Hi, Living in the desert sw, I hope no one minds that I'm here at the forum. I chose you guys, though, for your quick, intelligent, fluid-thinking replies, esp. re: ferns and mosses (which are favorites of mine.) The challenge for me, though, is I haven't figured out a way to keep them without soil. Why soil-free? I'm allergic to soil fungus, *really* don't like fungus or other soil gnats as well as some of the nasty species I've found in the soil of plants I've bought (species from other countries apparently on steroids--such as robust 1.5 inch ants and more. Nightmarish stuff.) It's fern season in most garden centers, though, and it's left me pining :) I saw a beautiful Selaginella emmelinana today...Oooooh! So beautiful! And, it said it does o.k. in low light (a plus for someone w/ severe photosensitive lupus :) ) Is there a reasonable way to go soilless? (and not go bankrupt doing it, lol? Affordable soiless gardening?) I'll need something easy to keep and...since I live in the desert where humidity is almost 0 daily and only about 20 - 30% during a monsoon...when we're having a productive monsoon (which this summer's hasn't been.) (Otherwise, I may give up my terrestrial fern/moss love and resign myself to a small table-top pond/fountain display using a few aquatic plants.) Thanks so much!
Welcome to the Forum! One of the great things about this most excellent Forum is the variety of flora discussed in it. Glad to have a desert-dweller with us! Hmm. have you considered 'air plants', such as Tillandsia, that require no soil? True, some varieties do need bright light, but not all, and they like your dry conditions. Here is some information and several really good photos to give you ideas: http://floragrubb.com/florasblog/?p=2394 Epiphytic orchids can be grown soilless-ly...however, they do require moisture/humidity. How about growing plants in water only? Perhaps you could do your moss and ferns as a terrarium? A whole (miniature) world of delights to be had! This would fulfill the low light requirement, and the terrarium would make its own humidity once set up. http://inhabitat.com/how-to-make-your-own-terrarium/
Well, I found/brought Selafinella emmeliana home today. There's something charming about it (even though it's so beat up that I got it 1/2 off, it's crispy in spots, might be a bit un-rooted and comes bearing fungus gnats.) I'm really hoping something can be set up terrarium-style w/ ferns & epiphytes...so, just using charcoal as substrate and change that out 3 to 4 times/yr. The good news is I have two 20 gal. long aquariums w/ canopies and lights i was getting ready to sell (instead, they might b up-cycled at home.) It would be really nice to have a collection of *absolutely gnat and other bug-resistant* as a feature in a bedroom, esp. w/ low-light, undemanding...just something fresh and light. But definitely no fungus gnats or other nasties... At one point I had a recipe for nixing bugs: with warm water, cinnamon extract, dish soap Mix the solution then gently tease the plant from the soil and soak everything--roots to terminus ends w/ the dunk/swish lasting about 2 minutes followed by and equally gentle, long and through as the bug dip. I've also seen a few variations: adding vegetable oii, cayanne, etc. ...but, I've never tried on this type of plant... I guess the big questions are whether anyone has info on this species, if anyone's tried switching to a pure carbon (alternately, lava rock, which would need to have nutrients added.) I'll post pics tomorrow (I'm sorry, I'm just much too tired tonight.) Thanks so much!
I brought Sellaginella emmeliana home yesterday :) (I've attached a pic.) It's pretty dehydrated and looks like it needs to be replanted (which is good, in a way. The soil has fungus gnats, so I'll need to figure out a way to switch to something soil-less.) I'm up for suggestions :) Oddly,it's been really tough trying to find info on the species. One important question, though, will help decide in which room it'll reside: does this species reproduce more like a moss or a fern? (I'm allergic to moss spores, but o.k. w/ ferns.) Like you suggested, togata57, I'll repurpose a 20 gallon long aquarium w/ canopy (maybe both of them) into a terrarium for it (I smiled when I read about opting for a terrarium. I had to get out of fishkeeping about 18 months ago due to health reasons. I've really missed having aquatic life, so getting to see something grow in a tank will be really nice if only there were a dwarf form of fishtail fern that would be kind of *perfect*...is there such a thing?) I'm thinking of going w/ a small mix of everything you mentioned, togata57: dwarf ferns and compatible epiphytes. If I'm lucky, maybe I can figure out a way to incorporate some kind of tiny fountain in the terrarium both for humidity and to create a little movement among the plants and make it feel even more like a marriage of a terrarium and aquarium :) Thanks so much! bny
