recent ebay purchases

all arrived today - I am fast turning my corner of the office into a fern & ornimental grass house!

1 * native fern POLYPODIUM VULGARE
1 * 1 year old tree fern
3 * plugs DRYOPTERIS ETHROSORA
3 * plugs ATHRYIUM JAPONICUM PICTUM
3 * FESTUCA GLAUCA
1 * OPHIOPOGON PLANISCARPUS NIGRESCENS
1 * FESTUCA OVINA 'GLAUCA'

Any ideas on how to keep the plug ferns alive? The last lot I bought, I potted up imediately, kept them damp in a shady place, and they promptly died.

 

I've done exactly the same with ferns I got as plugs, and they're fine. That's the conditions they like, so they ought to do fine. Maybe you've been a bit too enthusiastic with the watering? But they ought to cope well - just think how well they thrive in Scotland! :D Or should I say Caledonia? I used to live near Verulamium, BTW :rolleyes:

 

I think you're right about over-watering the last lot :( . I potted them up last night with some perlite in the compost - that should help drainage. They seem to have a better root system too so hopefully they'll survive!

What type of ferns did you get dendrobium? Did you get them mail order or locally?

 

I got a collection, but can't remember now which lot I got it from - probably J Parker or T&M. The first lot I got were eaten within instants by our ravaging rabbits but now there's chicken wire everywhere, and things are surviving! :D