"De-clumping" Java Fern

beviking

Senior Member, Sophomoric Attitude

Feb 16, 2002

2,550

0

36

56

Syracuse, NY

• May 14, 2003

• #1

I was given a bag of j. fern and most of it is growing in little clumps(leaves all bunched together) while a couple have only a few leaves that are taller and not bunched. Is there a way to prune the smaller bunched style plants so they will eventually grow taller leaves spaced out a bit more? TIA

 

djlen

Fish?.......What Fish?

Aug 19, 2002

3,515

0

0

Somerdale, New Jersey USA

• May 14, 2003

• #2

IME, you can do pretty much whatever you want in separating it or pruning it. I can take a leaf, stick it in the substrate and it will produce an new plant. Or leave a leaf floating and it will produce a new plant. Or break a rhizome in half and attach to wood and make a new plant. Or......well, you get the picture.
Len

 

Last edited: May 14, 2003

W

wetmanNY

AC Members

Jul 25, 1999

1,905

0

0

Native New Yorker

www.skepticalaquarist.com

• May 19, 2003

• #3

Sounds to me like you have two Microsorum ferns mixed together in the clumps: M. pteropus and the more useful IMHO M. blassi.

 

beviking

Senior Member, Sophomoric Attitude

Feb 16, 2002

2,550

0

36

56

Syracuse, NY

• May 21, 2003

• #4

Thanks djlen for the USEFUL info. (He he, just kidding ya wetman.) I actually thought I had the two sp. together and I have used the clumps (IMO) in nice spots, but wanted some smaller less clumpy looking plants too! So far so good...