Osmunda Fiber - Orchid Board

Tindomul · #1 07-18-2006, 11:16 AM

Hi all,

Wanted to ask you all,
What exactly is Osmunda (Actually where does it come from),
Is it still used? Or is so last century? What are your opinions on it?

Thanks!

Mahon · #2 07-18-2006, 11:55 AM

Tin,

Osumnda fiber comes from the rhizome of the Osmunda Fern... I have not used it, but have heard it is good, and have also heard it isn't good (more times I have heard its a real pain).

-PM

littlefrog · #3 07-18-2006, 12:14 PM

Osmunda is like tree fern, but much better. It is softer and less brittle, among other things. It is also much much more expensive. If you can find some old osmunda (lots of growers used to use it by the ton, and it doesn't go bad if stored dry), then give it a try. I find a bag or two here and there in old collections. I wouldn't participate in the importation of new osmunda. The plants were seriously overharvested, and although there are supposedly 'sustainable' farms of osmunda now, I don't really believe it. Chances are good whatever you get is not harvested in an environmentally friendly way.

Anyway, you used to use osmunda with a potting stick. Yep, a stick... Take small chunks of osmunda, tuck them in around the roots, and pack them in tight with a sturdy stick until the plant doesn't wobble. Probably hard on the plant, but the osmunda lasted forever, so you didn't have to do it often. You can not do that with what is sold as tree fern, it is not at all flexible. Slabs of osmunda make excellent mounting material.

Tindomul · #4 07-18-2006, 01:50 PM

Thanks guys, I was asking cuase at work I have an old neglected and forgotten bucket of dry osmunda. Don't know if I will ever use it, but I will now be able to keep it in mind, knowing more about.

littlefrog · #5 07-18-2006, 02:55 PM

soak it first, to rinse out the dust and make it more pliable. Don't try to use it in its current dessicated state... *grin*

Rob

Wogga · #6 07-19-2006, 02:23 AM

I actuallly use osmunda on a fairly regular basis, as opposed to treefern, and i agree - soak it, drain the dust, and make it more pliable. i find it helps to break it up either into strips that can be wrapped around the roots of the plant, or into small pieces to make a mix type pottinfg medium.

i love it though - great stuff. it drains well, (although i dont know the science behind it) is a good medium for root adhesion, and is well aerated.

Ray · #7 07-25-2006, 05:48 AM

My understanding is that it is important to orient the fibers vertically in order to get maximum drainage and aeration, and that as it decomposes - slowly, but it does do so - it releases nitrogen, feeding the plant.

The stuff avaibale 20- or more years ago was far superior to the stuff you can get now.

Tindomul · #8 07-25-2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

My understanding is that it is important to orient the fibers vertically in order to get maximum drainage and aeration, and that as it decomposes - slowly, but it does do so - it releases nitrogen, feeding the plant.

The stuff avaibale 20- or more years ago was far superior to the stuff you can get now.

I didnt realize that you had to orient it a certain way. I will keep that in mind.
THe osmunda fiber I got looks really old, actually the bucket it was in says 1992!!!