Bright Eyes is very pretty. My White Sprite finally has a bud!

Good growing.

Alright Komi! I know that White Sprite has been giving you trouble. Let us know when it blooms.

Larry

Larry,

Nice camera to capture gorgeous little plants. Congrats.

Oh, I suppose you *do* know to keep a very close eye on that asparagus fern. I can attest to just how invasive it can be.

Korina

Hi Korina,

Thank you for the congratulations. I also thought the pictures turned out nice. I was able to capture what I wanted to.

As for the fern, it is not an asparagus fern. I'm not sure what it is called but when I buy roses for my sweetie they call it tree fern. I have had it in there for about a year and a half and this is what it looks like so far. I will keep an eye on it though. I don't have much experience with ferns and don't know about their invasive tendencies.

Thanks again,

Larry

Larry,
ditto on the camera- I wish mine could take close-ups as nice as yours. Plants are looking good- did you try Jon's turkey baster watering method?

ok, where did my post go? No doubt it is showing up in some unrelated thread.

Larry - what is that clump in front of the White Sprite?

Hi Andy,

Thanks. No, I don't use Jon's turkey baster method. I just wing it. Evidently its been working now that I have gotton the hang of it.

Komi,

The clump in front of White Sprite is a bunch of Sinningia Wood Nymph. When I was having trouble with my terrarium drying out I almost lost it. It seems to be recovering and I am looking forward to it growing up and flowering soon. The White Sprite and Bright Eyes recovered from the drought much faster.

Larry

HI ALL,

WELL, IT HAPPENED! TONIGHT I GOT THE BUG. I HAD NEVER REALLY WANTED THE MICRO'S, BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH AND VIEWING THESE POSTS, IT HAPPENED. NOW IT IS YOUR FAULT. I HAVE TO BLAME SOMEONE!!!!

THE 'FERN' LOOKS LIKE THE NON-FERN ASPARAGUS SPRINGERI PLUMOSA. OFTEN CALLED A FERN IN THE FLORIST TRADE,THOUGH IT IS NOT A FERN AS IT BLOOMS,AND NO LIVING FERN BLOOMS. ITS RELATIVE, ASPARAGUS SPRINGERI (MIS-CALLED SPRINGERI FERN), HAS A BLOOM THAT HAS A GREAT SCENT AND THE RED BERRIES ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE AGAINST THE GREEN FOLIAGE.
THE LAST ANCIENT FERN THAT HAD A 'BLOOM' WAS BENNETALES AND THAT WAS A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

THE PLUMOSA HAS PARTS THAT CAN RIP THE SKIN IF YOU ARE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WALK TOO CLOSE TO IT. IT GROWS VERY WELL IN FLORIDA. IT CAN BECOME A PROBLEM DUE TO RAMPANT GROWTH WHEN IT REACHES A CERTAIN SIZE. UNTIL THEN IT GROWS SLOWLY, USUALLY.

NOW TO DROOL OVER MORE GES,
TOM
IN SW FLORIDA

Yeah Tom, I know, I know. I have never given the micro-mini's their due. I have grown them; but, I usually lose them. Its not so much that I kill them; but, they are so darn tiny that I really do lose them. Now, I wish that I still had the various ones I've grown over the years. If left alone and kept watered they can grow for many years. With a little work at propagating they can really multiply. I have the new one, sp. 'Rio das Pedras' that is doing very well in a 2" pot in a tray under a dome and under lights. It has already invaded the surrounding pots with some seedlings. The other day, I visited one of our local gesneriad growers who had concinna in flower. That is the one to grow. It also is the most difficult to grow. But, it has the largest and prettiest flowers. If I get one again (its been many years since I last had one), I will grow it like my "Rio". The large rectangular domes that fit on 10/20 trays really work well for little pots of humidity lovers.

Thanks Larry for posting your pictures, they are working one me too.

Jon

Tom, I had one of those asparagus ferns growing in the office for a few years when it suddenly EXPLODED into growth, throwing long -- er -- branches everywhere. I finally had to throw it to the wolves and stuck it outside, where it has been thoroughly mollified.

Welcome to the world of Gesneriad addiction.

Also, TYPING IN ALL CAPS is the 'net equivilant of shouting, so please, save it for special occasions (such as a first bloom). I'm getting a headache.

:-)

Korina

The 'tree fern' is Asparagus plumosa.

Korina

Korina,

Thanks for researching the'tree fern' and finding out that it is Asparagus plumosa. That makes sense. The tree 'fern' looks like an Asparagus when it sends up another branch. Do you know how big it gets?

Larry

Hi Korina,

I guess, Never Mind. I just went out to google and looked at images of Asparagus plumosa and it looks like it can get reasonably large. Much larger than my 7x7x10 inch terrarium. I have already trimmed some of the larger fronds (sp?) to keep it from getting out of control. It's not evident by the picture but there is already a canopy under the top of the terrarium made from the plant. A canopy? I guess it is more like a rain forest than I had originally thought. lol

Larry

Your asparagus will grow into a giant. It also makes tuberous roots that will fill the container. For now, it is OK but it will need to come out before too long, before it eats the sinningias.

Jon

Larry, I understand in the South it can grow up telephone poles. Also, Jon is right, it makes *masses* of those frelling tubers. I made the mistake of putting a small one in with a ficus; when I finally hollered 'uncle' and pulled the Asparagus, it was taking up half the pot, squeezing out my poor little tree.

You might want to think about taking it out now, while you still can.

Korina

Well,

As I said in an another thread, I replanted this little terrarium. And, with the urging of you, Jon and Korina, I took the asparagus fern out. You were right it was starting to grow some good-sized tuberous roots. I think if I had left it for a couple more months it would have really taken off. Thanks again for the encouragement.

Larry

I have seen plumosa climb like a vine. I think it could be trained on a small trellis or a tall stake. It climbs by twining around and clinging with its thorns.