Brian Aiken, the curator for the American Fern Society spore exchange program, has generously shared his techniques for spore harvesting / culturing and fern identification.
How to collect spores
- American Fern Society (AFS)
- British Pteridological Society BPS
American Fern Society fern propagation / spore viability test
Spores are sown on sterilized Pro-Mix HP soil or hydroponic agar and maintained for 8-16 weeks at room temperature 11 inches below two 20W cool white, fluorescent tubes (or equivalent) illuminated 14 hours per day.
I have been using clear, plastic or glass food storage containers containing PRO-MIX HP MYCORRHIZAE™ as my substrate and potting soil for young plants. This medium is a high porosity peat-based growing medium containing, beneficial mycorrhizal inoculum (Glomus intraradices). This formula ensures optimum growth, especially when high air capacity and extra drainage are required. It is ideal for water sensitive crops, rooting cutting and/or low-light growing conditions.
separating spores from chaf
harvesting spores from Adiantum pedatum with wire mesh
Ferns propagated from spores at Walmer Woodlands
Sori of Dryopteris marginalis
Marginal wood fern
Dawn Sherman
CC BY-NC 4.0
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