. I keep the water up to it so it's never dry and most daily to keep the humidity. I'm just wondering if maybe it's the light. Either too much or not enough. ☺
ReplyDeleteI keep mine in self watering pots and make sure there is water in the reservoir. I never give mine direct sunlight, the glare from a window seems to be enough light for it. I fertilise with tea leaves, ferns seem to like that as it is not too strong. Maidenhair ferns dislike change, if I move it from one spot to another I lose any fronds that are emerging.
DeleteI have a normal, green maiden hair fern. I wrote a post on it here: https://living-mudflower.blogspot.com/2018/01/maidenhair-fern.html It was tiny when I got it, but the fronds are about 45 cm long now and it seems to be dividing into several plants.
Good luck with yours! They are such a pretty looking fern.
I had this plant for several years, grown from seeds that I had bought from Brazil. I had it in hydroponics and it grew well. Then I lost it, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI am exactly like you. I had one when I was 17yrs and went away for a while and my mum killed it along with all my other ferns I am now 56 yrs and been trying to find one of these ever since. It was my favorite. So I am asking do you send to W.A. I would just love one. Kind regards Wendy.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy,
DeleteI have a few ideas on how to get you one of these ferns. If you use the 'contact form' on the lower right hand side of the page it will send an email through to me and we can discuss further.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI just got myself a variegated maidenhair fern. It looks so pretty and delicate :) Only half the plant has variegated leaves though and the other half has fully green leaves. I’ve heard of variegated plants reverting to being all green and I’m wondering if you have any tips on maintaining the variegation on these ferns?
Also, I believe the plant needs to be repotted, but am too nervous to do it. Do you have any step-by-step instructions on how to repot maidenhair ferns, propagate them as well as what potting mix is best for them?
Many thanks! :)
Hi Sharon,
DeleteCongratulations on getting a variegated maidenhair fern, they are really lovely!
I am far from an expert when it comes to these ferns. It could be that your plant is reverting to all green, it could be that your fern throws some variegated fronds and some non-variegated fronds, or it is even possible that you have several ferns in the pot?
My fern throws a mix of variegated and non-variegated fronds, it also seems to go through phases where it has a lot of white and others where it has very little white. It is always a beautiful fern.
My fern died back badly once and I almost lost it, but has since recovered grown rather large. I had it in a 'self watering' pot that just didn't work and the thing was drowning. I am so glad it recovered. I probably should repot it and divide it as it has split into several plants.
I repot maiden hair ferns like any other plant. I just use cheap potting mix because it will be low in fertiliser. I water the fern well, then carefully tip it out of the pot and put in in the new one. I always water well before AND after repotting.
After the fern has settled in for a few weeks I tear open some used tea bags and sprinkle the contents on top of the soil, this provides fertiliser for them that isn't too strong. Strong fertiliser burns them, used tea bags works well but can cause fungus to grow on the soil surface. I don't think the fungus causes any issues, but to be honest I don't know for sure.
Good luck with your new fern.
Hi would you have any variegated maidenhair ferns for sale please?
ReplyDelete