Fern Spores On Paper

photograph of a dried fern leaf and spores by Doug Couvillion

Realizing the ferns in my garden were full of spores, I decided to dry a leaf on paper, collect the spores and see if I could propagate ferns from them.

The process involves collecting a leaf with spores and drying it over night.  As the leaf dries the spores fall out.  Once you collect the spores you place them in sterilized soil and keep them moist for months while they grow.

I collected these spores in about 3 months ago and I’m just starting to see some tiny, green growth in the soil.

This photograph was taken the morning after I set the leaf out to dry on a piece of paper.  The outline of the leaf created by the spores really inspired me.

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