About 400 million years ago, planet Earth was almost completely overgrown with tall ferns in the shape of trees. Now most of them are terrestrial species, others grow on branches, like epiphytes, there are even aquatic species. Not surprisingly, there are ferns as indoor plants.
Types of Indoor Ferns
The main decorative types:
Ferns in nature
- Nephrolepis (Nephrolepis exaltata) is the most famous fern species grown at home. The most common varieties are Pulmosa with dark glossy leaves and Rooseveltia with lobed leaves. Noteworthy are Can Can varieties with corrugated leaves, Norwoodii with double pinnate and frilly leaves, Whitmanii with very thin curly leaves;
Nephrolepis exaltata
- Maidenhair. This is an elegant fern with a fine structure, the height of which reaches 30-40 cm. Its leaves are bright green, resembling the shape of the leaves of the Gingcobiloba plant. It is characterized by very fast growth (doubles its size in one season) and rapid regeneration. It is not as popular as Nefrolepis, also because it is highly sensitive to a change of place, quickly fades in the case of conditions that are uncomfortable for him;
Adiantum Fern
- Platycerium salmon (Platycerium alcicorne) - home fern with the most exotic look. The leaves grow to 70 cm in length, have a gray-green color and are similar in shape to the horns of an elk. This plant is an epiphyte. The lower sheets are large, rounded, with a brownish tint. Under natural conditions, they, clinging to the branches of the host tree, act as a kind of container in which water accumulates from precipitation. Gradually, the old leaves die off, forming humus, also contained in these containers and serving for the root nutrition of the plant;
Platycerium alcicorne
- Pelaea rotundifolia (Pellaea rotundifolia). Her homeland is New Zealand, where the soil in the undergrowth is rich in limestone rocks. The leaves are round, dark green, leathery. The plant is small in size, up to 30 cm in height;
Pellaea rotundifolia
- Asplenium nidus (Asplenium nidus). It is characterized by shiny, bright green leaves forming a funnel-shaped rosette. Depending on the variety, they can be wavy, serrated, narrow or wide, length - up to 1 m.
Asplenium nidus
Advantages and disadvantages of home maintenance
Indoor fern is ideal for growing in homes. Cultivation of it does not cause any particular problems. In addition, original leaf shapes bring a magical exotic atmosphere to the apartment.
Decorative value
The ability to decorate the interior of the house determines the decorative value of the plant, a variety of fern varieties give a wide selection of florists for the use of a particular species. Each of them has its own distinctive features, expressed in the shape and size of the stems and leaves. Effectively used street fern in landscaping, decorating gardens and gardens.
Benefit and harm for the inhabitants of the house
Numerous legends and superstitions are associated with this plant. There are scientifically based beneficial and harmful properties of the plant.
The benefits that a fern at home can bring:
- Effectively absorbs toxins. For example, Nephrolepis purifies the air of formaldehyde and xylene;
- Thanks to intense transpiration (the movement of water through the plant), it moisturizes the air.
Important! Ferns are capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation, which in modern apartments, saturated with electromagnetic fields from various devices, is a very valuable positive property of the plant.
In addition to benefits, ferns can be harmful to humans:
- May provoke headaches if they are in the bedroom, due to the release of carbon dioxide at night;
- Allergy sufferers sometimes have a negative reaction to plant spores.
Poisonous properties of certain species
The toxic properties of ferns are manifested when using the plant for food or for the manufacture of medicines. The fact is that street and wild varieties are used in cooking and medicine, including many folk recipes that use different parts of fern.
Interesting. During World War I in England, the population replaced asparagus with young shoots of fern.
Substances located in the rhizome of the Thyroid and Ostrich have a toxic effect. Poisonous is Orlyak, young shoots of which are consumed by people. Moreover, a toxic effect on a person can be exerted even through milk, if the animal ate the plant.
To avoid poisoning with fern and preparations made from it, you need to know the rules for its preparation and accurately observe the dosage of medical devices.
Is it possible to keep fern in the apartment
The esoteric glory of the plant raises doubts whether it is safe to keep a fern at home. According to mystical beliefs, it carries with it a negative and positive effect on a person.
Eating fern
Especially mysterious are the legends about a fern flower, which is very difficult to detect due to a few moments of flowering, but an unheard of luck smiles upon someone who finds it.
Mystical powers attributed to the plant:
- Promotes favorable family relationships, especially between different generations;
- Strengthens vital energy, harmonizes the state of mind. Depending on the habitat, it can, on the contrary, take energy, contribute to the appearance of ailments;
- Protects the inhabitants of the house from negative influences, damage, etc .;
- Reduces penchant for financial waste.
Decisive people may be wary of planting a fern at home, believing that the plant attracts troubles and misfortunes. However, for most florists, esoteric myths are not an obstacle to growing a plant in an apartment, enjoying its exotic look.
Planting fern in a pot
The roots of the fern grow quickly, and the pot becomes cramped, so the plant needs an annual transplant. The stems and leaves are also characterized by intensive growth. At the same time, the soil is rapidly losing nutrients, which is the second reason for frequent transplants.
Important! If young sprouts acquire a pale color instead of saturated greens, this serves as a signal that the fern should be planted in new soil.
The formed plant stops intensive growth, the frequency of transplantation decreases to one in 3 years. The best time for the procedure is spring, immediately after a period of rest.
