A single asterisk indicates that division should take place after the plant flowers. To divide your fern, first dig it out of the ground or pull it out of its pot. Thanks for another informative plant article. Fern spores can be propagated indoors on a bright windowsill, out of direct sunlight, or under a grow light. Peonies are a good example of a plant that prefers to be transplanted in autumn if it must happen at all. Think of moisture-retentive woodland soil, rich with leaf mold and other organic matter, as a guide for your garden.If your garden lacks organic matter, work a 4-inch layer of compost or fine pine bark into the soil's upper 4 to 6 inches before planting autumn fern. It may be tempting to prune back the dying fronds to keep your fall ⦠If your fern is kept indoors, divide it in the spring when its container is full of roots. Sometimes, ferns simply become too large to re-pot. Dividing ferns in the fall is a great way to keep your ferns healthy and thriving. The soil in which you want to grow ostrich fern should be covered with mulch to maintain its moisture level. Or if your fern is kept outdoors, divide it in the fall or early ⦠Dividing Ferns In The Fall - How To Split, Repot & Overwinter Ferns Inside. Splitting or Dividing Ferns. When this happens, it is time to split the fern into new plants. (If Iâd continued the job for a full hour, youâd see at least 24 new ferns in the picture above.) The optimal time to divide specific perennials is denoted by (S) for spring and (F) for early fall. See the fern propagation section on the website for detailed instructions. When dividing perennials, timing and technique are important. It is an easy process but can also be quite messy, so you may choose to do this in the garden when the temperatures warm up or lay a sheet of plastic down in ⦠And while many perennials can be divided in either early spring or early fall, some are very picky. All soil types, from sand to clay, suit adaptable autumn fern, but it will prefer a pH slightly below 7.0. With fertilizing applied in the spring, and division in the fall, there is not much maintenance required in the winter for most ferns. Deciduous ferns such as lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), which grows in USDA zones 4 through 8, die back each fall. September 2019. This is best done in the spring, so the fern can have a full growing season to re-establish roots. I like the yellow color in the fall when growing these cinnamon ferns. Hi, Alice: Dividing larger ferns is a great way to rejuvenate them and is also an economical way to create more plants. Some will be displayed on lamp brackets attached to my various window gardens, and others will be given as birthday and holiday gifts to plant-minded friends. BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on January 19, 2021: Interesting article and pictures. Learn how to split & repot oversized ferns to create new plants for free! When splitting a fern, take a sharp knife or cutting tool and divide into sections to create new plants. I have never seen a fern ⦠Some ferns can be propagated by dividing the roots in the fall or very early in the spring, well before the new fronds are ready to ⦠At the same time, remember not to use fertilizers on the soil in fall. If you want to propagate more ferns, divide the rootstock and then replant it. Late summer and early fall is the time to plant, divide, and transplant many different perennials, shrubs, and trees including spring flowering perennials. How to Divide Cinnamon Ferns. Similarly, you may ask, can you divide ferns in the fall? As you can see, my 15-minute dividing-and-potting job resulted in 6 ânewâ ferns.