Login required to started new threads

Login required to post replies

Prev Next
Thinking about a fern for my workout space
Quote | Reply
I know this is a bit off topic. But my workout space where I ride my trainer is a bit drab. I am thinking about adding some houseplants to improve my fun shway. I always liked the way a nice fern looks. Does anybody raise ferns? Can you recommend a variety. I was thinking about either a Boston, Air, Tuberous Sword, African or European. Are they easy to care for?

Thanks.

Jeff
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
I know this is a bit off topic. But my workout space where I ride my trainer is a bit drab. I am thinking about adding some houseplants to improve my fun shway. I always liked the way a nice fern looks. Does anybody raise ferns? Can you recommend a variety. I was thinking about either a Boston, Air, Tuberous Sword, African or European. Are they easy to care for?

Thanks.

Jeff


HTFU.

"I really wish you would post more often. You always have some good stuff to say. I copied it below just in case someone missed it." BarryP to Chainpin on 10/21/06

Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [chainpin] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Thanks
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
The Boston is definitely the cheapest in the US and has the best oxygen production AFAIK because it is larger and has the longest fronds. A larger indoor plant however would produce even more oxygen. If oxygen production is your most important criteria, I suggest a leafy large plant/tree such as a Ficus.
Last edited by: Bro Dull: Jul 14, 08 17:18
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
you ain't got no plants now !
You need more then one
I get along very well with plants


Thom
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
The Boston is definitely the cheapest in the US and has the best oxygen production AFAIK because it is larger and has the longest fronds. A larger indoor plant however would produce even more oxygen. If oxygen production is your most important criteria, I suggest a leafy large plant/tree such as a Ficus.
That is real interesting. I never even thought about a ficus. thanks.

Obviously, oxygen production is real high on the list. It is not my sole criteria though.

Can you recommend a good ficus?
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
The two most popular ones you'll find at your nursery are the common ficus... and the variegated ficus. The former's leaves are green. The variegated ficus has either white or yellow perimeter streaks in the leaf pattern. I prefer the white-streaked variegated ficus... as it blends better with most interior decor. I suggest you get the biggest ficus plant you can find that fits in your room. It might cost more... but the looks and oxygen production are worth it. And don't be dismayed when your ficus sheds its leaves soon after you move it in. This is a common response from the plant when you change its environment or even change the amount of sunlight it gets. The plant will soon recover with new foliage as long as you don't water it too much.
Last edited by: Bro Dull: Jul 14, 08 17:35
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
The two most popular ones you'll find at your nursery are the common ficus... and the variegated ficus. The former's leaves are green. The variegated ficus has either white or yellow perimeter streaks in the leaf pattern. I prefer the white-streaked variegated ficus... as it blends better with most interior decor. I suggest you get the biggest ficus plant you can find that fits in your room. It might cost more... but the looks and oxygen production are worth it. And don't be dismayed when your ficus sheds its leaves soon after you move it in. This is a common response from the plant when you change its environment or even change the amount of sunlight it gets. The plant will soon recover with new foliage as long as you don't water it too much.
What type of nitrogen ratios are we talkin?
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
You know. I am still diggin the idea of a few nice ferns. Maybe I can combine a ficus and fern in the mix. Anybody ever try those new silk ferns. Kinda cool. I don't know how you clean them though. I've seen some dusty silk ferns in my life. It ain't pretty.
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
improve my fun shway
Feng Shui?


------------------------------------------------------------
"Triathlon is for people who can't handle drugs and alcohol." -IMFL t-shirt

The Dude Abides...
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I'm not entirely sure what you mean? The plant absorbs 90% of it's nitrogen from the soil in it's pot. Just use a common interior plant food. Miracle grow products are good. But don't overdo it. Too much nitrogen in the soil can burn the outer roots. Get the biggest pot you can find. And it needs light. It is a semi-tropical plant from Asia that ends up being a huge tree in the wild (a fig tree).

There shouldn't be too much nitrogen emitted from the leaves. If you are worried about toxins produced by the plant... you can have a test done on a typical air sample from the room. On a typical day swirl a small plastic bottle bottle around in the room and close the lid tightly. Then send the sample off to the Environmental Protection Agency, Air Testing Laboratory. I think they are charging a small fee nowadays for this service, so you may want to check their website.

But realistically, the risk of toxins especially nitrogen and carbon monoxide are very small. An ionising air purifier would probably be sufficient to take out most common impurities.
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Raul] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
In Reply To:
improve my fun shway
Feng Shui?
If thats how you want to spell it.
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
I'm not entirely sure what you mean? The plant absorbs 90% of it's nitrogen from the soil in it's pot. Just use a common interior plant food. Miracle grow products are good. But don't overdo it. Too much nitrogen in the soil can burn the outer roots. Get the biggest pot you can find. And it needs light. It is a semi-tropical plant from Asia that ends up being a huge tree in the wild (a fig tree).

