Dappled Sun
High
Blechnum spicant will form ground cover in shady damp areas spreading slowly by creeping rhizome
It requires little care keep damp but not waterlogged, prefers acidic conditions avoid lime
Blechnum spicant can be increased by detaching plantlets from underground stolons. Divide in the early spring and keep damp ensure the baby fern has a sufficiently well developed root system before potting up. Growth can be slow and they will benefit from protection by a cold frame for the first winter
Ferns including Blechnum spicant can be raised from spores collected onto the surface of a sterilised mixture of peat and sharp sand.
Cover with cling film and place in cool 10 to 15C shady conditions After a few weeks a green covering is noted and this can be picked off with a dibber in 1cm squares to be potted on in modules. If the free covering is slimy algae may have been grown in place of the fern and this should be discarded. Grow on under glass in a cold frame in the shade.
Growing fern from spores is slow, and it is quicker to divide established plants using the underground stolons. Detach young plants from the parent in the spring, making sure it has adequate root system.
Plant out over wintered ferns detached from the underground stolons in the spring
Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Deer Fern is a hardy plant.Spores ripen mid to late summer, ripe sori (the spore containers on the underside of the fertile fronds) are usually brown. Unripe sori usually green
Sow directly onto the surface of sterilised mixture of peat and sand
Ripe spores need to be collected and sown at once
These estimates for how long Deer Fern takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Hard Fern