Bird's Nest Fern Not Sprouting? Mastering Propagation Is Key
The bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus) is a common plant with remarkable properties; it can be enjoyed as an ornamental and also used medicinally, and it is currently very popular with consumers on the market. Many people encounter a failure to sprout when growing bird's nest ferns. Actually, there is no need to panic; to solve this phenomenon, you only need to apply a few techniques.
What to Do If the Bird's Nest Fern Does Not Sprout
1. Insufficient light. Insufficient light can easily cause the bird's nest fern not to sprout, because keeping the bird's nest fern indoors for a long time means it cannot get enough sunlight and therefore will not sprout. However, the light must not be too strong either, so when growing it, place it in a bright spot indoors; it cannot be kept in the dark for a long time, and in summer it needs to be shaded.
2. Improper fertilisation. When the bird's nest fern is lacking fertiliser, or when it has been fertilised too many times, the bird's nest fern will show a failure to sprout. So when potting a bird's nest fern, you need to fertilise reasonably during its growing period, and ensure that all the elements are balanced, but stop fertilising during the high temperatures of summer and the low temperatures of winter.
3. Improper temperature. During the growing period, a suitable temperature must be maintained, between 15°C——28°C; when the temperature is higher or lower than this range, measures need to be taken.
Bird's Nest Fern Propagation Methods
1. Spore propagation. In spring, sterilise the prepared sowing soil at high temperature, put it into a pot and press it flat, then scatter the mature spores on the pot soil, spreading them evenly, then immerse the whole pot in water so that the pot soil is fully moistened, cover it with a glass pane to keep it humid, and finally place it in a cool, shady spot; in 7~10 days it will germinate, in about one month it will grow green prothallus, and after 3 months it will grow several true leaves, after which it can be potted up for cultivation.
2. Division propagation. In late spring and early summer, when new shoots are about to grow, before the new shoots emerge, carefully use a knife to cut apart the part of the plant that needs to be divided, then plant them separately. The division method for the bird's nest fern is rather special: choose a relatively robust plant, divide it from the base in late spring, cutting it into 2~4 pieces, then shorten the leaves by about one third to one half; each piece must have some leaves and rhizome, then place them separately into pots for cultivation so that they become separate plants. The place where the pots are placed must maintain a temperature above 20°C, the environment must be semi-shaded, and the air humidity must be high, in order to make the wounds heal as quickly as possible.
What to Do If the Bird's Nest Fern Has Crown Rot
1. Mild crown rot. The crown rot of the bird's nest fern is relatively mild; this means that the leaves in the centre of the bird's nest fern have not rotted, but the tender leaves on both sides have rotted. At this point, you can remove the rotted leaves, blot up the excess water, and let it be cared for in a dry environment for a period of time; after it has dried out, resume normal care. Be sure to control the surrounding air humidity.
2. More severe crown rot. If the crown rot of the bird's nest fern is already very serious, then saving the plant may be rather difficult. At this point, you can decisively remove the leaves, which can reduce water accumulation and lower the plant's consumption. By keeping the remaining leaves and an intact root system, it can still sprout again. You can directly remove the leaves and take away the rotted pseudobulbs.
3. Severe crown rot. When the crown rot of the bird's nest fern is extremely serious, rot may start from the base of the stem. At this point, first take the plant out of the flower pot, remove the soil and clean it thoroughly, then remove all the rotted parts on the plant, then disinfect with alcohol or potassium permanganate solution, and replant it after it has dried.
What to Do If the Leaves Have Scorched Edges
1. Insufficient or excessive water. One important cause of scorched edges on bird's nest fern leaves is a lack of water; if the surrounding air is too dry, it will also cause scorched edges.
Treatment method: The watering method differs between winter and summer, and they must be distinguished. In summer, the temperature is high and evaporation is faster, so water frequently; if conditions allow, you must also wash the leaf surface 2 to 3 times a day, and at the same time increase the humidity of the surrounding air; you can sprinkle water on the surrounding ground to increase humidity. In winter, when the temperature is lower, keep the pot soil moist and spray more water rather than watering more. 2. Pests and diseases. Nematodes can be called a major natural enemy of the bird's nest fern, causing its leaves to turn yellow.
Treatment method: Cadusafos granules are the best choice for dealing with nematodes; grind them up and sprinkle them on the surface of the pot soil.
The reasons why the bird's nest fern does not sprout are mainly light, temperature, fertilisation, and so on; you can observe carefully and solve this phenomenon at its root. If you want the bird's nest fern you grow to do well, you can try the propagation methods, of which spore propagation and division propagation are the two common ones; everyone can choose one of them according to their own actual needs.