Growing and identifying ferns

This course in fern cultivation and identification aims to cover the fundamentals of this fascinating group of plants. We will cover fern diversity (including some fern families), the Victorian fern craze, and fern biology in order to better understand their growing requirements (temperatures, humidity, growing media, fertilizing, etc.) and behaviour in cultivation. The course will also look at fern propagation, showing how to collect spores and how new plants develop from spores, gemmae and rhizomes.

Luigi started his horticultural career in Italy, working for nurseries and a tree survey company, and concluding his university studies in agricultural science and horticulture. He moved to the UK eight years ago to further his knowledge of plants and practical skills in garden maintenance. He trained at Threave Garden (National Trust for Scotland), Cambridge University Botanic Garden and then Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and is now back at the Botanic Garden as Glasshouse & Nursery Team Leader.