Most ferns live in the forest, which is why they prefer moist, humus-rich soil. The best solution is to purchase a special primer for ferns. If it is cooked on its own, then it is necessary to add deciduous compost there, increasing the amount of humus. The earth should be light, airy, well absorbing moisture, but not preventing its leakage.
To grow fern, an acid substrate is used, the alkaline environment of the plant is not tolerated. With independent preparation of the soil, the sheet and turf soil are mixed with peat, coarse sand, and sheet compost. The prepared substrate is placed in a preheated oven for 1-1.5 hours. This will serve as a prophylaxis against pests.
Fern transplant
A good pot for a plant is heavy, better ceramic, able to absorb and give moisture. Light containers can tip over when the fern grows asymmetrically.
Transplantation Stages:
- Immerse the fern directly in the pot in a container filled with water, wait 15-20 minutes, then turn the flower container over and remove the plant with an earthen lump;
Important! If the fern retains a healthy appearance, the root system also does not contain rotted or dried areas, the plant can be planted in a new place. In the presence of rotten or dry roots, they should be cut, treated with a solution of potassium permanganate and sprinkled with charcoal. Then start the planting process.
- At the bottom of the pot lay a layer of drainage (small pebbles, brick chips, etc.);
- The tank is filled up to the middle with finished soil;
- The plant should be planted carefully, gradually sprinkling with soil, leaving the root neck free;
- Generous watering after planting is very important. The next irrigation can not be carried out without waiting for the drying of the soil from above.
After 15 days, when the fern took root, the care resumes as usual.
Fern care
Ferns are unfairly accompanied by a reputation that it is difficult and troublesome to grow them. In fact, after some period of adaptation, this is one of the most unpretentious plants. Most species are forest, they prefer a shady and humid warm environment. The ideal place in the apartment is the east or west window, bright kitchen. If the window faces south, the plant should shade in spring and summer afternoon.
Watering and feeding
An important part of fern care is regular leaf spraying and frequent watering. The plant is sensitive to the drying of the substrate, but at the same time, he does not like the waterlogged soil.
Watering fern
During the growth period, irrigation should be done every 2-3 days with soft water at room temperature. Tap water is too hard, it contains a lot of calcium carbonate. The ideal irrigation fluid is rainwater.
From March to August, the fern needs regular feeding, but not more often than once a month. It is better to use specialized fertilizers for ferns containing a lower concentration of nutrients than universal ones.
Important! In winter, a period of rest begins for the plant, watering should be limited (but not less than 1 time per week), and top dressing should be stopped.
Temperature and humidity
The optimum temperature during the growing season is 18-21 ° C, during the winter holiday it should be slightly lower, within 15-18 ° C.
At home, care for indoor fern requires the creation of high humidity - over 60%. It should not be placed near radiators or other sources of heat. The plant likes regular spraying. A good effect is given by humidification of the air next to it. For example, the installation of ceramic dishes filled with water.
Important! Species of fern Platycerium alcicorne (Deer horns) does not tolerate wiping leaves. They have a layer of hairs that help cope with dry air. To remove dust from the leaves, they are simply sprayed with water.
Breeding
Even experienced flower growers avoid the propagation of fern by sowing spores. Although it is interesting to observe the individual stages of development of young plants, they impose increased requirements on the environment and require a long growing time.
In addition to spores, fern can multiply in three ways that are more acceptable for gardeners:
- Division. The method is suitable for all species with widely branched rhizomes. The rhizome is simply divided into several parts containing heads (attachment points for leaves). Areas with at least two shoots are separated. Then the resulting parts are seated in separate containers;
Fern propagation by division
- The plant has shoots in the form of arrows. They bend to the soil in adjacent containers and are so fixed. After a while, the process takes root, and the time comes to separate it from the old individual;
- Side kidneys. Brood buds are separated when roots form on them. Young sprouts are transplanted into greenhouse conditions with high humidity and a temperature of at least 23 ° C. They can be created in a plastic container. After the appearance of new leaves, the sprouts are transplanted into separate containers.
Important! Species Adiantum, Pellaea and Pteris are suitable for propagation by lateral buds.
Why do the leaves dry and turn yellow
Most often, plants suffer from physiological diseases, which are the result of inadequate care for domestic fern. What should I look for?
In particular, it should be troubling when the tips of the leaves begin to turn yellow, the rest of the leaf acquires a poor color. The reason may be too abundant watering, causing root rot, or low humidity.
In the event of such alarming symptoms, diseased leaves are removed at the very base. After pruning, you need to eliminate the mistakes made, allow the plant to recover and continue to care properly.
Drying leaves on fern
Fern can also die due to the attack of pests or diseases, but they do not play a big role in the life of these plants. If ferns are at a low temperature for a long time and the humidity is high, they can become infected with a fungus. In this case, round or oval gray-brown spots appear on the leaves, sometimes surrounded by a border. Leaves infected with the fungus should be removed and destroyed, then the plant should be sprayed with fungicides.
Of the pests, scabies are considered the most common, they feed on the underside of the leaf, sucking juice from it. The leaves become covered with yellow spots, then turn yellow completely and die off. Damaged leaflets must be cut, the whole plant is treated with insecticides.
Another reason for the fern to dry is sparse watering. In this case, it can be revived by immersing the pot in a large container filled with water, and leave it there for 15-20 minutes. Repeat the procedure for several days.
Fern and its species are popular as home plants because of the simple care and excellent decorative possibilities. Although there is no flowering, but they grow very quickly, and the mistakes of beginning gardeners can do little harm.
