Foxtail Fern Care and Details: Beautiful Air Purifying Plant

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The Foxtail Fern care is low and are easy to grow plants. The foliage is commercially used in flower decorations. They are hard to kill and can tolerate harsh conditions. They are drought resistant plants. The plants have a clumping habit similar to that of ferns thus the name Foxtail Ferns.

Foxtail Fern Care and Quick Details

Other Common Names	Plume asparagus, Foxtail Fern, Asparagus Fern
Type	Outdoor / Indoor Ornamental Plant
Maintenance	Low
Flowering	Late spring- early summer
Light	Bright indirect sunlight
Water	Regular watering
Temperature	Warm conditions
Soil	Well draining sandy soil
Fertilizer	Any house plant fertilizer
Habitat	South Africa
Toxicity	No
Common Diseases	Crown and root rot, leaf spot, dry leaves
Scientific name	Asparagus meyeri

Foxtail Fern Buying Instructions

• Buy a plant in which there are no or minimal dry leaves.
• Leaves should not have any kind of spots
• Buy a bushy plant

Overview of Foxtail Fern

Foxtail Ferns are evergreen perennial plants belonging to the family of Asparagaceae. They are native to South Africa. They are not true ferns.

The plants are noted for its dense thick soft needle like foliage. The roots are fibrous and tuberous. The stem arises from these tubers. The stems are covered with cladodes which are leaf like stems. The fronds also has thorns in them. They produce white small flowers that bloom in the summer. The flowers bear red berries.

The foliage is mainly used in flower decorations. The cut leaves used for decorations can survive up to 3 weeks before turning yellow.

Special features: The plant can survive for years without much care. They are also said to purify air and remove toxins in the air.

Usage and Advantage of Foxtail Fern

• Grown as a ornamental plant.
• The long foliage stems are used in flower arrangements.

General Foxtail Fern Care

Special Care:

The care for Foxtail ferns are not much. Water the plants regularly. Prune them occasionally to control the spread.

Soil:

Foxtail ferns prefer well draining nutrient rich sandy soil. A well draining potting mix or a mixture of potting soil and sand works good for these plants.

Water:

Water the Foxtail fern plants regularly to provide enough moisture.Water them regularly during the growing period to provide enough moisture. The frequency can be reduced during winters.

Sunlight:

The Foxtail ferns can thrive in bright indirect sunlight or in shade. The plants can be kept in spots which receive direct sunlight in the morning and partial shade by afternoon to keep them away from the harsh sunlight.In colder regions and during winters, leave them outdoors with direct sunlight.

Temperature:

The fox tail ferns prefer warmer climatic conditions. However, they are resistant to both warm and cold conditions. Shift the plants indoors during harsh winters.

Fertilization:

Feed the Foxtail ferns ones in a month during the growing season. The leaves turn yellow when there is lack of nutrients in the soil. Feed the plants with any house plant fertilizer.

Pests and other problems for Foxtail Fern

The foxtail ferns are attacked by pests like slugs, mites, aphids, mealy bugs etc. In severe cases, the plants can be sprayed with soap solution or neem oil to avoid the attack of pests.

Excess watering or moisture in leaves can lead to rot, leaf spot and crown rotting. Avoid overhead watering and overwatering of the plants. Make sure the soil is well draining. Let the soil dry after each watering. The leaves can turn yellow and fall when there is deficiency of nutrients.

Propagation of Foxtail Fern

Propagation can be done either through seeds or through division.

Foxtail Propagation Through Seeds

The fox tail ferns produce seeds during spring, the seeds can be collected and sown to produce new plants.

Foxtail Propagation Through Division

The division is mostly done during spring. The plant can be uprooted and divided carefully from the tuberous roots. The divisions can be planted separately.