Resurrection Fern

[SubTropicRay]

What's the best way to establish Resurrection Fern (Polypodium polypodioides)? I've tried on vertical portions of my Live Oak and been unsuccessful. Will Liquid Nail work in mounting these?

Thanks,

Ray

[palmmermaid]

Ray,

The only way I've been successful with this is to harvest the limb or at least the bark that the fern is attached to. Then wire that to the branch where you want it to grow. Trying to get it off the bark is tough and I've never had luck with it.

[Mike Evans]

Ray, these are very unusual, neat little ferns that I see all over FL. They give the Oaks a North West rain forest look. I always notice them when I am on the FL rivers, w/ the Live Oaks hanging over the river. They seem to thrive in high humidity, next to the rivers. I have picked them off the Oaks & brought them home to my Live Oaks. They seemed to survive for ~ 2 years then die. I always thought that I did not have the constant amount of moisture they wanted. Just a guess. I tried, they died, i gave up. Of course, they look like they are dead a lot of the time, then come back, hence the name. Good luck! Let me know if you find out.

[Kailua_Krish]

They are everywhere in Ocala and I am not near a river. I wonder why they arent growing naturally in your yards? I love them though, they look so cool!

-Krishna

[_Keith]

Ray, one note, we have lots here but I have rarely seen it on a vertical surface. It is almost always on the horizontal lower branches, and only on the top of those banches, not on the side or underneath.

[Darkman]

In Pensacola I've seen them in some fairly dry areas but they only grow on the huge Live Oaks and only on extremely well shaded lower horizontal branches. I have some branches that fit that description but no ferns. I too have wanted to grow them. I wondered if one could collect them and puree them with buttermilk pouring the resulting slurry on limbs that fit their requirements. Anyone know if that would work? Are they true ferns with spores?

[Tampa Scott]

I got a little growing on the side of a palm trunk.

[_Keith]

  On 3/25/2011 at 4:05 AM, Darkman said:

In Pensacola I've seen them in some fairly dry areas but they only grow on the huge Live Oaks and only on extremely well shaded lower horizontal branches. I have some branches that fit that description but no ferns. I too have wanted to grow them. I wondered if one could collect them and puree them with buttermilk pouring the resulting slurry on limbs that fit their requirements. Anyone know if that would work? Are they true ferns with spores?

Yes, they are true ferns with spores.

[Kailua_Krish]

  On 3/25/2011 at 4:05 AM, Darkman said:

In Pensacola I've seen them in some fairly dry areas but they only grow on the huge Live Oaks and only on extremely well shaded lower horizontal branches. I have some branches that fit that description but no ferns. I too have wanted to grow them. I wondered if one could collect them and puree them with buttermilk pouring the resulting slurry on limbs that fit their requirements. Anyone know if that would work? Are they true ferns with spores?

They will grow on the sides of trunks if they are hit with sprinklers.

-Krishna

[Mandrew968]

Find a dead limb with them still growing on it and wait for the oak to rot. keep it watered as this keeps the fern alive and speeds up the oak wood decay. once the bark falls off, then you can attach them with fishing string, or wire. this is pretty easy to do--I've put them all over my delinox regia.

Edited March 28, 2011 by Mandrew968