Name: Bird's-nest fern

Botanical name: Asplenium nidus.

Description: When the rainy season returns, our ferns once more will be happy. The bird's-nest fern, while requiring less humidity than many more delicate species, is resuming its summer growth. The fronds are undivided, and each one has a black midrib and undulating edges. A central crown from which frondlings emerge is a nub of dark brown fuzz, reminiscent of a bird's nest.

Height: Three feet.

Light: Medium to deep shade.

Cultivation: Use a potting mix that drains well and contains peat moss, fir bark, perlite and controlled-release fertilizer. Find a protected area if you plant it outside. If you have a shaded pond or stream, a bird's-nest is a good streamside candidate.

Fish emulsion is excellent fertilizer, as is an 8-8-8 liquid fertilizer. These fertilizers usually are not strong enough to burn fern roots. Use twice a month in the summer and once a month in cool weather.

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