This information is adapted from an email report received from Mike Rigby, Vitrotec Plant Laboratories, PO BOX 51, RINGWOOD VIC 3134, AUSTRALIA, Telephone: 61-3-98794885, VITROTEC@netscape.net

"Most ferns will grow well in Murashige and Skoog basal medium, at full or half strength with 10, 20, or 30 grams of sucrose. The higher the level of sugar, the greater the shoot multiplication rate and the lower the rhizoid production."......from Mike Rigby.

MEDIA I

In a 1 quart jar, mix the following:

_____ 2 cups water

_____ MS basal medium

_____ 1 ml PPM

_____ 2 tablespoons table sugar
 

This will make full-strength MS.  It can be diluted by half:  Mix well and pour 2 cups each into two quart jars.  Add 2 cups water to each.  Add 0.5 to 1.0 ml PPM.  This is Half-MS.  Either should work well for fern spores.

Mix well.  Adjust pH to 5.5 - 5.8. Dispense into baby food jars (3 tablespoons each). Add  agar per jar as described in manual.    Sterilize via microwave or pressure cooker as described in the manual.

MEDIA II (this is an alternative to Media I)

In a 1 quart jar, mix the following:

_____ 2 cups water

_____ PhytoTechnololgy Fern/Hosta medium with sucrose (1 liter)

_____ 1 ml PPM
 

Mix well, bring volume to 1 quart. Adjust pH to 5.5 - 5.8. Dispense into baby food jars (3 tablespoons each). Add about one-half of 1/8 teaspoon of agar per jar (1/16 teaspoon). Sterilize via microwave or pressure cooker as described in the manual.

ISOLATION AND CULTURE OF EXPLANT

• Store sporulating leaves in a dry paper bag for a few days until the spores fall.
• Place a small amount of spores in a homemade filter unit  or in a filter paper cone in a funnel. Circles of paper toweling can be used.
• Wash the spores with 70% alcohol by dipping the filter unit in the alcohol for a few seconds, or pouring some alcohol through the filter paper.
• Prepare a 20% bleach solution by mixing 1/2 cup bleach, 2 cup water, and a few drops dish detergent. Dip the filter unit into bleach solution without submerging the unit. Raise and lower the filter unit every minute or two to mix the spores and the bleach. Continue this for 5-10 minutes..........OR.......... pour bleach solution slowing through the filter paper cone for 5-10 minutes.
• Allow the bleach to drain away. Using a kitchen knife, dipped in alcohol and shaken briefly, to pick up a few spores at a time and put onto the agar-solidified medium. This can be done by slicing the knife blade through the medium such that the spores stick to the medium.
• Clean the knife each time by dipping in alcohol.
• Spores should germinate within a few weeks but may take months for frond development. Do not plant out the ferns until there is an "abundance" of fronds. These can be divided and cultured onto new media though so as to mass produce the plants. Be sure a piece of rhizome (brown) is cultured with each bunch of fronds.
• Most ferns prefer 14 -22 C.
• Some ferns grow better under light, but most are not sensitive to photoperiod.  Be sure to find out the needs of your fern.