Ferns, An Overview Of The Species. Home Care. Photo

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Ferns, An Overview Of The Species. Home Care. Photo
Ferns, An Overview Of The Species. Home Care. Photo

Video: Ferns, An Overview Of The Species. Home Care. Photo

Video: Ferns, An Overview Of The Species. Home Care. Photo
Video: Fern Varieties A to Z 2024, March
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Ferns are an ancient group of plants, the history of the emergence and development of which significantly exceeds the lifetime of flowering plants on our planet. The fern flourishing has long since passed. In the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, hundreds of millions of years ago, many of the ferns were large trees, the compressed wood of which later served as the basis for the formation of coal.

Fern
Fern

Content:

  • Common botanical features of ferns
  • General requirements for the care of ferns
  • Fern species

Common botanical features of ferns

The structure of ferns is very peculiar and bears little resemblance to the structure of flowering plants. Contrary to popular belief, they never bloom, reproducing in nature through spores. The latter are usually located on the underside of the leaf in the form of special clusters covered with films - sori. From the spore that has fallen to the ground, a small leaf blade grows, which begins to produce sex cells. It is clear from what has been said that spore-assisted fern propagation is not an easy task and is rarely practiced.

Ferns do not have true leaves typical of flowering plants. It is more correct to call them vayami, or leaf blades, although in popular literature the word "leaves" is often used in relation to ferns. Thanks to their unusual appearance, ferns are able to decorate an alpine slide, give it a decorative and even somewhat mysterious look.

Fern
Fern

General requirements for the care of ferns

Temperature

Ferns need a moderate temperature and prefer coolness at night, but sharp drops should be avoided. The most suitable temperature is around 15-20 ° C, most ferns cannot stand temperatures below + 10 ° C and suffers if it exceeds + 22 ° C.

Lighting

Contrary to popular belief, not all ferns are shade-loving plants, many of which are native to tropical forests, where they grew in patches of bright sunlight. They are suitable for a bright, but diffused light, like an east or north window.

Watering

An earthen lump should never dry out, but at the same time, waterlogging of the fern threatens with root rot. In winter, watering is limited.

Air humidity

Almost all ferns require high humidity. The leaves should be sprayed regularly.

Transfer

In the spring, if the roots fill the pot; most young ferns may need to be transplanted annually.

Reproduction

The easiest way is to divide the plant (if it forms shoots) into 2-3 parts in early spring when transplanting. Some ferns give rise to new plants at the ends of ground-based rooting stolon shoots (for example, nephrolepis sublime) or at the ends of wai (onion-bearing kostenets). A possible but more difficult method is the germination of spores that form in the sporangia on the lower part of the adult leaf blade.

Fern species

The appearance of ferns is easily recognizable, therefore they are often called the same - "ferns", not suspecting that this is the largest group of spore plants: about 300 genera and more than 10,000 species of ferns.

1. Fern Polystichum

One of the most beautiful ferns. A genus of ferns of the family Dryopteridaceae. Used for planting in rock gardens, decorating shady places under the canopy of trees. Decorative fronds can be used in arrangements. They grow in moist, coniferous-deciduous forests on the slopes of river banks and ravines.

Bristly polyrower
Bristly polyrower

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - moderate; period of active growth - abundant.

Lighting: diffused light.

Temperature: rest period - 13-16 ° С; period of active growth: 16-24 ° C.

Humidity: high.

Transfer: as needed in the spring.

Reproduction: by dividing the bush.

Soil: a mixture of sod and leafy soil, sand in a ratio of 1: 2: 1.

Top dressing: in spring and summer, once a week with mineral and organic fertilizers, during the rest period without top dressing.

Pests, diseases, problems: whitefly, springtail, thrips, scale insects, aphids, root rot; leaves turn yellow, dry up and fall off, brown leaf tips.

2. Fern Davallia (Davallia)

Davallia is a genus of perennial, fast-growing, exotic-looking ferns of the Davalliaceae family. The natural area of distribution is located mainly in tropical Asia, found in China, Japan, Polynesia and on the island of Java, in the Canary Islands.

Davallia
Davallia

Some species are widespread in culture, cultivated indoors, usually in greenhouses, often as ampelous plants.

The popular name for this fern is "rabbit legs", or "deer leg", which is usually called the most popular species in ornamental floriculture - Davallia Canary.

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - moderate; the period of active growth is moderate.

Lighting: moderate.

Temperature: rest period - 13-24 ° С; period of active growth - 16-24 ° С.

Humidity: low.

Transfer: as needed in the spring.

Reproduction: by dividing the bush.

Soil: a mixture of leafy soil, peat and sand (1: 1: 1), good drainage is essential, do not cover the roots with earth.

Top dressing: during the active growing season with liquid fertilizer 2 times a month.

Pests, diseases, problems: scale insects, the plant does not grow or grows very poorly.

3. Fern Nephrolepis

Nephrolepis is a genus of ferns of the Lomariopsis family, but in some classifications it is included in the Davalliev family. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words nephros - "kidney" and lepis - "scales", according to the shape of the veil. About 30 species of herbaceous perennial plants, distributed around the globe. Some species are used as a pot culture, as well as ampelous plants.

Nephrolepis sublime
Nephrolepis sublime

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - moderate; period of active growth - abundant.

Lighting: bright diffused light.

Temperature: rest period - not lower than 16 ° С; period of active growth - 13-24 ° С.

Humidity: high.

Transfer: as needed in the spring.

Reproduction: dividing the bush, spores.

Soil: a mixture of leafy earth and peat in equal parts.

