I asked this question over in the Fern forum, but haven't got an answer...
Has anyone tried starting fern rhizomes indoors for later transplanting outside?
I've started a couple of Cinnamon ferns inside; the little fiddleheads popped up remarkably quickly.
I have them under grow lights, but given they're kind of a low light plant, I'm thinking that's maybe not a good idea. Has anyone else done this?
Joanne
Starting Ferns Indoors
Ok, nobody does this, how bizarre.
Anyway, moot point, as I've run out of space under my grow lights, so the ferns are now at the mercy of good old fashioned sunlight, just like my house plants! Just to tantalize you grow-a-holics, look at the picture of the cute little fern sprouts: they popped up in less than a week! I think I paid about $6.00 for the two rhizomes at Wallymart.
Joanne
Aren't they just the cutest little things!!!!!
You had room on your windowsill this time of year? Now that's bizarre! lol ;-)
Sandy
Yes, Sandy, well my house plants are feeling a bit scrunched for sure. My DH built me a growlight operation out of some shelving from Totem and a couple of fluorescent fixtures. House plants get the top two shelves, seeds trays get the bottom two. I am negotiating w/DH to get rid of futon in this room next year to make room for more shelving. (Would also help if I stopped bringing home houseplants right now, but that ain't gonna happen. LOL). Even tossed out some seed tonight that was not germinating speedily enough for my satisfaction, all to make room for some other stuff.
Joanne
I grew tree fern spore this winter. I took out some of the small sporlings but the house was too dry so I quickly put them in large plastic peanut butter jars. They slowly recovered from being too dry. The more humidity, the better.
That's a good looking set up you have there, Joanne!
Growin, This is my first time trying fern spores. I'm giving it a go with Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). I definitely overdid it with sowing the spores because they came up a thick green mat. The instructions said to thin them out and I hope I did it properly by tweezing out little 1/4" clumps. I wasn't sure whether I should separate one tiny leaf, so due to the fact I don't have super-duper vision or one of those handy dandy magnifiers the jewellers wear, I opted for the clumps. lol Fingers crossed.
Sandy
Oh, aren't they just so cute! But I can't - I have too many other things still to get started this weekend. I just won't have the extra space. Maybe next year ;-)
--Ginny
I hear you Ginny. I started "potting up" my morning glories last night; each one gets it's own 16 oz cup now. I think I have 24 seedlings, and more to get started. And my pansies and gazanias need to be potted up too. Hmmm....and that doesn't include 18 tomatoe plants I just started, nor the amaranthus, zinnia and purple millet that I want to get going tonight. Ok I'm not going to think about the jungle chaos I am creating. La la la la la la..
I don't know if this counts, but someone gave me a few "tails" from a rabbit's foot fern a few years ago. Having no idea whatsoever how to grow them, I planted them with the tail in the soil and the frond sticking up, and after a few months it started growing really well. However, I keep it as a house plant. Its the only fern that will grow nicely for me. It likes lots and lots of water and no direct sun but a fairly bright window.
Christine
ohhh...good luck with that one...I have killed more than I like to think about...they hate my house!!!!
Read through this and it might make more sense. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/686939/
After following the directions, I dowsed the flat with water and I got more "germination". I have been told before that sowing too heavy makes for less plants. This was my first time too so it was a bit of a learning thing. It wasn't your standard seed and germinate. The flat I have is inside with a 100 watt flourescent bulb with a cover without any heat. They grew slowly but I started in November and I now have about 40+ plants growing a bit faster than I can handle.
Thanks a million, growin. I didn't realize we had a Fern Forum as well. Here's a pic of my over-generous sowing. In your estimation, is the large one in the middle a more 'mature' gametophyte or a whole bunch of them together? I have transplanted them in clumps about that size. Do you think they need to be thinned further? My instructions say 'If there are a lot growing close together, they must be thinned out to about 1 or 2 per 3-inch area. If not, they will only grow male organs. During this time make sure the soil in the container does not dry out." I have them in baggies under flourescents, but off to the side a bit so as not to fry them.
Sandy
Thanks ThreeG. My rabbits foot fern is now about 5 yrs old and everyone says that the mass of air roots is really creepy. I have a friend with one that she didn't water for 6 months, trying to kill it; her hubby started watering it, and it came back as if nothing was wrong. I didn't think anyone could kill them!!
Christine
sanannie, yours does look a bit denser than mine but...? I really noticed a difference when I litterally dowsed the "lettuce" with water sprinkled by hand. The flat was quite soaked. According to that other thread, that's when the "egg" and "sperm" things get released. I'm not sure what to say. Well, go over to the fern forum and post the pic and ask the same Q and see what they say. I've never done this before so it was a learning experience but I eventually did get some treefern sporlings.
OK, growin thanks for your opinion, perhaps I'll do just that, or at least I'll try the flooding method and see what transpires.
Sandy