I'm going to be starting some staghorn ferns by the spores. I have never done this nor have I grown any staghorn ferns but I think I can do it. I think I read every post about staghorn ferns through the plant database and I didn't see anything about starting staghorn ferns from spores. I will probably get the spores from the fern factory. I was wondering if anybody has ever done this? Any advice would be great. Thanks

I've never attempted growing ferns from spores but I'll be curious and hope you will post updates as to the outcome with such a project! @drdawg Ken grows Staghorns; I don't know if he's ever grown them from spores ... but he is really knowledgeable so maybe he will pop in and offer some tips.

I have never attempted to grow from spore. I don't have the full climate control or the (sterile) conditions to do so. I wish I could be of some help here. I say: "Go for it". We can all learn from your "experiment".

Thanks... I'll keep everybody updated when I get started.

Of course, spores are not seeds, and require vastly different care and methodology to produce a plant. For instance, spores germinate and after that have sex, and you need to provide the right conditions for that to occur. The methodology should be the same for all fern species spores, so it won't be hard to find instructions.

Thanks..... The fern factory has a you tube video on how to do it. And they sell spore kits. I think I will just buy a packet of spores and use their instructions.

Very adequate, and easy to understand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

It is very important when he says try not to peak too much to check on growth. The introduction of bad pathogens is a common problem as stages of growth at that time are very susceptible. That's one of the reasons why you use boiling water, too.

Thanks. To me that's going to be the hardest part

I got a e mail from the fern factory. Thay said it would be better to wait until February to get the spores. So it looks like it will be awhile before I get started.

Gosh, a few years ago, I had millions of spores. I had a lot of large, mature staghorns and they were loaded. Three years ago I got an order for every single mature staghorn I owned, all purchased by one person. That left me without a single spore-laden stag. I am slowly building up my inventory of sizable plants again. It takes about five years to see spore-formation. At least that has been my observation.

I was hoping to get a early start with them. But February isn't that far away I think I can wait.

No choice, Heath.