i have recently acquired a fern which the roots grow on the surface of
the soil...like air roots....they are hairy like a tarantula spider
legs.
the fronds and leaves grow from these roots. they are small and very
delicate.
can anyone identify this fern for me please?

thanks.

"BeBop" wrote in message
...
i have recently acquired a fern which the roots grow on the surface of
the soil...like air roots....they are hairy like a tarantula spider
legs.
the fronds and leaves grow from these roots. they are small and very
delicate.
can anyone identify this fern for me please?

thanks.

Sounds like a rabbit's foot fern - Davillia or Humata. Those furry
extensions are rhizomes, not roots, but you can cut them off and root them
to start new plants. A great little fern and quite hardy, too - I have one
that has lived outdoors in zone 8 for about 3 years.

pam - gardengal

They are also very durable and carefree as houseplants. I've had one for
over a dozen years. It hangs in a north window, and gets watered once a
week. It always looks fresh and attractive. I repotted it once, a few
years ago, when the rhizomes got so numerous that they cracked the pot.

Cheers,
Sue

--

Zone 6, South-central PA

"Pam - gardengal" wrote
Sounds like a rabbit's foot fern - Davillia or Humata. Those furry
extensions are rhizomes, not roots, but you can cut them off and root them
to start new plants. A great little fern and quite hardy, too - I have one
that has lived outdoors in zone 8 for about 3 years.

pam - gardengal

Does anyone know the northernmost limit to grow these outdoors?

Dave

"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message
news:t%ayb.257653$275.934976@attbi_s53...

"BeBop" wrote in message
...
i have recently acquired a fern which the roots grow on the surface of
the soil...like air roots....they are hairy like a tarantula spider
legs.
the fronds and leaves grow from these roots. they are small and very
delicate.
can anyone identify this fern for me please?

thanks.

Sounds like a rabbit's foot fern - Davillia or Humata. Those furry
extensions are rhizomes, not roots, but you can cut them off and root them
to start new plants. A great little fern and quite hardy, too - I have one
that has lived outdoors in zone 8 for about 3 years.

pam - gardengal

They are only supposed to be hardy in zones 10 and 11, so I would assume
only in a frost free area. However, like I said, one of mine has been
outdoors consistantly for about 3 years and during that time has experienced
some very cold weather - we had a weeklong spell in the 20's in October. It
is in a protected area, but they are sold here as houseplants. This just
happened to be one houseplant that never made it back indoors after its
summer vacation.

pam - gardengal


"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know the northernmost limit to grow these outdoors?

Dave

"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message
news:t%ayb.257653$275.934976@attbi_s53...

"BeBop" wrote in message
...
i have recently acquired a fern which the roots grow on the surface of
the soil...like air roots....they are hairy like a tarantula spider
legs.
the fronds and leaves grow from these roots. they are small and very
delicate.
can anyone identify this fern for me please?

thanks.

Sounds like a rabbit's foot fern - Davillia or Humata. Those furry
extensions are rhizomes, not roots, but you can cut them off and root
them
to start new plants. A great little fern and quite hardy, too - I have
one
that has lived outdoors in zone 8 for about 3 years.

pam - gardengal