Came across a little Osmunda fiber - what would YOU do with it?
 

While doing a little garage clean-out, I came across some Osmunda fiber in a plastic bag. Maybe a quart or two. It seems to be in good condition, even though it must be 10+ years old.

I know Osmunda is close to impossible to find these days, and is wicked expensive when you can find it.

Osmunda used to be the potting medium of choice decades ago. I would like to put this material to good use. I'm looking for suggestions - what would YOU use Osmunda for? Potting medium? Pads for mounted plants? Any particular types of plants you would use the Osmunda for?

I look forward to reading your suggestions.

I mounted two divisions of Dendrobium loddigesii a couple months back. One is on a piece of heavily textured green ash bark and the other is on a pad of osmunda that I salvaged from a dead cinnamon fern. Given equal lighting and watering, the plant on the osmunda has grown noticeably better, particularly in regards to the roots.

If it is still in big enough chunks, mount with a pad of sphag. If it is crumbly, mix in with your preferred mix. It doesn't have any magical properties but it does last a long time.

I know that in old days one way to use Osmunda was to cut it into cubical pieces (which was a tedious task, to begin with, since Osmunda is pretty hard) and then the pieces were stuffed between and around orchid's roots when potting - the same we do with pine bark nowadays.

But that's when you have slabs or plaques of osmunda, in which case you can also use it for mounting on it's own.

If you have only osmunda fiber then these are used as a component in orchid mixes... depends what orchids you'd like to grow, but generally some perlite, pumice and/or other inorganic additives - lava, clay aggregates, etc., also moss, and/or bark would be used together with the tree fern fibers.

Also why do you think it's osmunda - is it labelled? There are other tree ferns used for similar purpose and though a bit more expensive that other media you can still buy and use relatively easy - these are also being used for terrariums, e.g., with reptiles and such...

Thanks for this - the Osmunda I have includes some loose fiber, but also includes some clumps. Maybe 50% each loose vs. clumps. I don't think any of my clumps are big enough to use as a mount as-is. I was thinking it might be a good choice for putting around roots on a mount. I will probably try this with a Cattleya walkeriana seedling that I recently purchased.

No, no, no...don't use it!! Get rid of it and do it right away. What you must do immediately is box it up and...send it up to me. Right away! :evil::biggrin:

Seriously though...I have grown a few plants in osmunda (received from a fellow club member) and the catts that have grown in it have done beautifully. And, it lasts a very long time. If I could easily get my hands on some and it didn't cost an arm and a leg...I would use it for sure. It holds a bit of moisture but not soggy-like and not for long.

The stuff that I had was mat-like (kind of like epi-web but more open and pliable) and it was great for potting catts in clay. It packed in to hold the plants in place but w/out being compacted. Love the stuff!

Hi Hinotori

Yes, the Osmunda I have is in a labeled bag. It came from Better Gro. Apparently it was one of their orchid potting products many years ago.

I have more Cattleya alliance plants than anything else. I have a Dinema polybulbon that has never grown well for me - lots of growth, lots of roots, no flowers. I think maybe it gets a little under-watered during the winter. Possibly I could use the loose fiber in a pot to grow the Dinema?? I know Osmunda still drains well, but I was hoping the finer texture might keep moisture around the roots a bit more effectively.

Came across a little Osmunda fiber - what would YOU do with it?
 

What a great find! I would recommend it as a potting medium for catt's, epi's, and the like. As it slowly decomposes, it fertilizes the plant.