Hermetospheres

Sometimes, when things look bad, it pays to simply wait and see if things change for the better. I have already described an experience of this kind (Death and resurrection). There is a similar story to tell today.

A 5l container inspired by the flora of Costa Rica was set up on April 2023 with two miniature orchids (Lepanthes clareae, Lepantes ova-rajae), a fern (Elaphoglossum peltatum var. peltatum) and a moss (Kindbergia prolonga). From the very beginning however, a fungus mycelium, potentially introduced with one of the orchids, threatened to overgrow substrate and plants. Neither the addition of springtails (meant to feed on the fungus) nor the local application of hydrogen peroxide (3% solution of H₂O₂, a potentially antifungal agent) helped in the longer run. By September 2024 I had lost both orchids and parts of the Elaphoglossum fern to the fungus.

Instead, a new fern began to grow that was neither planted nor intended and was presumably brought in as a hitchhiker with one of the orchids. The two pictures below show the development of the young fern over four months.

The following video shows a 360° view of the container on 20. January 2025.

As I am not an expert, I can only make guesses about the identification of the fern. My best guess would be Phlebodium aureum, also called ‘gold-foot fern’ for its scaly golden rhizome or, ‘blue-star fern’ after a widespread cultivar. The fern is native to the south-eastern USA, the Caribbean and north-eastern South America and is widely cultivated as a houseplant.

On the picture below you can see a juvenile specimen of Phlebodium aureum in-situ with its golden rhizome hairs well recognizable. Make your own mind on my identification guess for the fern in the container.

It will be interesting to see how my growing fern will cope with the potentially scarce nutrients in the container and whether or not it will develop sori and spores as well as the typical hairy rhizome. These traits could help to confirm the provisional identification.