Since then it's spent time in the basement, during our ice and snow-fests, and then back outside again when it's warmed. I had trimmed off some of the "heavy with babies" fronds and picked a bunch of babies off other fronds. But it just keeps producing! The black dots are the base of each "baby"...they're so thick here they obscure the mama frond....
I planted up this group of babies late in the summer, every once and awhile I'd tug on one to see if they'd sent down roots. Nope, nope and nope again. Until finally, last week I discovered they had.
From the Wiki: "Hen and chicken ferns grow small bulbils on top of their fronds. Once grown to about 5 cm (2 in), these offspring fall off and, provided the soil they land in is kept moist, develop a root system and grow into new ferns. This additional means of reproduction can be employed with greater ease than propagation by spores." And..."Asplenium bulbiferum, known as mother spleenwort, is a fern species native to New Zealand only. It is also called hen and chicken fern and, in the Māori language, pikopiko, mouku or mauku. Its fronds are eaten as a vegetable." Hmm. I don't think I'll be doing that. I am going to have a bunch of small (not particularly hardy) ferns to plant up though...
Oh and there's this too...I got tired of actually planting those little babies, so I just stuck a bunch of them in a plastic bag, spritzed a little water in with them and closed the bag. MONTHS ago...
Roots!
Here's something else interesting that I just noticed. Some of the stems are all back, some are all green, and some are black with green stripes...more investigation will have to occur on this subject.
The mama fern is looking a little less than enthused about winter. Hopefully I can keep it alive...
And the babies too, must keep the babies alive...
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that? Love that your babies have grown roots. You could start producing this exotic green for a local restaurant.
ReplyDeleteHa! I didn't think of that. I'll be rich!
DeleteOh, the striped stems are cool! Don't worry, I'm sure lots of those babies will find homes at the next plant swap. I'll probably be one of them!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll just bring a frond or two and let you guys all start with your own fresh crop...
DeleteThat's terrific! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fern fest you are having! So many babies to nurture! They are all looking very healthy - and I love the striped stem!
ReplyDeleteYou are now my official Mother Nature. BTW, I'm loving your zip-lock research lab!
ReplyDeleteHa! I'm such a rookie...
DeleteSweet little babies! I love fern : )
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! I love when I try something like this that I've never done before and it's wildly successful like this has been for you. Gardening, it's a constant learning experience.
ReplyDeleteAin't that the truth!
DeleteYour fern collection is off to a great start! That Asplenium was far less happy here - they did okay in my old garden (when rain and irrigation was more plentiful) but they sulked and died here.
ReplyDeleteYa, every description I read stressed they must be kept moist.
DeleteLove that striped stem. And the plastic bag treatment. Who knew?!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why I thought of it? I must have read it somewhere...
DeleteThat plastic bag is genius. And congrats on getting the other babies to sprout too. You truly are a good fern mother! Just love the name Pikopiko. :) Merry Christmas, Loree!
ReplyDeleteYou're getting ahead of the predicted hot new fern trend...go Loree!
ReplyDeleteThat's a very cool fern and I'm crazy about the variation in the front stems. So cool!
ReplyDelete