Students learn about various plants through courses such as General Biology, Botany and Plant Taxonomy. However, most courses focus on seed plants, gymnosperms and angiosperms, while non-seed plants are often overlooked. In Florida, wetland ecosystems are continually threatened by invasive plants and arguably the most detrimental is the Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum). Proper identification and understanding of phenological development are the cornerstones of management, but due to their minute size and complex life cycle, ferns are “non-intentionally” avoided. Ferns germinate from microscopic spores and grow and reproduce through gametophyte and sporophyte life stages which are distinct from each other, and different among species. To aid practitioners and as a teaching tool for students, we constructed a dichotomous key for fern identification. We selected several Florida-specific native and invasive exotic ferns and grew these from spores into the various stages of development. These stages included juvenile gametophytes without sexual organs, adult gametophytes with antheridia and archegonia and finally, sporophytes. Features such as size, shape, pubescence, and density, as functions of time and developmental stage, were collected to develop the key. We also developed a tech-pack, which provides the necessary equipment, supplies, and procedures for growing ferns and conducting diagnoses. The key and tech-pack serve as teaching tools for a multitude of laboratory courses to help students improve their identification skills and understand the complexities of fern development. This project provides a unique tool for students, practitioners and researchers, expanding the range of identification skills and exploring the neglected world of ferns.