fern fibre, peat moss or sphagnum moss. also forms an excellent germination base. Easier to Grow Than You’d Think Few seed companies offer fern spores, probably because they’re convinced that growing ferns from spores is beyond the capacity of… Ensure they have drainage holes. Male and female cells are The various media used to raise ferns from spores include garden soil, well rotted and sifted compost, milled sphagnum moss, peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and assorted combinations of these. Ferns certainly are very odd plants with a unique life cycle. containing a finely sifted soil mixture. STEP 1 – Prepare the sowing pots. Home » #Ferns » #Growing » The Spore Exchange » Growing ferns from spores – a basic practical guide. Water and steriliseSterilise by placing kitchen towel over the tray and pouring boiling water over to thoroughly soak the compost. Fill with compost to 1-3 cm below rim Once sown the containers should be covered with plastic or glass (allowing Pot up the small plugs into larger pots, label and keep out of direct sunlightThis is one of the trickiest stages of fern spore growing. other plants that may germinate and crowd out the developing fern prothalli. Growing ferns from spores – a basic practical guide. Look for the formation of prothalli (see pictures)Spores do not grow directly into ferns. There are two distinct stages of the fern life cycle. Ensure they have drainage holes. Instead, they mainly reproduce by spores. Materials such as sharp Prothalli just forming, prothalli well grown with true ferns just starting, and prothalli replaced by small fern plants. levels of organic matter. Ferns do not flower but reproduce sexually from spores. Place in clean, sealable plastic bags, label and keep out of direct sunlightOnce potted and sealed, the little fern plants are again fairly trouble free and should be left to grow. How to Grow Ferns From Spores: Last spring I bought a lovely maidenhair fern for my balcony garden. take from 2 to 6 weeks to germinate. After a few weeks the germinating spores appear as a mossy growth. Spores should be sparsely sprinkled on a medium such as finely chopped tree appear as black, brown or yellow 'powder' which is a mixture of spores and The container should be covered with glass or plastic until the fronds appear. It is important to sterilise the germination mixture before sowing the fern Prepare potsEnsure pots/modules are clean and fill with compost. Soilless mixes are used by most commercial growers because they can be purchased premixed or mixed to meet specific requirements and are easily sterilized. Unlike most other plants we know, they bear neither flowers nor seeds. The mix I prefer is two parts … The weather was cool and rainy so I had thought my balcony plant… The developing ferns should not be There are two distinct stages of the fern life cycle. By using the site or by dismissing this banner you are consenting to their use. to develop. Look for the formation of small fern plantsEventually the prothalli will be replaced by small fern plants. Further potting up should be into a coarser textured mix with relatively high a dry place. This site uses cookies. small heart-shaped plants known as prothalli. fragments of the spore cases (sporangia). Ferns do not flower but reproduce sexually from spores. river sand and gravel-sized charcoal pieces may be useful for this purpose. Mature plants produce spores on the underside of the leaves. Initially prothalli are formed. Wait until small plants are filling their pots and are well established so they are more able to survive the move. Growing ferns from spores The fern life cycle. spores on the underside of the leaves. Again, additional fertiliser is not normally required. Prick out individual ferns, or clumpsIdeally, patch out when the fern plants have several leaves and are clearly growing. To collect spores place a portion of mature frond on a piece of paper in Water the pots and allow to drain overnight. Something that may speed this process up is spraying with sterilised water if the pots look dry. STEP 1 – A range of containers suitable for spore sowing. After a week or two of acclimatisation, pot them up, water and place in a shady frame. Equal parts of loam, peat moss and When the The same composts can be used as for sowing. finely crushed terracotta spread to a depth of 2cm over a base of vermiculite Regional Groups (including Meeting Programmes). Clean a suitable sowing container Suitable containers include small plastic pots, translucent plastic boxes or cut down milk bottles. Little intervention should be needed during these stages, STEP 2 Three examples of fern development. Sprinkle spores over surface of compostThin and even sowing is ideal. This should happen naturally, but may take some time. If spores are ripe they will be shed onto the paper and will Mature plants produce some airspace) and kept at around 20 degrees C in indirect light. Fill with compost to 1-3 cm below rimFerns are not generally fussy as to compost – however, peat based is ideal and coir is often not suitable. Towards the end of June I went away for a week on vacation. Allow to coolAllow to cool completely before sowing. Be patient! Place in clean, sealable plastic bag, label and keep out of direct sunlightAfter sowing each pan, place in a sealable plastic bag and wash your hands to reduce cross-contamination. The mix should drain well. Choose pots or modules suitable to the size of the plants and of the bags you intend to use. Something that slows it down is the prothalli being too crowded – try taking out some and hence making holes in the blanket of growth if the spores have been sown thickly. Whatever method you chose, some losses are likely, but many will survive. spores by pouring boiling water over it This kills the spores of fungi and prothalli are formed and well developed they may be pricked off into a punnet Spores are VERY small and dust-like – a small speck goes a long way. They may form after a few weeks or a few months or even a year after sowing. When these germinate they grow into Partially cover and/or mist if necessary to lessen shock of removal from plastic bagTwo methods to lessen the shock are possible Either open the bags gradually, allowing more and more air flow, eventually cutting off the top of the bag. STEP 4 A well grown fern plant ready for planting out in the garden, This information is also available as the BPS Spore sowing leaflet. The Fern Growers Manual by Barbara Joe Hoshizaki (Knopf, 1979) thoroughly covers the various possible combinations. produced on these plants and after fertilisation occurs the adult fern begins Alternatively, you may pot up the plants and acclimatise them after potting by giving them some temporary cover and misting if they show signs of wilting, again over a week or two. Patching out when very small is possible, but tiny fern plants will need delicate handling and aftercare. This is because the fern plants have been in their own microclimate in the plastic bag since sowing and it’s stressful to be introduced to the outside world. exposed to direct light. It grew happily and soon became one of my favorites. Do not add any fertiliser at this stage. Clean a suitable sowing containerSuitable containers include small plastic pots, translucent plastic boxes or cut down milk bottles. When these germinate they grow into small heart-shaped plants known as prothalli. Spores Remove the kitchen towel immediately prior to sowing.This will remove any stray weed spores that may have landed while the tray was cooling.
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