The soil in which you want to grow ostrich fern should be covered with mulch to maintain its moisture level. September 2019. And while many perennials can be divided in either early spring or early fall, some are very picky. Some will be displayed on lamp brackets attached to my various window gardens, and others will be given as birthday and holiday gifts to plant-minded friends. A single asterisk indicates that division should take place after the plant flowers. See the fern propagation section on the website for detailed instructions. I have never seen a fern … Thanks for another informative plant article. Dividing Ferns In The Fall - How To Split, Repot & Overwinter Ferns Inside. If your fern is kept indoors, divide it in the spring when its container is full of roots. If you want to propagate more ferns, divide the rootstock and then replant it. With fertilizing applied in the spring, and division in the fall, there is not much maintenance required in the winter for most ferns. As you can see, my 15-minute dividing-and-potting job resulted in 6 “new” ferns. It is an easy process but can also be quite messy, so you may choose to do this in the garden when the temperatures warm up or lay a sheet of plastic down in … Sometimes, ferns simply become too large to re-pot. Late summer and early fall is the time to plant, divide, and transplant many different perennials, shrubs, and trees including spring flowering perennials. At the same time, remember not to use fertilizers on the soil in fall. How to Divide Cinnamon Ferns. When dividing perennials, timing and technique are important. Fern spores can be propagated indoors on a bright windowsill, out of direct sunlight, or under a grow light. BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on January 19, 2021: Interesting article and pictures. Splitting or Dividing Ferns. Peonies are a good example of a plant that prefers to be transplanted in autumn if it must happen at all. I like the yellow color in the fall when growing these cinnamon ferns. Some ferns can be propagated by dividing the roots in the fall or very early in the spring, well before the new fronds are ready to … When splitting a fern, take a sharp knife or cutting tool and divide into sections to create new plants. Learn how to split & repot oversized ferns to create new plants for free! To divide your fern, first dig it out of the ground or pull it out of its pot. This is best done in the spring, so the fern can have a full growing season to re-establish roots. Think of moisture-retentive woodland soil, rich with leaf mold and other organic matter, as a guide for your garden.If your garden lacks organic matter, work a 4-inch layer of compost or fine pine bark into the soil's upper 4 to 6 inches before planting autumn fern. It may be tempting to prune back the dying fronds to keep your fall … All soil types, from sand to clay, suit adaptable autumn fern, but it will prefer a pH slightly below 7.0. Similarly, you may ask, can you divide ferns in the fall? Deciduous ferns such as lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), which grows in USDA zones 4 through 8, die back each fall. When this happens, it is time to split the fern into new plants. (If I’d continued the job for a full hour, you’d see at least 24 new ferns in the picture above.) Or if your fern is kept outdoors, divide it in the fall or early … Hi, Alice: Dividing larger ferns is a great way to rejuvenate them and is also an economical way to create more plants. Dividing ferns in the fall is a great way to keep your ferns healthy and thriving. The optimal time to divide specific perennials is denoted by (S) for spring and (F) for early fall.