How To Split Up Your Ferns Without Harming Them
Ferns, by aficionados also known as pteridophytes, have a unique setup in the plant world. Their underground root system is often called that of rhizomes, since they not only form the horizontal part of the fern’s stem, but also serve to spread the plants via vegetative multiplication.
Gardeners have long since coveted these wonderful plants since they grow big very easily and seem to take over whatever spot they are planted in, if you live in a semi-tropical zone. Of course, they also make wonderful additions to hanging pots, or even for indoor plants they are very beautiful. Yet the fern enthusiast needs to be aware that eventually a fern will become root-bound. This simply means that the root system has pretty much taken over whatever space there was in the flower pot, and is now in desperate need of a new, larger home.
If you find that your fern has outgrown its pot, there are some great ways to either re-pot or split up your fern without harming it.
First and foremost take the plant out of its pot gently. If it appears that you have waited too long to repot, and the roots have already grown out of the bottom holes of the pot, and may have even proceeded to knot together outside the holes, you may have to cut the pot open, assuming that it is plastic.
Once you have successfully extricated the roots from the pot, you will need to very carefully divide the roots. Use a very sharp knife to cut into the root ball so as to minimize any damage from accidental ripping of roots.
Now that you have the roots cut apart, be sure to very gently separate the fronds above. This may take a little bit of work since they may have become quite tangled. Your patience, however, will be rewarded with two beautiful plants.
These two plants need to be immediately planted to continue thriving. Be sure to invest some flower pots adequate for the size of the root balls you have now. Additionally, a good potting soil should be used whenever repotting a plant. Do not use topsoil, since it is somewhat lacking in nutrients for plants. Instead, go ahead and purchase one of the commercially available blends of potting soil.
If you want to do your ferns a special favor, you may want to add some of the white pellets that you can find at a good gardening store. They sell under the name “perlite” and are very useful in improving the soils drainage.
Once your ferns are planted, give them a good watering and maybe even a misting, since this is a rare treat that ferns most certainly enjoy. Wait at least a few weeks before applying any fertilizers.
As you can see, dividing your fern is not that hard of a process, if you simply keep a few cardinal rules in mind. Of course, there is also a list of things you should avoid- if at all possible- to give you plants the best possible start in their new separate lives:
Please be sure to cut the root ball. Some gardeners can be seen ripping them apart, but the damage this creates in the plants is very traumatic, and some ferns, which are thusly separated, will not thrive but instead may simply die.
Do not wait too long to separate your fern. Once it is root-bound, which simply means that it has been in the pot too long and has since outgrown it, it is very hard to effectively separate the roots.
Do not buy the cheapest soil available, but instead invest in a bona fide potting soil. While to some folks dirt is just dirt, to a soil connoisseur, to which you could count your ferns, there are subtle and glaring differences, such as soil drainage, nutrients available, and also moisture content.
Do not over- or underwater the plant. It should not be bone dry, nor should it be sitting in soggy soil.
Do not place your plants into the glaring sun. Instead, give them some bright yet indirect light.
And, last but not least, do not immediately fertilize your divided plants, but give them a few weeks to have the roots heal up. Fertilizing them too early will result in burning.
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