Anyone ever divide a Boston fern and find 'potatoes' growing amongst the roots? I did recently and found it quite neat. I looked around on the Internet a bit to see what causes these 'potatoes' with little success at finding a satisfactory answer. I think they have something to do with fixing nitrogen, but I am not sure. Any ideas?If you did not know it, you can divide Boston ferns. This fern is a product of a couple of divisions. I bought my first Boston fern back in 2003. I tried overwintering it under my home in the crawlspace and it worked wonderfully! But then the fern got too big so I divided it. That one fern has grown to more than a dozen large ferns. A very good and thrifty way to save money....
in the garden....
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Good morning, I have seen the 'potatoes' in the root ball of other plants...though without coffee I couldn't tell you which ones. I am not sure what they are other than food storage roots.
ReplyDeleteBoston ferns are so beautiful, everytime I buy one I end up killing it with water. I'm under the impression they like steam. Potatoes? I have no clue
ReplyDeleteI"ve never seen anything like that before. That's pretty cool!--Randy
ReplyDeleteI have seen these potato looking things in other plants, but I have never divided bosten fern (you are so brave Tina!) :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it is caused by being root bound..
I have never grown Boston Ferns although I do admire them when I see them. You are like me, what the heck, I try to divide a lot of plants...
ReplyDeleteHow interesting. It's not some sort of grub or fungus?
ReplyDeleteThis looks familiar and I think it is for the purpose you mentioned. We also had one extra large fern that got so big we put it in a garage sale and sold it for $85.00. That was a long time ago. We also sold a very large spider plant for about the same money.
ReplyDeleteI did begin a new blog, the other day, about the flowers that bloom here and opened it to the public. If you are interested.
Our Flower Pot
Hi Tina, no expert on Boston Ferns, haven't had one in years because I can't over winter them. Always thought the tubers were for water storage but that is probably wrong.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Tina, I just divided some asparagus ferns that I've managed to keep for two years now and wondered about those "potatoes" myself. I have no idea why they form or what they're for. I'm curious to see if any other commenters have an idea. The huge Boston fern I got for a bargain last year didn't make it through the winter very well--the forgetful gardener is responsible for that:) There are a few green fronds on it, and I wondered, cheap that I am, if I could cut out all the dead parts and see if it might grow again.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post on landscaping a pool. We don't have one, but I've never seen an above ground pool around here looking as good as yours!
Like Dawn I love them but I also never had one any where near big enough to divide as they never live for me and I also think I give em too much water. I envy you and Skeeter for growing them like you do.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple Boston Ferns that I have divided & they seem to be doing fine. In fact they need dividing again. When some of the fronds die back I just clip them off. Mine stay out most all yr.
ReplyDeleteI have no clue as to the potatoes.
That is very interesting. I've never seen that before. I love how Boston Ferns look hanging on porches in the summer.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Everyone! A rainy but busy day for me today. I am hoping that it is not raining in NC as Tina is to meet with Cameron and tour her gardens today! Cross your fingers for nice strolling weather for them!
ReplyDeleteOne of my two ferns is not doing too well right now. I think the heat is getting to it and me not enough with the watering! I am working on my part and hopefully Mother Nature will assist me also. I think the shading trees near by have changed in growth and now allow too much sun to get to the shade loving fern. Hum. I will keep my eye on it this year and may have to make adjustments next year. I love my Southern Looking ferns but replace them each year. I dont have a place to overwinter them and the crawlspace did not work as our crawlspace is way too low and moisture from watering the plant may get to the wood floors. That’s not a good thing...
Have a good day and I must get now...
Ops, forgot to say, I have never seen the fern potatoes before. Strange...
ReplyDeleteGreat way to save money for sure Tina. :)
ReplyDeleteBoston ferns are one of those plants better remembered fondly than attempted in my climate. Concur with your estimate that the nodules fix nitrogen. That means you should plant corn where you removed the fern, since corn is one of those veggies that love the nitrogen.
ReplyDeleteDarn! And I thought it was going to be one of those unsolved mysteries like cypress knees. I wonder if they taste good?
ReplyDeleteTina was here today and we had no rain! It was a bit hot compared to what she's used to. Tina is so delightful -- that's how I keep describing her! My husband thoroughly enjoyed talking to her hubby and son while we did the garden tour.
ReplyDeleteCameron
PS Don't know about Boston Ferns and potatoes!
huh. don't know much about ferns. maybe it is nitrogen -fixers..? thanks for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteI too have an asparagus fern that has these type of water storage devices.
ReplyDeleteI have a dwarf Baston fern , I had never thought about division.
Thank you for stimulating my gray matter.
Mmmmm, potatoes.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried a Boston fern in decades, but I've seen the nodules on some sword ferns I have. I wonder if they're for storing water or other things the plant likes?
ReplyDelete