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Good day all, Tricky question without a photo sorry, but on the underside of leaves of a fern plant , there are lots of equal spaced small orangey coloured small 'eggs' , ( well that's what I am calling them,) any ideas from the description I have given ?, thanks for reading x




Answers

 

Quite natural. They are reproduction spores.

20 Aug, 2021

 

they do sound like sporangia and they will be developing spores [similar to seeds]. so nothing to worry about. some fern species have round ones others are rectangular ones.

20 Aug, 2021

 

Aww , Thank you for your replies, very much appreciated x

20 Aug, 2021

 

You can grow new ferns from them if you are very patient. I have a nice crop of hartstongue ferns (Asplenium scolopodendron) sowed two years ago. Its a long business but its is so interesting when you discover how they do it - not like seeds at all! You'll probably find how to do it on line but PM me if you can't.

21 Aug, 2021

 

Fern Spore Sowing.

The first, second and third essential is sterility of every part of the growing system (except perhaps the grower!).
This is the method I used and it worked for me, no doubt others will have their own system.
1.I use new plastic 7cm. plant pots and sterilise them by immersing them in boiling water for about a minute. (Test one first to make sure it does not lose shape. Otherwise you must cold sterilise with a mild bleach solution.
2. Any seed sowing compost is OK. Fill dry, cool pots to about an 1 cm below the top and firm down gently. Cover the top with a piece of kitchen towel or coffee filter paper. Pour boiling water through the paper. About a cupful will do.
3. Cover the pots and allow to cool. No further watering is necessary. Remove filter paper.
4. When cool sprinkle fern spores on the surface. Each pot will be big enough for about as many spores as you can fit on the tip of a penknife. They are very tiny and really do need to be spread thinly on the surface or they will not have room to develop. DO NOT DO THIS IN A WINDY SPOT! or sneeze.
5. Place pot in a plastic bag and seal. I use sandwich bags and the paper ties which come with the roll.
6. Place in a warm (unless they are hot house ferns, in which case they need more heat) light position. A north facing or shady window ledge or in the greenhouse but put some shade netting over the top.
7.Eventually the surface of the pot will become covered in what looks like moss (if it is going to work). Open the bag and spray the surface of the 'moss' with distilled water( take the chill off it). Close the bag and put back in a warm, light area and wait.
8. If you have been successful, before long the moss will change to baby ferns. Gradually acclimatise them to growing outside the plastic bag.
9. Prick out the babies, I usually do this in little groups, you can always do it again when they are bigger.

22 Aug, 2021

 

Just for interest - the first time I tried, with Drypoteris felis mas I did sterilize everything meticulously but must confess that with the Asplenium (Harts tongue) I didn't bother and they came up just the same!(But do sterilise - I was probably just lucky).

22 Aug, 2021

 

The reason for sterilising is that the air is full of fern spores so there is always the risk of getting a different fern to the one you are hoping to grow. It really only matters if you are trying to grow something in particular. I used to do New Zealand ferns so did not want native ones coming up with them.

22 Aug, 2021

 

Owdboggy, thank you for the step by step guide, I shall be having a go at doing just as you say and I am looking forward to any out come that may happen . Thanks again x

23 Aug, 2021

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