How to take care of a fern?
These articles will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/ferns/taking-care-of-outdoor-ferns.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ferns-houseplants/growing-ferns-indoors.htm
When your fern plant has been trampled, should you trim it back?
I would trim back fronds that turn brown or yellow and leave any others. Even damaged fronds will help the plant generate energy, which it needs to store up to survive the upcoming dormant season.
Over the root ball of my fern were pebbles like nodes over the entire area. Between the pot in which it was living and the roots, the nodes were hard, white, and cut like a potato. What are they?
They are called tubers, and they are part of the root storage system like bulbs, corms and rhizomes. Ferns, chlorophytum and potatoes all have tubers in common.
My 20 year old staghorn is now 3 feet across and wide. It has outgrown the circle of wood it's mounted on. How do I remount it onto a new wood backing?
Hopefully these links will help:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg015 "Because of their relatively large size, staghorn ferns are rarely grown in pots except when produced as small specimens for sale at nurseries. Their natural, epiphytic growth habit makes them well suited for mounting on slabs of wood, tree fern fiber or wire baskets. To mount a fern on a piece of wood or tree fern fiber, place a few handfuls of organic growing medium such as peat, compost or rich potting soil on the wood slightly below center. Shape it in a circular mound and place the fern on it so that the basal fronds are in contact with the mounting material. Use wire (not copper), plastic strips or nylon hose to secure the fern tightly to its mount. When a wire basket is used, pack it with an organic medium and mount and secure the fern “face-up” on the medium. Hang the basket sideways. Pups (small plants) will eventually emerge from the back and sides of the basket and completely cover it.''
http://www.marthastewart.com/244112/staghorn-ferns-mount
Personally, I've never had much luck with staghorn ferns on plaques. I prefer to use a plastic or wire hanging basket and let the fern envelope it.
What fertilizer for ostrich ferns?
This link will take you to an article about fertilizing Boston ferns: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/boston-fern-fertilizer.htm
The information is the same for Ostrich ferns as for Boston's, except that you won't need to fertilize after July 4. This way, new growth will have time to harden off before first frost. You won't need to fertilize again until new growth starts showing in the spring. You should be able to find 20-10-20 fertilizer at your local greenhouse that grow their own plants. Most commercial growers use 20-10-20 and would be willing to sell a couple pounds at bulk price. Take a sealable plastic tub with you. If you can't get it, just use 20-20-20.
I bought a great looking starter size & need to know what size pot to buy for a mature size fern. It is almost 12" tall now; how big will it become? Thanks. Beth Harkins.
On average, a bird's nest fern will reach anywhere from 3 to 5 feet in height with a spread of around 2 to 3 feet.
Two large potted ferns kept outside throughout the spring & summer. Can I leave them outside throughout the winter months here in the Chicagoland area? What care do they need in the cold? Do I have to bring them indoors? They are huge!
I am guessing your ferns are Boston Ferns and they will need to be wintered indoors. This article will help you with doing that:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/overwintering-boston-ferns.htm