• About Us
  • Become a Member
  • Sign in
  • Newsletters
  • What's new
  • Garden design
  • Gardens
  • Advice
  • Plants
  • Kit
  • Offers
  • Magazine deals
  • Shop
  • Newsletters
pot planting

pot planting

Phlebodium aureum or fern

Houseplants | How to look after the blue star fern

Ferns sparked the first houseplant craze and are still a great houseplant choice, especially the unfussy Phlebodium aureum. Illustration Agata WierzbickaShow more
Page from N. B Ward's publication 'On the growth of plants in closely glazed cases', 1852 edition. The illustration depicts a 'Wardian Case' which was developed by Ward, a Physician with an interest in Botany, to protect his fern specimens from air pollution in London. It was later used as a method of safely transporting plant specimens from plant hunting expeditions back to Britain following successful tests by Ward in 1833 on a ship travelling from England to Australia.

The history of terrariums: the Wardian case

How an accidental discovery by a fern collector in the East End of London led 
to the creation of the Wardian case, and one of the most remarkable inventions in horticultural history. Words Juliet GilesShow more
Footer Banner
  • Facebook
  • X-Platform
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Contact us
  • Cookies policy
  • Become a Member
  • Manage preferences
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2026