I would like to encourage the ferns I have outdoors to spread, and I would even nurse baby ferns indoors under lights if that's what it takes.
Can roots under old clumps be divided, or would that kill them?
Does propagating from spores require sterile conditions?
Is there any easy way, even if it takes a few years?
I have a few clumps of "wild" ferns outdoors - by which I mean they were in my yard when I moved in, and I don't really care for them except to give them more water than the rest of the yard when there is NO rain.
A few new clumps have appeared where the soil is moister than other spots, for example in the bottom of a drainage trench I cut. It is "dry" all summer, but being cut 3-4 inches below grade, it probably has moister clay then the rest of the yard. Or maybe it is just "disturbed soil".
They seem to flourish where shade meets sun ... or maybe they actually need sun and they just grow where is some sun and not much competition!
My biggest and oldest clump has inter-grown with a big azalea, and I figure I have to trim the azalea back. Is there any way to encourage that clump to spread in a direction away from the azalea?
That clump always has many tough, brown, leathery fern fronds around the bottom, but the tops seem pretty healthy. It has not expanded in 4-5 years that I can detect.
