I paused over the maidenhair fern I have been nursing along in my bathroom. My dear coworkers say I've succeeded keeping mine alive because of the humidity in the bathroom. Still--though it is attempting to put forth new shoots--I don't think it is thriving. I would say I have consistently overwatered it, which has not harmed it, but it adversely affecting the English Ivy around the edges. Perhaps I should fertilize it.
With a quick Google search, I confirmed that a little fertilizer wouldn't hurt (but I can wait for Spring on that) and that high humidity is good. The bathroom is the most humid room I have; but even so, at this time of year, it's dry enough as the forced air heat combats zero-degree weather.
I haven't done a lot of successful plant-nursing in my home lately.
But the article I found reminded me of the value of a spray bottle.
Drink, sweet fern! Drink!
I sprayed it until its tiny leaves dripped, and I imagined it was dreaming of being outdoors, soaked in a drenching spring rain. I got spray-happy, like a kid overwatering a garden she's just planted. And then, when I had the sense to stop, I lingered like that same kid, proudly and lovingly looking at the plant I had just so blessed. Grow, little plant, grow! Happiness and health! You have had a hard life and overcome less than ideal conditions (look at how you are growing!) --and now I shall take better care of you. I will gladly send more rain soon!