Top dressing: in spring and summer, once a week with mineral and organic fertilizers, during the rest period without top dressing.

Pests, diseases, problems: aphids, scale insects, leaves dry and die, brown leaf tips.

4. Fern Kostenets (Asplenium)

Kostenets, Asplenium, Asplenium are a genus of ferns of the Aspleniales family. According to various sources, there are from 30 to 700 species distributed around the world, mainly in the tropics.

Nesting bone
Nesting bone

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - sparingly; period of active growth - abundant.

Lighting: moderate.

Temperature: rest period - 16-24 ° С; period of active growth - 18-24 ° С.

Humidity: low.

Transfer: as needed in the spring.

Reproduction: dividing the bush, spores.

Soil: a mixture of peat, leaf and sod land and sand (1: 1: 1: 1).

Top dressing: only in spring and summer, once every 2 weeks with mineral and organic fertilizers.

Pests, diseases, problems: scale insects, spider mites.

5. Fern Pellea (Pellaea)

Pelleia is a genus of ferns of the subfamily Cheilanthoideae of the Pteridaceae family. Distributed in the southwestern United States, South America, Central and South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Round-leaved pellet
Round-leaved pellet

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - sparingly; period of active growth - abundant.

Lighting: moderate.

Temperature: rest period - 12-15 ° С; period of active growth - 13-24 ° С.

Humidity: high.

Transfer: as needed in the spring.

Reproduction: by dividing the bush.

Soil: a mixture of leafy earth and peat in equal parts.

Top dressing: from spring to autumn, every 2-3 weeks, using a complex fertilizer in low concentration, do not fertilize in winter. The plant responds very well to mullein feeding.

Pests, diseases, problems: scale insects, leaves turn brown, curl, leaves are faded, translucent, lethargic, leaves curl and fall off, young leaves wither and die off.

6. Fern Platycerium "Deer horn" (Platycerium)

Platycerium, or "Staghorn", or Flathorn is a genus of ferns of the Polypodiaceae family, there are about 17-18 species, common in the tropical forests of the Old World. Many representatives of the genus are popular in indoor and greenhouse floriculture, and are also widely represented in botanical gardens.

Platycerium moss
Platycerium moss

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - sparingly; period of active growth - abundant.

Lighting: bright diffused light.

Temperature: rest period - not lower than 14 ° C; period of active growth - 18-24 ° С.

Humidity: high.

Transfer: as needed in the spring.

Reproduction: by dividing the bush.

Soil: a mixture of leafy earth, peat and sand in a 1: 1: 1 ratio with the addition of charcoal and sphagnum moss.

Top dressing: every 4-6 weeks with a weak solution of fertilizers.

Pests, diseases, problems: spider mites, scale insects, trips, leaves turn yellow, the plant does not grow or grows very poorly, leaves are faded, translucent, lethargic.

7. Fern Pteris (Pteris)

Pteris is a genus of about 280 species of ferns in the Pteridaceae family. Distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.

Pteris xiphoid
Pteris xiphoid

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - moderate; period of active growth - abundant.

Lighting: bright light.

Temperature: rest period - 13-16 ° С; period of active growth - 16-24 ° С.

Humidity: high.

Transfer: as needed in the spring.

Reproduction: by dividing the bush.

Soil: a mixture of leafy earth and peat in equal parts.

Top dressing: from spring to autumn, every 2-3 weeks with complex fertilizers in low concentration, you can add mullein, do not fertilize in winter.

Pests, diseases, problems: scale insects, aphids, spider mites, nematodes, root rot.

8. Fern Cyrtomium (Cyrtomium)

Cyrthomium is a fern of the Shchitovnikov family (Dryopteridaceae). Found naturally in Asia, Oceania and South America. 15-20 species are known.

Cittomium Fortune
Cittomium Fortune

Care and maintenance

Watering: dormant period - sparingly; the period of active growth is moderate.

Lighting: bright diffused light.

Temperature: rest period: 10-24 ° С; period of active growth: 16-24 ° C.

Humidity: high.

Transfer: annually in the spring.

Reproduction: dividing the bush, spores.

Soil: fertile soil mixed with peat and coarse sand (2: 2: 1), drainage is needed at the bottom of the pot.

Top dressing: complex mineral fertilizers.

Pests, diseases, problems: scale insects, leaf tips begin to dry out.

9. Fern Centipede (Polypodium)

The centipede is a genus of ferns in the Polypodiaceae family, and it includes, according to various estimates, 75-100 species.

The common centipede, or Sweet fern (Polypodium vulgare), inhabits the forest zone, mountain forest, subalpine and mountain tundra belts of the temperate part of the northern hemisphere and in some places in the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere. It is found in rock crevices and on stones, often mossy.

Rare. The only epiphytic fern growing in the climate of Central Russia. Epiphytes are plants that do not live on the ground, but on trees (in the south), on stone walls of houses, especially in humid regions, such as the Baltic Sea islands, Valaam Island, etc. The plant is winter hardy.

Common centipede
Common centipede

Low-growing evergreen fern with leathery, palmate-compound leaves up to 20 cm long. The rhizome is creeping, covered with golden brown scales, has a sweetish taste, thanks to which it received the popular name "sweet root".

Sori are arranged in two rows along the central vein; initially they are golden, later they darken. Spores mature in the first half of summer. The plant is original, but quite capricious. It can be recommended for growing only near water bodies, in a place protected from cold winds, in partial shade. It propagates easily - by segments of rhizomes. Transplanted in spring (May), it takes root quickly.

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