We are watering, sounds like you are too in your gardens. It is hot today. Have you heard of Peacock Moss?

image from clipartmag.com 

image from picturesai.com    One of the oldest living types of plants

             Welcome to a warm day in Iowa.  Temperature is to reach 87F(31C)  Humidity is here but not like July Dee point is at 58.  We have SSW wind at 17 so that helps a little.  My biggest concern is watering these plants outside.  It will take me all day to do the wagons.  I hate it when you come as the gardener and see droopy plants, but I am working on it.  Thanks for understanding.  We are to get rain, and KWWL said 100% rain up to one inch to 1.25 inches of rain.  That is needed I am hearing.  I am hearing hard ground, I have been watering for 2 days and still dry.  It seems so early to water, but like true gardeners you want produce or flowers you will do what you need to do.  Stay cool, stay safe.

Now for the Australia family and friends, remember they are in their fall.  43F(6C) with a high of 57F(15C) it is Tuesday for them, and they are to have rain.  Stay warm, stay safe.

What is happening at Becky’s Greenhouse?  I want to help you with your gardening needs, so I have some vegetables that are free.  I will be putting out different ones each week. 

The potting gals have planted houseplants, and I am selling them as starter plants.  These plants start at $4.00.  Great way to increase your houseplants by growing them yourself. 
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One of them is Peacock Fern is surprisingly not a fern.  Some of its other common names included peacock moss, rainbow moss, spike moss and more.  However, it is not a moss either.  The Peacock fern belongs to a group of plants calle Lycophyte.  Lycophytes are vascular plants and they are one of the oldest living groups of plants. 
Peacock Fern (Selaginella Uncinata): Ultimate Care Guide
Written by Garden Biology  in Ferns
Why are Peacock ferns called ferns and moss? Like many plants, they have several common names because people have described them based on their looks and attributes. The Selaginella uncinata (the peacock ferns scientific name) has foliage that resembles a fern but it grows similar to moss.
 Peacock ferns do not require a ton of care, but some things should be known about how to care for them. They can be finicky about lighting, water, and humidity. This section of the article will discuss how to care for a Selaginella uncinata plant.
The peacock fern is a fairly easy plant to care for. They can be planted inside a house, in a terrarium, in a garden, or near an aquarium. This versatility makes them an excellent option for someone looking to get into plants. They do require shade and a humid, moist environment.
How to care for Peacock Fern indoors?
A peacock fern can be an excellent indoor plant since they like low light. They do best in hanging baskets as they grow over the sides of planters. They can also thrive inside terrariums and outside of aquariums.
These plants should ideally be planted in full shade areas or areas that only receive morning light. Constant direct light can scorch a peacock fern’s leaves.
Even though the peacock fern is not a true fern, it does thrive in a very moist environment like many other ferns. This plant thrives with routine consistent watering. It is recommended to check the soil every 2-3 days and only let the top inch of the soil dry.
Peacock ferns are considered a tropical plant and therefore love temperatures in the 80s with a humidity of at least 90%. They will thrive as long as the temperature does not drop below 50 and the humidity is around 50%. Hardiness zones 6-10 are where this plant thrives.
 A newly potted peacock fern should not be fertilized for at least the first two months. If a fish emulsion is used as the fertilizer, follow the instructions on the container. Just be mindful to not over-fertilize the plant as over-fertilization can scorch the plants’ leaves.
 Selaginella Uncinata will typically grow a couple of inches tall, but it will grow very wide. At a maximum, they grow to 10 inches tall. However, they more commonly grow to 6 inches tall and can spread up to 20 inches wide. Selaginella uncinata is considered a slow-growing plant. This plant can begin to grow over the sides of a planter within a couple of weeks. Regular trimmings will help keep it in check and prevent it from overtaking your pot or basket. Pinching back the tips of the stems is a form of pruning that will stimulate the plant to start growing wider instead of upwards.
Selaginella uncinata are beautiful plants and will make a great addition to any home or terrarium. They are relatively easy plants to care for as long as they are routinely watered and kept in a shady and humid environment.
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Facebook  Becky Kerndt Litterer, or Becky’s Greenhouse