How to Grow Ostrich Ferns From Roots 

Do you want to grow ostrich ferns from roots? Well, growing ostrich ferns from roots is a very easy and effortless process for anyone.

Even if you are a newbie in gardening, you can also grow new ostrich ferns from their roots. If you want to know how! Then follow this article.

Here I’ll be talking about how you can grow ostrich ferns from roots along with their overall characteristics.

Similarly, I’ll also share their basic growing requirements so that you can have healthy ostrich ferns in your garden.

Overview of Ostrich Fern

• Botanical name: Matteuccia struthiopteris
• Plants: Deciduous perennial 
• Native range: North America, Europe, Northern Asia
• Native habitats: woodlands, low places, swamps etc
• Shade requirements: partial to fully shaded place
• Height: around 3-8 ft
• Width: up to 3-5 ft
• Soil pH: acidic soil (5- 6) pH,
• Soil type:  moist, organic matter
• Hardyzone: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Ostrich ferns are deciduous plants that have beautiful crown-shaped fronds arching vertically. These ferns are also renowned as fiddlehead ferns or shuttlecock ferns in many regions. 

Because of their vertical crown shape growing tendency, they have received awards from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Also, they are quite expensive plants to buy.

However, if you are a fern lover, then this won’t be an issue for you against your passion and hobby. 

When You Should Plant Your Ostrich Ferns 

The right time of Planting can give you thriving ostrich ferns. Hence you need to know which season is your ostrich fern’s planting season so that you can make the best out of that time.

Usually, late spring is the best time to plant or grow ostrich ferns. Since ostrich fern’s growing season is mid-summer to fall, therefore you can plant these ferns in the late spring seasons.

It can naturally grow your ferns as summer is their growing cycle period.

How to Grow Ostrich Ferns From Roots: Step-by-Step Guidelines 

Now let’s, go through a step-by-step guidance for growing your ostrich ferns from roots. 

Step 1: Collect a Root Ball 

At the very beginning, you need to collect ostrich fern root balls. You can either buy it from any nearby nursery shop or you can cut your old ostrich ferns as well.

Just in the winter season, you can cut off the edges of their stems while keeping the roots intact.  Since in winter, ostrich ferns go dormant, cutting their fronds and shoots will not harm the plant much. 

Step 2: Dig a Hole

Now that you have ostrich fern roots, you need to plant those roots in a garden. Therefore, you need to dig a hole in the ground. Make sure the hole is twice as big or as much as the size of the rootball. 

Step 3: Put the Root Ball Into the Hole

After digging the hole, you need to put your root ball inside of that hole. Place the rhizomes in the upper side so that the new shoots can grow from the root ball.

You can also place it in a crown position or in an angle position. 

Step 4: Prepare the Soil

You can use potting mix soil from your local shop. Or you can make your own mixing soil by adding peat moss, and organic compost in it.

Step 5: Cover the Hole With Potting Soil 

After putting the root ball into that hole, you need to cover the hole with your new potting soil. Sprinkling the soil slightly on the top, don’t cover the whole roots with soil.

Make sure the upper side of the rhizomes are partially covered. It will help new young shoots to come through the soil surface easily.

Step 6: Water the Root Ball

Lastly, finish this process, with water the roots ball. It will give your ostrich fern’s root ball instant hydration. 

A few weeks later, you will notice young shoots are growing through that rootball. It means your root planting process is successful completely.

Later on, just follow the simple routine to get thriving ostrich ferns in your garden yard.

General Care of Ostrich Ferns 

After having new ingrown ostrich ferns, you need to just follow the normal routine.

• Try to provide them partial to fully shaded places in order to make them thrive. Avoid full sunlight areas for planting your ostrich ferns because it might give your ostrich ferns burn fronds.
• Make their soil moist and damp, not overall soaked in water. Water your ostrich ferns once a week.  however, also observe the climate and the soil before watering. Avoid watering because it can kill your ostrich fern. Also underwatering can dry out the plant too much that they will get dehydrated.
• Apply 20:20:20 all-purpose fertilizer during their growing seasons to have robust growth in your ostrich ferns 
• Cut off or remove damaged, burned, unhealthy fronds to have healthy ostrich ferns.
• Use pesticides or fungicides on your ostrich ferns in case of any diseases or other pest problems. 
• Repot or replant your ostrich ferns every 2 to 3 years later; it will help to grow your ferns more bushy and active. 

Last Line

As a result, Ostrich ferns are elegant-looking ferns that can enhance your garden’s look by their bushy appearances.

You can easily grow or plant these ostrich ferns by their roots with the following steps I have mentioned in this article.

Also, by following the basic guidelines of their growing condition, you can certainly give your ostrich ferns a wild nature atmosphere in your garden.