Ming Fern
A Quick Guide to the Ming fern
The ming fern is among a group of ferns called asparagus ferns. These plants are in the lily family just like the vegetable, asparagus. The lily family has over 3,000 different species. In reality, the ming fern, Asparagus myriocladus, is not a fern and it is not a vegetable.
The ming fern is easy to grow, although to grow it outside, you must live in a very warm climate. The plant originates from South Africa like many other asparagus plants. In the United States, it grows best in USDA zones 9 - 11. Most people grow the ming fern as a houseplant, although under the right conditions, it can grow to be four to five feet tall.
This asparagus fern does not have leaves in a normal sense. It has what are known as cladodes, or flattened stems which look a lot like pine needles. In fact, if you look at a small ming fern, it will remind you of a pine tree seedling. They get the name asparagus ferns because they are in the same plant family as asparagus and the new growth when teensy, looks somewhat like asparagus spears.
You can grow asparagus ferns from seeds or propagate by root division. You can divide the root ball into halves or fourths. Place it in a container just slightly larger than the root ball with a good mix of starter soil and fertilizer. If growing outside, plant in a place where they will get sun for part of the day and shade for part of the day.
The ming fern is easy to grow because it is not picky about the type of soil you have and it grows equally well with lots of rain and in dry conditions. Asparagus ferns have tubers on their roots which store extra water to help them survive should weather conditions turn drought-like.
If you like plants which don’t need a lot of attention, the ming fern is just the plant for you. Fertilize these asparagus ferns during their major growth periods which are in the spring and summer. You also don’t have to worry about battling all types of pests and diseases. The ming fern is not bothered by pests or diseases. It practically cares for itself.
If you are growing your fern inside as a houseplant, you will need to repot it occasionally when it outgrows its container. Because the plant has incredibly tough roots, the best way to divide them is with a saw. Just cut straight through the root ball to divide in halves or fourths. Don’t be anxious about damaging the fern’s roots or the water tubers. Just replant the separated roots into new pots and the plants will have new growth before you know it.
While a ming fern may look delicate when small, it is very strong plant that really requires little maintenance. The color is a very nice emerald green. Outside it can be planted singly as attention-attracting ornament plant or it can be planted in quantity to be a border or to grow up against a building, wall, or trellis.
When fertilizing in the spring and summer, it is best to use organic fertilizers whenever possible. They tremendously improve the health of the soil and jumpstart the fern’s growth. Outside, mulch these asparagus ferns throughout the year to keep moisture in the soil and to stop pesky weeds from growing and entangling the roots. Pruning is not necessary but won’t hurt the plant either, should you want a particular height or shape.
With a ming fern, all you have to do is supply soil, water, and light to grow a healthy, beautiful plant, inside or out.