You could try cutting the ferns off below the soil. afaik ferns won’t regrow from the roots if cut deep enough down. But I couldn’t swear to it. Perhaps the answer in future will be prevention before the problem gets out of hand. If you check the pots frequently you should be able to scrape of the prothalia before the ferns start to grow. This link explains what to look for. https://hardyferns.org/propagation/

you should be able to pull them out.. if you go at them when younger ... why wait until the roots fill the pots.. to try???

and then just bare root and repot the ones with mature ferns in them ..

it seems like you are looking for a remedy that involves little or no effort .. lol .... arent we all ...

ken

I pull the ferns in my yard - it's the only way to keep them in check.

When weeds - which I'm thinking includes unwanted ferns - invade my potted plants, I use one hand to hold down the potting medium, while gently tugging out the weed. Any roots that are too involved usually break off, and won't regrow, however, some ferns form little nodules/tubers that will grow into new plants....

I have a lot of orchids. Many grow outside in pots in my yard. I do pull out the ferns when I spot them but they break off and I can't get the root system out. When I try, its like a mesh ball. Orchids are not like dirt plants which can be pulled out of the pot. Doing so to most orchids would damage their roots. Orchid roots attach to the pots or baskets. I've cut my hand trying to pull some ferns out because their stem is like wire. Now I just cut them close to the bottom but they come back.

To repot and get rid of the fern root ball requires smashing the clay pots or breaking the baskets to get to the fern root ball.

I was hoping there was something I could use to destroy the ferns without damaging the orchids.

Guess not!

Jane

When I get weeds in my pots, if I can't pull them I cut them. If you cut them enough, they eventually die. Some weeds just take longer than others.

Jane, in your orchid-growing experience in central or southwest FL, does just attaching an orchid to a tree work? I see it recommended, but the only ones of mine that live for long are in pots, basket, or the ground.

Hi Jane, I have had the persistent fern in orchid pots problem in the past and have learned that if you don't remove them when they are small you will wind up repotting your orchid. as the ferns roots will choke everything else in the pot. Every time you fertilize your orchid, the bulk will go to feed the fern's roots. If your plants are getting sprinklered on (is that a word?) it may be worth trying to reduce the amount of water that hits the pots, are there ferns in your yard that spread seed or whatever ferns use to reproduce?. I remember most of the fern problem occurred in my vanda shadehouse as it got watered twice every morning and every time it rained in South FLA...

Ferns are growing everywhere the lawn isn't mowed. They are also growing on a few Palms which have rough trunks that provides them to grow and spread. I don't remember the name of those palms.

I have many orchids which I have on benches out in the yard. I also have many growing on my lanai along with some 'dirt' plants. I'll try to post photos tomorrow, I don't know the names of the ferns. I don't overwater and, if anything, tend to underwater and depend on rainfall. Trying to pull them out is impossible. The stems are like wires and will slice your hand when you pull. I still do but the stems break off. Can't get the roots. They form a massive root system.

I will have to repot most of my plants this Spring, cut the root mass out which will probably damage plant roots.

Beesneeds, I'll try stabbing the root mass but doubt it will work, but I'll give it a try.

Irma, yes orchids do well growing on trees. I have many mounted and those do not get bothered with ferns because they are bare-root. But, I like growing them in pots and baskets for display and because I can take better care of them.

Floral, I'll give the cutting a try, but the root system is like a large fabric mass. Not like roots from 'dirt plants.'

It's just so frustrating because you literally can not get the ferns out and they just continue to take over all the pots.

Thanks everyone for all the help,

Jane

Heh, I'm not sure stabbing the root mass will work either. When I wrote cut them, I meant cut them off at soil level, cut off any growing stuff above ground. Eventually with no growing green stuff to provide energy, a plant like a fern can die off.