Dry Fern Trough

So I bought myself a tufa trough yesterday

The plan is to plant it up with dry ferns - Cheilanthes, Ceterach, Asplenium trichomanes

Anyone tried something similar?

 

That's a really great idea!! I am a big fan of ferns, much to my wife's disgust, she just doesn't get it. May have to pinch that idea :-)

 

No prob.

I want to get the soil mix right. Was thinking along the lines of 1/3 JI No 3, 1/3 sharp sand, 1/3 grit.
Have a loads of tennis ball sized rocks that I plan on half burying and planting the ferns against.

 

I have loads of ferns in troughs but not specifically "dry" ones.

I have various mixes. The latest two troughs have 25% sieved soil. 40% ericaceous compost. 25% pine needles. 10% sand. The pine needles make the whole mix light and fluffy.

I have different mixes in the other troughs but I've forgotten the exact mix now. I use whatever comes to hand really.

In most of the troughs I use Red Sandstone rocks with ferns.

 

Three of these troughs have been planted up recently. I have other troughs planted with ferns one and two years ago. On some you can't see the troughs for the ferns' fronds ! !

The circular trough you see in one of the pics has been planted with a Giant Japanese Painted Fern. I have gone away a little from my mantra and planted some deciduous plants. :( :(

 

Kindredspirit,

Thanks for posting the photos.

The last one is of particular interest
Those are the species I am thinking of, but can't see all the labels. Can you me what all the species are

 

Sirius, two lots of very common native ferns there.

Rustyback fern. Ceterach officinarum
Irish ferns - Rusty-back Fern

Maidenhair Spleenwort. Asplenium trichomanes
Irish ferns - Maidenhair Spleenwort

These two have been planted in spoil from a slag heap in a slate quarry. If I water that trough, the water runs out of the bottom immediately as they're planted in very dry, slate debris.

Also, Polypodiums might be of interest to you. I found one growing in my gutter and in accordance with my policy of rarely paying for anything it was transplanted into one of my troughs.

 

Kindredspirit,

Ok I have those 2 you list. So will put them in.
Am planning on setting up the trough this weekend.

Also have a few other bits and pieces to try, so will see how I go with them.

 

Put it together on the weekend

 

Very good. I like flint. What is the spindly plant bottom left and the plant lower middle left?

 

Greyish plant is a Chelmesia
Creeping plant at the edge is Sedum album

 

That should look good.

 

Hopefully the various bits will grow and cover the area a bit more.
This is my first try with Cheilanthes. They are known to be a bit difficult, so will see how I get on with them.