Hi all,

I have been growing some wood ferns-- Dixie wood fern, Goldie's wood fern, and some wood ferns I found growing near a stream that I transplanted to a shapy place under some giant rhododendrons. Everything got lots of nice compost and/or leaf mold. Other ferns have done well, including Maidenhair and Hay-Scented ferns. But the Wood ferns, and also Ostrich ferns, are not happy. I did spray with an organic deer repellant in the spring as it almost looked like things were getting eaten. (This was before even some of the wood ferns were getting going!)

Transplanted wood ferns: fronds grow tall, then lose their foliage, wilt, and die. Is this just them getting settled in? They had these really tough rhizomes that I had to whack at to get them out of the ground.

Other wood ferns: started growth really late, are completely stunted. (They're supposed to be really big!!)

Ostrich ferns: fronds grow somewhat, then keel over and wilt. Yes, they're getting water, but not too much, drainage, proper pH!

What am I doing wrong???

Thanks, Hobbes