Try growing them in a terrarium or a large jar, this will give them a lot more moisture than they have in a normal central heated house. Try the pebble tray also, but I found with my ferns I've had to one up that by putting them in a clear bowl (so you can see the water level) with a little charcoal, then an inch of gravel, then the fern then spaghnum moss stuffed around the pot. water from underneath, do not let the moss dry out, nor let the fern sit in the water. good luck!

Japanese Painted Ferns are reproducing like crazy in my garden. I must have accidently hit upon just the right environment for both the mother plants & the babies. They take a long time to develop though. This will be my first babies' 3rd season & they should be about 6" tall based on last season's growth. I've got about 3 dozen new plants that I've just been leaving to grow up a bit before transplanting since they're doing so well on their own. When we planted the originals Japanese Painted Ferns we took extra care. First, dug a trench 18" deep & removed all of the existing soil to a wheelbarrel. Then, mixed the native soil with 25% leaf mould & 25% composted manure. We then returned this mixture back to the trench & planted. The ferns received 90% full shade (sun between 11:00-1:00. We also mulch them 4-5" deep in May with composted maple leaves. They are absolutely thriving. The babies turned up about 10' away in a compacted area near the hose outlet. This area receives more direct sun but stays continually moist. I do nothing...no mulch, no added soil amendments, etc. Mother Nature is growing these babies just fine on her own. I think this may be the spring to transplant them. They can't stay where they are forever...they interfer with using the hose! Anyway, if you're patient you can share babies from your ferns with your friend. Now, ask me about my maidenhair fern...what a complete failure to thrive. It survives but doesn't grow...no larger now than when I planted it 4 years ago from a 4" pot! Oh well.... Tricia

After work today, there are opening fiddleheads on the tiniest outliers of the long established Osmundas. The older ones are greening up on the crowns. Still nothing on the other species. Part of the joy of gardening is being thrilled by each new thing coming up, and in holding your breath to see what made it through to come back up. Or so they say..... [sigh] Anxiously waiting for signs of the others. Maybe tomorrow. Linda

Laura, I'm not ignoring you, have just been REALLY busy lately! This will need to be short! Yes, I am still growing ferns. All the ones I have are still the ones that were planted in the original "potter's clay," so they're not "spreading" much at all. I still want more--but there are SO many things I want! Some of it gets done and some doesn't! The most successful one I have is the Japanese Painted fern, which has spread "moderately" (again, in HEAVY clay!), and looks great every year. It's just starting to grow for this year. Is usually semi-evergreen, but the wild temp swings Got It, like everything else that's "evergreen" got GOT this year! Next most successful is my Autumn Fern (don't have time to look up genus/species). I love that one because the new fronds coming out have a real bronzy look to them--thus the name! It hasn't really spread much, but it does come back "solidly" every year. "As time permits" I'm still planning to dig my existing ferns to GREATLY improve the soil and then replant them. Some day! The Ostrich fern, which is supposed to be invasive, and the Leatherwood fern both come back--BARELY--with one or two fronds every year. So they "still exist," but sometimes I wonder if I should put them out of their misery! Again, if I ever have time I'll dig and improve the soil--and see if they make it and start doing better. I still want a hardy maidenhair fern some day--and there are plenty of others I'd like to try! I'm not familiar with the Japanese tassel fern, but I looked it up and it IS hardy (I think it was z5), so I'd say plant it outside and see what happens! The more organic matter you put in the soil, the happier it will be! Give it mostly shade--some early morning or very late day sun should be ok. The north side of my (two story) house is already getting some sun I just noticed today. Otherwise keep it fairly wet, and for sure don't let the soil dry completely, or with some ferns they get "suddenly crispy" and, while they usually survive the "trauma," it can take them a long time to recover and grow new fronds. A thick wood mulch would definitely help with moisture retention in the soil--and did I mention LOTS of organic matter! Have to go! Let us know later in the summer how it's going! Skybird