Top 8 indoor fern varieties and caring for them at home

The fern is one of the oldest and most mysterious plants on Earth. It is believed that on the night of Ivan Kupala you can see its flowering. But this is not the case. And, although the fern does not flower, it is valued for its beautiful, delicate leaves. The plant can be seen in garden plots, as well as in florists' apartments, offices, hotels. More information about the indoor fern, its care at home, about the varietal diversity of cultivation.

Description and characteristics of the plant

The fern consists of a weakly branched rhizome and openwork leaves called fronds.Leaf plates, depending on the type of culture, are of different sizes, dissected or feathery in shape. They are in the form of spirals opening gradually.

The peculiarity of the fern is that it does not form either flowers or fruits. The culture is propagated by the spores which are under the wai. Florists appreciate the plant for its unusual beauty, as well as its ability to purify the air.

varietal variety

Several species of ferns are known. For many years they remained virtually unchanged.

Nephrolepsy

It is the best known species of fern. The bush consists of long, sculpted leaves. On the underside, the leaf plates are covered with spores.

Nephrolepsy looks beautiful in hanging pots.

Capillary

This fern is also called hair of Venus. The plant has small graceful leaves. The height of the bush reaches 30-40 centimeters.

Maidenhair is often used to compose a bridal bouquet.

polypody

This fern has thin stems, in the middle of which leaves with palmate complexes are formed.

The polypodium is often called the centipede fern.

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Platizerium

The variety has flat, wood-like leaves. The bush reaches a height of 70 centimeters.

Platizerium can be planted on a piece of bark without using a pot.

Pellea

The height of the bushes is 15-40 centimeters. Due to the small leaves, the plant is called button fern.

Under tall plants, granules are able to create an openwork carpet.

Asplenium

This fern has another name - kostenets. In the nesting asplenium, unlike other varieties of culture, the leaf plates are solid, corrugated.

Kostenets is easily multiplied by dividing the bush.

Blehnum

The second name of the fern is Derbyanka. There are many varieties, but most often you can find humpback blehnum in a flower shop.

This fern is able to surpass all plants with its beauty.

Davallia

The fern is distinguished by fleshy rhizomes. They look like hare's feet. The rhizomes do not look very decorative, but they cannot be cut.

The plant looks beautiful in hanging baskets.

How to properly care for a flower in an apartment

In order for the plant to develop well, it must be provided with the necessary conditions of detention and properly cared for.

Choice and location of the pot

The fern can be planted in a plastic or ceramic container. It should not be immediately bulky, otherwise the plant will slow down its development. As it grows, the crop will need a larger pot. The flower is placed on the west and southwest side of the room.

Temperature and lighting

The fern prefers to grow in a well-lit area. But direct sunlight should not touch the delicate fronds. In summer, the culture develops well at an air temperature of 22-28 ° C. In winter, the plant needs cooler content. But the ambient temperature should not drop below 10°C.

air humidity

The fern needs moist air. Otherwise, the tips of the leaves will begin to turn yellow and dry out. To increase the humidity, a container filled with water is placed next to the plant. Additionally, moistened sphagnum moss can be placed on the soil surface.

Ground requirements

The substrate is chosen loose, air and water permeable. It can be made of leafy earth, peat, pine needles, sand. If the soil is heavy, there is a possibility of stagnation of water in it. In wet soil, the root system of the fern can rot.

Watering and spraying mode

Water the crop so that the soil is moist, but not wet. Water is used lukewarm, settled. In summer, the land is irrigated twice as often as in winter. The fern loves humid air, so it is periodically sprinkled with water from a spray bottle.

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Features of content in winter

From late autumn to March, cultivation requires cooler content. The optimum air temperature in winter is 18-20 ° C. During this period, the frequency of watering is reduced, feeding is not done at all. If the plant is located near a radiator, then you need to place a container with water next to it.

Top dressing and fertilization

From spring to mid-autumn, nutrients are introduced into the soil. The procedure is carried out once a month. Use complex minerals for ornamental plants. Top dressing is applied to moistened soil.

Bloom

The peculiarity of the fern is that it never blooms. The culture is not propagated by seeds, but by spores.

Fix basic growth issues

If the fern is not properly cared for, its decorative effect will decrease. A neglected plant can disappear completely.

