With its soft feather like leafy growth, it provides a lovely soft effect and is great for hanging pots or pots in sheltered courtyards as well. Hen and chicken fern also works well in pots, but prefers shade or partial light. Great for large pots, hanging baskets or sheltered areas in the garden. Potting and repotting: Inspect the root ball annually in spring and repot if necessary, using a soil-less compost with added coarse sand for drainage. oscar2191, May 20, 4:57am. Cover the fronds with a thin layer of mix, ensuring the pups are not buried, and keep them moist by misting with water or placing the entire tray in a plastic bag in a sheltered, shaded spot. Enclose each propagation pot in a plastic bag or propagating case and keep it at normal room temperature in a slightly shaded position until further top growth begins to appear. Thereafter, the best procedure is to gradually reduce the humidity by removing the plastic bag or uncovering the propagating case for increasingly long periods over the next four weeks and water the plant just enough to keep the mixture barely moist. These plantlets will eventually weigh the frond down, fall off when they reach 2 in. A single slug can devour a whole leaf. Amend heavy clay or sandy soils with organic matter. It is possible to wire the plant to a slab of wood or to tree trunks. These bulbils are the ‘chickens’ and the fronds are the mother ‘hen’. Asplenium bulbiferum, Asplenium bullatum, Asplenium cavalerianum, Asplenium marinum var. They can be troubled by snails and slugs, however, if grown outside. The ideal temperature for hens and chicks is between 65 and 75 degrees F. (18-24 C.). Do not overwater. Enter the email address associated with your account, and we'll email you a new password. In this activity, students learn how to propagate ferns. During the rest period water sparingly, enough to keep the potting mixture from drying out. 1. Germinates in spring. Hen and chicken fern is another goodie. With very feathery foliage and dense habit it is an excellent plant for cool moist spots in the garden. Water in well. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Hens and chicks require very little soil and can be made to grow even in rock crevasses. Temperature in rest period – min 10°C max 24°C (50-75°F) Separating the offsets from the hen plant is very easy. There are different mutations of the hen and chicken fern, the naturally occuring bush variety gets a name pikopiko due to the young edible shoots it produces - becoming increasingly popular as a speciality NZ delicacy. are highly versatile plants which can grow well in swampy or dry conditions. Give them medium light all year long. Fill the pot with quality potting mix, such as. 2.4L Hen And Chicken Fern - Asplenium bulbiferum. A place around a water feature is ideal for Asplenium bulbiferum thus the increased air humidity, resembling its natural habitat. Form a raised or doughnut-shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. Some ferns, like the hen and chickens fern, reproduce asexually by means of bulbils. Asplenium bulbiferum is easily identified as it has the ability to grow proliferous buds on the tips of its fronds. bulbifera Add a thin layer of fine grit only above the potting medium. It is an excellent subject for large tubs and pots and becomes quite an impressive specimen given time. The flowers are not ornamentally significant. By the end of this activity, students should be able to: understand that all species of fern reproduce sexually by means of spores Hen & chickens ferns get their common name from their production of bulbils, or vegetative outgrowths, on the upperside of their fronds. Great to plant under othe rnative trees. Asplenium bulbiferum (Hen and Chickens Fern) is a tufted evergreen fern with gracefully arching, finely divided, light green fronds bearing bulbils at their tips. Do not feed the new fern. Flax (Phormium spp.) Commonly sold by many plant nurseries. Houseplant care: Old fronds can be removed to improve appearance. Pests - generally ferns are quite pest resistant but some ground ferns e.g Hen and chicken fern (Asplenium bulbiferum) can attract aphids and some others (e,g Polystichum vestitum) can get thrip - if sighted spray (use at lowest of recommended rate) with insecticide. Care for this very common,beloved, fern is much water,consistent feeding,light shade,typical fern soil with compost, and much snail bait. Flowering Indoor Plants. Echinacea is a hardy herbaceous perennial with large fragrant pink daisy-like flowers. Position: These ferns tend to thrive in shade to partial sunlight, preferring north-facing exposures. Can be terrestrial or epiphytic depending on how it is cultivated from propagation. Propagation: Asplenium bulbiferum is easily propagated by means of the bulbils that grow on the mature fronds. The versatile fern has dark green arching fronds which can grow up to 24 inches long and 9 inches wide and they grow on black stalks. Place the young fern on the surface of recommended potting mixture for ferns and water them just enough to moisten the mixture. Watering in rest period – sparingly In this activity, students learn how to propagate ferns. Mulches them to help reduce water evaporation in hot or dry weather. Some ferns reproduce asexually, they develop growths on the tips of the fronds called bulbils or plantlets, and when they touch the moist soil they take root. Some Asplenium and Polystichum species are particularly suitable. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots. Once grown to about 5 cm (2 inch), these offsprings fall off and when touch the moist soil they develop a root system and grow into new ferns. Light: Asplenium bulbiferum thrives in many situations from shade to partial sunlight, including areas with low light. Asplenium bulbiferum: Hen and chicken fern is handsome and easy to grow, and brings a soft luxuriance to shady spots when mature. Note: Asplenium bulbiferum has a curiosity value for its  ability to grow plantlets directly on the surface of the feathery fronds, an amazing adaptation to vegetative propagation along with spore propagation which is normal for ferns. 2.4L Hen And Chicken Fern - Asplenium bulbiferum. It will not hurt these ferns to dry out for a while, but it is best to keep them evenly moist. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. The hen and chickens fern (Asplenium bulbiferum) is found in New Zealand and Australia.Of New Zealand’s 194 native ferns and lycophytes, 95 species (49%) also grow in Australia. One of the most vulnerable ferns in the garden to molluscs. Relocate the fern in a suitable position. Garden Culture: Asplenium bulbiferum is hardy outdoors to zone 9. Sign up to join the Yates Garden Club for monthly e-mails packed with seasonal inspiration, tips for success & exclusive promotions. The fern also produces spore on the underside of the fronds and so it has a double chance to propagate. Asplenium cavalerianum Plant Asplenium bulbiferum in areas with wind, frost and drought protection. To do this, take the bundle out of the plastic container, and gently roll the chicks away from the main cluster. Shape – rosette Separate the chicks from the hen using your fingers to propagate them. Spring sown spores germinate in 1 - 3 months at 15°c. Fertilising: Feed frequently during growing season with a general purpose fertilizer. When this occurs, move plants into pots one size larger in the spring. Great for large pots or en-masse in garden beds. Enclose each propagation pot in a plastic bag or propagating case and keep it at normal room temperature in a slightly shaded position until further top growth begins to appear. They're easy to grow and are perfectly suited to garden beds, borders and pots.