CULTURE OF FERNS

By
Anthony Arbias
Presented at
The Fern and Nature Society meeting
Aug 9, 2008

DIFFERENT GROWTH
TYPES OF FERNS:
1. EPIPHYTE- a fern which grows on trees or

other plants for support but receives no

nourishment from the host.
2. TERRESTRIAL- a fern which grows in the
ground.
3. LITHOPHYTE- a fern that grows on rocks,
cliff faces etc
4. XEROPHYTE- a drought resistant fern
growing in arid climatic conditions.
5. AQUATIC- ferns growing on water.

EPIPHYTIC
FERN in situ
Microsorum
with Vittaria

TERRESTIAL
FERN in situ
Tectaria sp.

TERRESTRIAL FERNS

SELAGINELLA
GROWING ON THE
FOREST FLOOR

FERNS GROWING JUST ABOVE WATER

LITHOPHYTIC FERN in situ

Pteris vittata growing on marble

AQUATIC FERN
Microsorum pteropus windelov
inside an aquarium tank

FERNS
GROWING ON
LAND AND
TREES

MULTIPLE GROWTH HABITS

DIFFERENT FERN
HABITATS IN THE
PHILIPPINES:
1. TROPICAL RAINFOREST
2. CLOUD FOREST
3. MOSSY FOREST
4. MANGROVE FOREST
5. GRASSLANDS
6. RESIDUAL FOREST
7. LAND CONVERTED AREAS
8. URBAN AREAS

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

WATERFALLS ON TROPICAL RAINFOREST

CLOUDS AND MIST OVER

THE MOUNTAINS

MORNING FOREST MIST

CLOUD FOREST

MOSSY FOREST

LICHENS AND FERNS ON MOSSY FOREST

MOSSY FOREST ON MT. CRISTOBAL

GRASS LANDS

TYPICAL BRACKISH HABITAT FOR AQUATIC FERNS

MANGROVE HABITAT

CONVERTED LANDS

MANGROVE FOREST CONVERTED TO RICE FIELDS

FERNS GROWING IN
DISTURBED AREAS

URBAN
EPIPHYTIC
FERNS

URBAN FERN

COSMOPOLITAN FERN

DIVERSITY OF
FERNS IN HIGH
ALTITUDE AREAS

LUMBER EVERYWHERE

MANGROVE TREES HARVESTED FOR CHARCOAL INDUSTRY

FOREST TREES FELLED FOR LUMBERS

CHARCOAL FACTORIES

CREATURES FROM THE FOREST

I LOVE SNAKES

TYPICAL VIEW INSIDE A HEALTHY FOREST

HARDSHIPS IN CLIMBING
MOUNTAINS

BLOOD SUCKERS FROM

THE FOREST

LEECH ATTACK

CULTURAL NEEDS:
Understanding fern needs
Ferns have the basic growing requirements as

other plants and will thrive when these are met.

There is nothing mysterious about the
requirements -they are not something known
only to people with green thumbs-but the best
gardeners are those who understand plant
requirements, careful about satisfying them and
exploring their natural environments .

By: Barbara Joe Hoshizaki

STARTING WITH FERN

GARDENING

1. PLANT SELECTION
2.CHOOSING BETWEEN POTTING OR
MOUNTING
3.CHOOSING THE APPROPRIATE SUBSTRATE
OR MEDIUM
4.CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR
YOUR PLANT (HOUSING)
5.WATERING
6.LIGHTING
7.FERTILIZING
8.PEST CONTROL
9.PRUNING AND TRIMMING
10.REPOTTING OR REMOUNTING

WISE SELECTION OF FERNS

DIPLAZIUM FERNS GROWN ON PLASTIC POTS

ASSORTED POTTING CHOICES FOR FERNS

PLASTIC ORCHID POTS

ALTERNATIVE POTTING OPTION

NYLON BASKET

WOODEN HANGING BASKET

WW

FERNS USED IN
LANDSCAPING

PLASTIC MOUNTING RACKS

WIRE MOUNTING

EPIPHYTIC FERN
MOUNTED ON LIVE
TREE

DO NOT BUY PRODUCTS MADE FROM TREE FERNS

FERN SLABS, CHIPS

AND TRUNKS
COMES FROM
DECADES TO
CENTURY OLD
TREE FERNS

TREE FERNS GROWING SLOW

HOUSING FERNS

POPULAR ORNAMENTAL
FERN GROUPS

1. BIRDS-NEST FERNS Asplenium

2. BOSTON FERNS Nephrolepis
3.MAIDEN HAIR FERNS Adiantum
4. STAGHORN FERNS Platycerium
5. TREE FERNS Cyathea,Dicksonia etc..
6.OAK LEAF Drynaria
7. BREAK FERNS Pteris
8. RABBIT/ BEARS FOOT Davallia
9.POLYPODIUMS Microsorum
10.AQUATIC FERNS
11.FERN ALLIES

ASPLENIUM BIRDS NEST

FERN IN CULTIVATION

ASPLENIUM BIRDS NEST FERN IN

SITU

BOSTON FERN

GIANT FERN
in situ

TREE FERNS IN SITU

CIBOTIUM FERNS

BLECHNUM FERNS

STAGHORN FERNS

TREETREE MOUNTED
PLATYCERIUM

MAIDENHAIR FERNS

VARIOUS AQUATIC FERNS

SALVINIA FERN

MANGROVE FERN ACROSTICHUM AUREUM

FERN ALLIES

FERN ALLY HUPERZIA

SP.

DRYNARIA FERN
OAK LEAF FERN

PTERIS FERN

MICROSORUM FERNS

COMMON SOURCES OF PROBLEMS

IN FERN CULTURE

1. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
2.LOW HUMIDITY
3.OVER OR UNDER WATERING
4.TOO MUCH SUNLIGHT
5.UNCONTROLLED FERTILIZING
6.UNCONTROLLED USE OF PESTICIDES
7.UNABLE TO CONTROL WEEDS
8.POLLUTION
9.BAD SOURCE OF WATER
10.POOR ROOT ANCHORAGE
11.OVER PROPAGATION
12.BUYING OF BADLY UPROOTED OR HIGH ALTITUDE WILD COLLECTED FERNS
13. UNCONTROLLED PESTS
14. USE OF CONTAMINATED SUBSTRATES
15.NON REPLINESHMENT OF SUBSTRATE
16.TOO MUCH WIND
17.UNAERATED ROOTS

APHIDS ON
THE ATTACK

GROWING FERNS INDOOR

THANK YOU
AND
HAPPY FERN

GARDENING TO ALL!