Falling foliage

The problem can form both with a lack of moisture, and with an excess. The soil in the pot should always be moist, but not wet. If you adjust the watering, the problem disappears.

Yellow on the leaves

The leaves can turn yellow due to dry air, diseases and pests. If such a problem occurs, the damaged fronds are cut off. If the fern is sick or attacked by pests, special preparations are used according to the instructions. Periodically, to increase the humidity of the air, the plants and the space around them should be sprayed with water.

Growth issues

Fern growth slows for several reasons. For example, it is planted in too deep a pot or in the wrong soil. Another reason may be lack of power. The plant is planted in a small pot filled with loose soil, nutrients are added once a month in spring and summer.

Diseases and pests

With improper care, the culture can be affected by diseases and pests.

Anthracnose

Occurs when there is excess moisture. The disease can be detected by the dark brown edges of the leaves. The affected parts are removed, the plant is treated with a fungicide.

Root rot

This problem also occurs due to waterlogging. The fern can die. In the early stages of the disease, you can try to save it by transplanting it into a pot with new soil.

gray rot

Leaves affected by gray rot are removed. This is to prevent the spread of disease. The plant is then treated with an antifungal agent.

leaf spot

The disease is detected by moist brown spots on the frond. The affected fragments are cut off, the plant is treated with a fungicide. Reduce watering for a while.

Important! Ferns should be treated with chemicals in protective equipment, in the open air.

Whitefly

The small white butterfly lays eggs under the leaves. From them, the larvae quickly hatch, feeding on the cell sap of the leaves. Get rid of insects by scenting the plant.

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white bishop

You can find the insect by the white bloom on the leaves. Appears when the ground is waterlogged. To get rid of white podura, the leaves are washed in soapy water. The next day, the plant is washed with clean water.

cochineal

The pest is manifested by a white bloom, under which the larvae are located. Affected plant parts are removed. The fern is then transplanted into a pot of new potting soil.

Nematode

A vitreous discharge appears on the leaves, which then darken. The cause is a worm that infects the root system.To save the plant, damaged roots must be cut off, and then transplanted.

Spider

The insect turns out like a thin cobweb, a twisted fern frond. Appears when the flower is in a room with dry air. The spider mite is washed under water pressure, using an aqueous extract of garlic.

Thrips

Dots, streaks, brown spots appear on the leaves. Thrips feed on cell sap, oppressing plants. The pest is washed off with clean water, excessively affected leaves are removed.

Transplant Features

The fern rhizome grows rapidly, so it is transplanted every spring. The pot is selected in diameter 2-3 centimeters larger than the previous one. Transplantation is carried out by the method of transshipment, shaking off only part of the old earth. Then the space between the root system and the pot is filled with a new substrate.

the reproduction

At home, the fern is bred by dividing the bush. The procedure is carried out when the flower has grown too much. For reproduction, the plant is removed from the pot, divided into parts with a sharp knife. Each section should contain a rhizome and a few wai. Bushes are planted in separate pots.

About toxic and useful properties

Some species of ferns are considered poisonous. This applies more to wild species. The advantage of the plant is that it absorbs dust, clearing the space around it. In folk medicine, freshly squeezed juice or crushed fern leaves are used.

Common Mistakes

Inexperienced growers growing a fern make the following mistakes:

1. Expose the fern pot to direct sunlight.
2. Let the soil dry in the pot.
3. The flower is fed too often.
4. Store in a dry air room.
5. The plant is planted in too bulky a pot.

To note! Fern leaves are scorched by direct sunlight.

Tips and tricks from experienced florists

Experts give the following tips and tricks for growing ferns:

1. The plant should be watered frequently, but at the same time do not leave the soil always wet.
2. Cultivation requires a spray of settled water from a spray bottle, otherwise the leaf tips will begin to dry out.
3. Avoid drafts in the room.
4. In spring and summer, feed the flower once a month. In autumn and winter, give it a rest period.
5. Plant the plant in a pot filled with light, loose potting soil.
6. In winter, keep the flower away from radiators.

Fern is an elegant indoor culture. Having studied information about growing a plant, applying knowledge in practice, the florist will admire the openwork fern frond all year round.