How Do You Start A New Fern Plant?
Ferns can be started either from spores or by division of an existing fern plant. Because spore propagation is slow and difficult and fern plants need to be divided every three to five years to stay healthy, the division method is usually best for the home gardener. How you divide your plant will depend on what type of fern you have; ferns can be divided using rhizomes, edge division, or clump division, depending on the species. Find the section entitled “Fern Species” in the article “Hardy Ferns” from Clemson University to determine which method to use for your fern. Use a sharp spade to pry the entire fern up from the ground in either the early spring or late fall. Insert the spade 4 to 5 inches away from the plant and push the shovel deep into the ground to pry up the entire root ball. Move the spade around, prying up the roots on all sides of the plant. Brush away loose dirt with your hands or wash the dirt away with a hose so the roots are clean and easily visible. Use a garden fo
