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Ever since the second half of the 19th century, Asparagus Fern has been considered as one of the most popular plants which you could grow and take care of in your own house.
People were even then asking questions on how to propagate asparagus fern or can you start growing it from cuttings.
It is relatively easy to take care of and it is not that demanding at all compared to some other indoor plants.
So if you don’t have a lot of time to spend on growing your plants, but you would still like to have some nice plants in your home – this one is for you!
Asparagus Fern is not exactly a type of fern, but it belongs to the category of Lily plants.
It has small, white flowers that bloom from summer to autumn, with the addition that it could also produce very tiny red or blackberries.
The plant originates from South Africa and it is very useful to use it as a visual plant in containers or as a groundcover.
It is also not possible to propagate it with cuttings.
But, don’t worry!
That is why I am here today, to show you how you could take care of and propagate asparagus fern, so let’s get into it!
Preparation For Propagating Asparagus Fern
Before you start propagating your Asparagus fern, you will need to prepare a bit, since there are different methods of growing it, so you will have to decide which one you want to use. Two main methods of propagating Asparagus fern are:
- By using the seeds and
- By dividing the plant
Both propagation methods are slightly different, so in order for you to decide which one you would want to use, I will explain in details how to apply each of these methods.
But first, let me tell you what more will you require in order to do this because you do have to prepare some tools and materials that will be needed for propagating the asparagus fern.
- Pots – the first thing you need to do is find some pots in which you intend to grow and propagate asparagus fern. For the start, you could use 3-inch starter pot, but later you would want to get 4 or 6-inch square pots;
- Seed compost and germination mat – next thing you need to do is get some seed compost and germination mat, so you could put your plant in and grow it;
- Plastic wrap – you will need to find some plastic to cover the plant up if needed;
- Spray bottle – of course, you will need to water the plant, and the fern likes to get water as a spray;
- Knife – you would need some kind of knife or scissors in order to properly take care of the plant itself;
- Potting mix – and last, but not the least, you would need a proper potting mix to grow your plant in right conditions.
Now that you have everything you need, you are ready to start propagating your asparagus fern by yourself, so let’s get down to the business.
Propagating Asparagus Fern from Seeds
The first way of propagating asparagus fern is by using the seeds to do it. It is very important to follow certain steps, so the plant would grow as it is supposed to.
1. Prepare the Seeds
The first thing you need to do in order to propagate asparagus fern properly is to make asparagus fern seeds a bit softer.
To do that, put them in the water and leave them there for around 24 hours.
It is important to be prepared once you want to pull the seeds out of the water, so they wouldn’t dry out.
So, make sure to prepare the pots and everything else before you do start the sowing process.
2. Prepare the Pots
For starters, use a 3-inch starter pot and put the sterile seed compost inside.
After that make sure to make the compost moist and wait for around 15 minutes for the water to drain off.
Once that is done, you can start creating holes for seeds to be sewn into.
The holes should be 1/4 inch deep. After you do that, put two seeds inside the hole and make sure to cover them with more compost.
3. Set the Environment Right
Next thing to do is to prepare germination mat and put the starter pot on it.
Pots should be covered with some plastic sheets.
Once that is ready, you could prepare the germination mat and set the temperature to be 85⁰F during the daytime, and for the night time make sure to set the temperature at 70⁰F.
That should be enough to keep the plant happy and help you propagate your asparagus fern.
4. Watering
Watering needs to be done very carefully since it is not good for seed compost to be neither too watery nor to dry, so you will need to balance that properly.
You should use a spray bottle to water the plant and you can check if the plant needs water by touching the compost and see if it is almost dry.
If it is dry on the touch, then water it.
5. The Waiting Game
Germination process should last around 3 to 4 weeks at the most.
If you notice that one of the seedlings is getting weak, you should remove it, so it wouldn’t affect the other plants in the same pot.
It could also happen that all of the seedlings will manage to get through without any problems, which would be the ideal situation for you.
6. Location and Transplantation
Asparagus fern really likes bright locations.
So, make sure to put it near a very big window if you can, since there it would get enough light and it would be able to receive the right amount of temperature as well.
You should keep it there until it gets two or three sets of leaves that looks grown and mature.
After that, you could transfer the plant to a larger (4-inch) pot and add some potting mix with the acidic component.
Propagating Asparagus Fern from Division
Another way of propagating asparagus fern is by dividing the plant.
In other words, by using an already grown specimen, called parent plant, to propagate another herb.
As with the previous method, there are some specific steps you would need to follow.
1. Preparing the Plant for Division
Before you start the division process, you need to prepare the plant for it.
The first thing you need to do is water the soil until it seems completely saturated in the first 3 inches, then leave it there during the night and make sure that roots are being very well hydrated.
2. Starting the Division Process
Now that your plant is ready to be moved, you can take it away from the pot.
And take half of the soil from the root part. After that is done make sure that you divide the fronds to be as equal as possible.
Once you managed to do that, you will need to use something, like a tie or string to make each portion secured.
3. Securing the Plants During Division Process
For this step, that knife we mentioned would be a useful tool. Now you will need to cut straight through the root ball, which is located between each portion and don’t forget to sharpen and clean your knife before the process.
This is done to make sure that each division has the same amount of frond and roots because every division needs to have a proper amount of everything in order to survive.
4. Soil maintenance
Your plant should be ready to be put in a 6-inch pot by now if you have followed the steps so far. So make sure to do that and add potting mix which is very light and has acidic properties.
Now, in order to let the soil settle, you should use the water instead of your hands, because it is a more natural and better way to do it.
5. Location and Watering
As for the possible location, this method is the same as the previous one.
Since the plant is the same and it requires the same conditioning.
It should be put in a warm and very bright location where it would be happy.
When we talk about watering, you should water the plant when you notice that first 2 inches of the soil seem dry enough.
But make sure not to use too much water, because roots could suffer and rot.
6. Transplantation
Same as with the last method, the transplantation is done once the plant shows regular signs of growth mentioned above.
What you need to remember though, is to put the plant in a pot which is not bigger than its original pot for more than 1 inch.
As you can see, to propagate asparagus fern is quite easy and you can do it in the blink of an eye!
Related Questions
What is the best mulch for asparagus?
Lucky for you and your asparagus, multiple mulch types are suitable. For example, you can use manure, compost, leaves, and grass clippings (but not the ones sprayed with herbicides). Furthermore, wood chips, straw, hay, as well as bark mulch, and chippings work fine as well. What you should avoid is using landscape fabric or black plastic.
How many asparagus crowns should I plant?
If you are a fan of asparagus, the best would be to keep between five and twenty plants. It depends on how often you want to eat it.
Does asparagus fern need sun?
These plants are extremely adaptable in terms of light conditions. Full sun or shade, it really doesn’t matter, anything works However, if you keep them exposed to excessive light for too long, their leaves will begin to yellow. Balance is very important.
Can asparagus be grown in pots?
Technically you can, but you’d need a large container to ensure proper development. Honestly, I’d say the garden is a much better choice as the play has a humongous root system.
Do asparagus plants spread?
Yes, these plants spread as they grow. What’s quite interesting is that both roots and the upper part of the plant spread largely. As for the depth, it can go up to almost 2 meters underground.
