Tea kettle turns into perfect terrarium for frosted fern

The old glass kettle turned out to be the perfect place for my latest houseplant, a frosted fern.

These plants appear in grocery stores and garden centres every year, along with Christmas trees and poinsettias. And sadly, like the P plant, most barely make it through the season. That’s unfortunate, as it makes a pretty houseplant. The tiny, bright green, fernlike leaves have silvery tips as though dusted with frost, giving it a wintery look. It’s no wonder they’re an easy sell at the grocery store.

The botanical name is Selaginella kraussiana ‘Variegatus.’ Other common names are Krauss’s club moss or African club moss; however, although it is from an ancient line of plants known as the clubmosses, it’s neither a moss nor a fern. It’s a vascular plant, same as most other plants in your garden. It originated in the Azores and parts of East Africa and was then introduced to Europe, particularly Britain in 1878, where it can be found today growing as a weed in the warmer, wetter parts of the country.

The frosted fern loves the humidity and shade outdoors, and that is its downfall as a houseplant. If you own one or were gifted one, there’s a chance it may not be looking too happy or has already been dispatched. Once the silver tips on the leaves begin to turn brown, it soon loses its appeal and is tossed. You can’t blame the plant. Our homes are too dry to keep it happy. It likes moist soil and humid air, more humid than can be achieved in the average living room.

The soil should always be moist but not soggy — never let it dry out. To keep the humidity up, a common suggestion is to mist it, but the effect is short-lived as within minutes the foliage will have dried out. Another tip is to set it on a pebble filled tray of water, and that can help a little, especially if it’s a large tray. Better still is to add it to a grouping of plants that all contribute to the ambient humidity.

Other reasons for the demise of a frosty fern plant are too much sun and cool temperatures, so avoid placing it close to a window. Indirect light is best. And if you’re inclined to jack up the heat it will love you for it, as 20 C is at the low end of its comfort zone. No surprise, then, that the best location is probably a bathroom, providing there’s sufficient light and someone showers regularly.

By now maybe you’re thinking why bother with a plant that would rather be lolling about in a shady glen in the Azores, enjoying the moisture laden breezes of the Atlantic Ocean.

There is one place in your home, however, that will suit your frosty fern: a terrarium. And that’s where mine is — kind of — and it’s thriving. I brought it home after the spirit of Christmas plants whispered in my ear while waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store, despite me knowing that I had no room for it in my current terrarium.

This posed a problem until the kettle quit after a lifetime of service. I couldn’t just throw it out, not after it had provided countless comforting cups of tea. So, there I was with a humidity loving, frosty fern in one hand and a lovely glass tea kettle in the other, a perfect combination. An inch or two of potting soil in the kettle and the plant is clearly happy to be in there. What’s more, if it looks a little too humid, I can even flick the lid open. It might grow too well, but by then I should be able to find a spot for it outdoors in spring.

I know it might seem a little odd, but hey, how are you getting through winter?

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David Hobson gardens in Waterloo and is happy to answer garden questions, preferably by email: garden@gto.net. Reach him by mail c/o In the Garden, The Record, 160 King St. E., Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4E5