Maturity and Quality
Avoid wilted or yellow fronds.
Grading and Bunching. Leatherleaf fern is typically bunched in the 25’s. There are no formal grade standards, but frond length and freedom from damage or blemishes are obvious quality criteria.
Postharvest Handling and Storage
Leatherleaf fern should be stored at 1-6°C. Packing Because of the water associated with postharvest handling of leatherleaf ferns, they are normally packed in wax-impregnated cartons.
Pretreatments
Dipping bunches in ice water is sometimes used to accelerate cooling prior to packing. Pre-treatment with antitranspirants, including emulsified oils, has been shown to increase display life.
Special Considerations
Frond curl or postharvest wilt is a disorder that occurs more frequently from July to November. The precise cause of this disorder is not known and it cannot be prevented at the grower, wholesale, or retail levels. Water stress can make the frond curl worse; however, leatherleaf is very tolerant to water stress conditions when a frond curl is not a problem. The use of some postharvest antitranspirant (wax-type) dips can enhance vase life but does not reduce frond curl. Dipping leatherleaf in plain tap water can reduce vase life. The brown bumps (sporophores, or sori) found on the back of some leaves (fronds) have no detrimental effect on life.
Disorders
Description
Rumohra adiantiformis. By far the most popular cut foliage for use in arrangements, with year-round availability and good display life. Leatherleaf fern is grown in shade houses under sub-tropical conditions. The specific epithet adiantiformis indicates the similarity to the fronds of Adiantum, the maidenhair fern. The Greek "adianton" means unwettable - a reference to the fact that fern fronds shed water. It is probably the most commonly used floral green.