There shouldn't be too much nitrogen emitted from the leaves. If you are worried about toxins produced by the plant... you can have a test done on a typical air sample from the room. On a typical day swirl a small plastic bottle bottle around in the room and close the lid tightly. Then send the sample off to the Environmental Protection Agency, Air Testing Laboratory. I think they are charging a small fee nowadays for this service, so you may want to check their website.

But realistically, the risk of toxins especially nitrogen and carbon monoxide are very small. An ionising air purifier would probably be sufficient to take out most common impurities.
Thanks. I am thinking about the Ionic Breeze Quadra S1737 SNX. Do you have any experience with them?
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
You know. I am still diggin the idea of a few nice ferns. Maybe I can combine a ficus and fern in the mix. Anybody ever try those new silk ferns. Kinda cool. I don't know how you clean them though. I've seen some dusty silk ferns in my life. It ain't pretty.
You know that silk ferns have much less oxygen production than natural ferns don't you?


I like the idea of a ficus/fern mix though. These plants occur together in the wild.
Last edited by: Bro Dull: Jul 14, 08 18:19
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
In Reply To:
You know. I am still diggin the idea of a few nice ferns. Maybe I can combine a ficus and fern in the mix. Anybody ever try those new silk ferns. Kinda cool. I don't know how you clean them though. I've seen some dusty silk ferns in my life. It ain't pretty.
You know that silk ferns have much less oxygen production than natural ferns don't you?


I like the idea of a ficus/fern mix though. These plants occur together in the wild.
Yeah, but it keeps the cats from eating them...

John



Top notch coaching: Francois and Accelerate3 | Follow on Twitter: LifetimeAthlete |
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
I guess that is right. I was never able to solve the dust problem anyhow. Maybe i will move the silk one down on my list.
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Whatever you do... steer well clear of any model of Ionic Breeze. Sharper Image is going out of business and I think they had huge problems with the Ionic Breeze's being returned because they were malfunctioning. I think you would only be able to get them used on ebay or craigslist anyway. There is no stick long enough to touch them with AFAIK.
Last edited by: Bro Dull: Jul 14, 08 18:23
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
In Reply To:
In Reply To:
You know. I am still diggin the idea of a few nice ferns. Maybe I can combine a ficus and fern in the mix. Anybody ever try those new silk ferns. Kinda cool. I don't know how you clean them though. I've seen some dusty silk ferns in my life. It ain't pretty.
You know that silk ferns have much less oxygen production than natural ferns don't you?


I like the idea of a ficus/fern mix though. These plants occur together in the wild.
Yeah, but it keeps the cats from eating them...

John
Oh. Never thought of that. I don't have cats and am highly allergic to them. Yet, I don't want to foreclose the possibility of getting one because of poor foliage choices I made early in life. Do the cats eat them much?
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Here's a picture that shows how big a boston fern can get and how much leaf area it has to produce natural oxygen. Be careful though if you are training at night. Plants emit carbon dioxide at night and only oxygen during the day.



Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
All plants emit CO2 at night or just the Boston fern? This is troubling.
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Do you have a picture of a Boston and a ficus together? I am trying to get a sense.
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Devlin] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
In Reply To:
In Reply To:
You know. I am still diggin the idea of a few nice ferns. Maybe I can combine a ficus and fern in the mix. Anybody ever try those new silk ferns. Kinda cool. I don't know how you clean them though. I've seen some dusty silk ferns in my life. It ain't pretty.
You know that silk ferns have much less oxygen production than natural ferns don't you?


I like the idea of a ficus/fern mix though. These plants occur together in the wild.
Yeah, but it keeps the cats from eating them...

John
I don't have a cat either but I think the main problem that I have heard from other indoor plant hobbyists/horticulturalists is that they can get jealous of the plant(s) if you give them too much attention and/or you have a cat who's prone to jealousy. Best to attend to the plants needs without the cat being in the room... and I think both pets will get along fine.
Last edited by: Bro Dull: Jul 14, 08 22:20
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Bro Dull] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Cool. Would a fan do the same thing as an ionizer?
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
Cool. Would a fan do the same thing as an ionizer?
The fan is useful when you are on the trainer... for keeping you cool. It doesn't detoxify the air or remove impurities however. And please don't put the plant in the path of the air being blown by the fan. The effect of constant wind stress (which is highly unatural) is very distressing to the plant. Remember plants are living things that can only talk to you by getting sick or being healthy. Constant wind fan stress tortures a plant. This has been evident from trial and error among indoor plant owners and horticulturalists over decades. The plants nearly always go into a distressed/sick state. Don't do it. But the fan on you instead of the plant is fine. You still will need the ionizing air purifier/filter.
Quote Reply
Re: Thinking about a fern for my workout space [Jeff Vader] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
In Reply To:
Do you have a picture of a Boston and a ficus together? I am trying to get a sense.
I don't like the arrangement but this can give you an idea. This is a relatively small ficus.



Quote Reply

Prev Next