Asparagus Macowanii Ming Fern

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern)

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) is an herbaceous perennial plant in the asparagus family. This plant is a member of the genus Asparagus, with the binomial name of Asparagus macowanii. There are a number of reasons this plant is popular and sought after, the most obvious being its fast-growing nature. This plant can reach heights of 2 feet within a few weeks of planting. It is also known to be quite an easy plant to grow in your garden, giving all the benefits without too much work!

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) History/Facts

The first record of Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) was in a Japanese herbal book, The Big Herbal, which was published in 1655.

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) is a relatively new plant for cultivation in the Western world, first being recorded in England in the early 1800s.

The plant, however, is still not widely available and difficult to find. It can be ordered online from specialty suppliers, which ship them from Asia.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) Growing Conditions

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) prefers full sun. However, it can withstand light shade and some sun.

This plant is drought-tolerant. It does best when under partial to full shade. But it also thrives in full sun as well. The plant is not very hardy, as it can be sensitive to frost and freezing temperatures. Therefore, it should be grown in areas that have a short growing season and not subjected to late frost.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) is also quite tolerant of wet soil conditions. It will survive through winter downpours. However, in spring and summer, rains make the most delicate parts of the Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) more susceptible to rotting from fungal attacks. Therefore, it is important to water plants only in the dry season.

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) also requires well-drained soil. It is not a good idea to grow this plant in shallow or water-logged soils. It can be grown on moist but well-drained soils with some organic material added if the area is particularly dry. The plant does best when grown on slightly acidic soils that are rich in organic matter.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) is not particularly picky about its soil pH as long as it is not too acidic or alkaline. The plant also does best in soil with plenty of compost and organic matter added to it, be it peat moss, leaf mold, etc.

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) also tends to grow better in soils rich in organic matter and good drainage.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) Care

Generally, the most common problem with growing Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) is over-watering. As mentioned, this plant does quite well in waterlogged soil, but it will become susceptible to fungal infections and rot in these conditions.

This plant can also suffer from too much shade. The ideal situation is partial shaded by trees or shrubs. If the plant is grown in the shade, it will not grow as large as it can.

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) is a susceptible plant. Therefore, it is more prone to fungal attacks when the weather is warm and humid. It is also more susceptible in wet areas than dry so that any excess rain will be detrimental to your plant’s health.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) should receive full sun, but it is often found growing in the shade. The plant is also one of the few ferns that can handle a bit of dry shade well. If growing outdoors, it’s best to keep this plant in moist areas with some sunlight.

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) does not need to be pruned at all and grows very quickly. It can be an excellent ground cover for this purpose.

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) can also be propagated from seeds, which are very easy to sow and germinate.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) Propagation

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) is a fern that can be propagated by taking cuttings, rooting them in water with succulent cuttings grown under long-day conditions and rooted after a few weeks of growth.

Growing Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) Outdoors

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) can be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11, where it will have the best chance of survival. It can also be grown outdoors in indoor greenhouses.

If growing this plant outdoors, prepare the soil with well-rotted manure or organic material mixed into it. Dig the hole deep enough for the roots and spread the compost around them. Then, fill in with more soil around the base of the fern and water well. If growing in sunny areas, make sure there are no rocks near the plant since they will heat up and burn it during hot summer days.

Because this plant is a fern, it does not like too much shade. Be sure to give it plenty of sunlight.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) will grow in containers and containers outdoors as long as the soil is kept consistently moist and the roots are not exposed to intense sun. It will grow fine in pots indoors as long as they get plenty of sunlight.

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) prefers well-drained soil and does not like being root-bound.

Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) Propagation Methods

The Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) can be propagated through cuttings, seeds, and even air layering.

Cuttings: Take stem tip cuttings in the summer and plant them in moist soil again, but make sure they are submerged and that all of the roots are above the soil.

Leaves: Cut a leaf off from one of your plants and stick it in water for a few days. Make sure that you cut off only the bottom two leaves because the rest of it will rot. If you want to grow more plants, take some more cuttings from your original plant.

Seeds: To germinate, soak the seeds in water overnight and then sow them outdoors in a pot or container with well-drained soil. Make sure that you do not overwater the seedlings as they will rot easily.

Air layering: To air layer, take your Asparagus Macowanii (Ming Fern) cuttings and dip them into a rooting hormone powder. Gently place them in a Rockwool or chocolate type of pot and place it in the bottom of an air-conditioned room. Keep them there for 4 to 10 days until they root easily. Then you should be able to place the rooted plants on top of a small pebble or plastic plant pot and then move it outdoors.

These are just a few ideas of how you can propagate your plants, but it is still hard to find a reliable resource for this. Most of the information that I have gotten online so far has come from the BBC website, which shows pictures of how to do basically anything with plants.

Asparagus Macowanii Facts

Do asparagus ferns need a lot of water?

Asparagus ferns are plants that can adapt to just about any light or soil conditions. They have rough, long, narrow leaves and a fine, feathery flower. This plant derives its common name from its tendency to produce small, tasty-looking shoots that resemble Italian vegetables. Brought indoors for the winter, they need low light and occasional watering to thrive. If you have an asparagus fern outside, you can expect it to need a lot of water.

Can you propagate asparagus fern?

Asparagus ferns are widely known for their ability to grow tiny plants on the leaf tips, so if you wonder whether or not you can propagate an asparagus fern, the answer is yes. The tips of the fern need to be dipped in water, and the roots should start sprouting. After the asparagus fern is about a foot high, you can cut off some of the ferns and start propagating them.

Should you trim asparagus fern?

The ferns that grow on asparagus plants provide an attractive foliage barrier that can be trimmed if desired. Trimming ferns may be necessary if they are blocking visibility or pathways in the garden or if they are growing so rapidly that they cover the plants they are grown next to. If there is more than one plant being shaded by the ferns, it may be necessary to trim the ferns back to just the most dense shade.