Description and types of asplenium fern, advice on keeping and breeding methods, possible harmful insects and difficulties in growing. Asplenium (Asplenium). This fern is a herb that grows on the ground, rocks, or lives like a parasite in trees. Sometimes its second name is “Kostenets”. It is a member of the Aspleniaceae family, the number of which reaches 650 species. This plant has long taken root in human dwelling, but tropical zones throughout the Earth are considered its homeland, and it is also found in all western and eastern zones. In natural conditions, the leaves of such ferns can reach a length of 2 m.
There are many species of asplenium, but those that are bred at home are distinguished by a small underground stem creeping along the ground (if the plant lives at a height) or slightly protruding above it (if it is on a tree). The stem is covered with small flexible plates. The leaves, which are called wai, are bright green in color, are usually beautifully collected in a rosette and have a very diverse shape:
- solid leaf blade with a wavy edge;
- long leaves in the form of wide knives;
- sheet plate, with symmetrical segments that run along the central axis;
- sheet plate of a triangular shape.
On the back of the leaf are the spore producing organs. They are located on free veins that divide the sheets of the plate. The leaf petiole is very dense. Asplenium leaves can be up to 75 cm long, but their growth is very slow. The leaves are very fragile, so you need to touch them very carefully and it is not advisable to wipe them.
The lifespan of asplenium with proper care ranges from 3 to 10 years. In natural conditions, the plant can reach a meter in height, but when grown at home, it is quite compact - only 30 cm in length and width.
Fern does not bloom, but the beauty of this plant is in its decorative leaf mass, which seems to be cut with scissors, for which it is appreciated in decorating rooms, as well as its unpretentious care allows it to be bred in an office environment.
Asplenium types
Of the entire variety of representatives of this family, about 11 are grown indoors:
- Asplenium nested (Asplenium nidus). The main habitat is African, Asian and Polynesian humid and hot forests. Basically, it is located on the trunks and branches of trees, like a parasite plant. It has a thick underground stem, the leaves are large enough, as if covered with wrinkles. The leaf plate itself is solid, quite long and similar in shape to a wide and long sword that can reach up to 75 cm in length. A large rosette in the form of a nest consists of leaves, which is located at the top of the rhizome, therefore the name of this species corresponds to its external outlines. In this "nest" in natural conditions, rain moisture or organic residues can accumulate, which serve as nutrients for the plant. The middle vein is clearly visible on the leaf, which has a black-brown tint. The leaf itself is distinguished by a bright and rich herbal color. He loves to breed him in apartment conditions, since his dimensions are the most compact.
- Asplenium viviparous (Asplenium viviparum). The homeland of growth is the island territories of Madagascar or Macarena. This fern lives for many seasons and has a rosette leaf structure. The roots of the leaf plates are rather short, grow in the form of feathers, divided into two or four parts, can reach a length of 60 cm and a width of up to 60 cm, bend in the form of an arc. Thin parts of leaf feathers reach 1 cm in length and only 1 mm in width, straight, sometimes almost invisible. On top of the leaf plate there are special buds, which, when dropped on the soil, germinate into new plants.
- Asplenium onion-bearing (Asplenium bulbiferum). The habitat of the mainland lands of Australia and the territory of New Zealand. The species is grassy and can shed a leaf mass. The entire leaf plate has a large feathering, similar to a wire, each triangular segment of the leaf grows symmetrically to the other, and with height the length of the leaf segments decreases, descending into the last apical triangle. Each segment follows the shape of the main sheet. The entire leaf measures up to 60 cm in length and up to 30 cm in width. The leaf hangs down beautifully and has a long petiole up to 30 cm long, which is distinguished by a dark brown shade. The color of the leaf segments is pale green. On the surface of the leaves there are special excretory buds, which, under suitable conditions, mature into baby plants, falling on the soil, separating from the parent plant and rooting there. On the outside of the leaves, there are organs that produce spores, single for the dermal part of the leaf plate.
- Asplenium centipede (Asplenium scolopendrium). Often found in English and German territories. Sometimes there is a confusion of this species with the nested asplenium. In flower shops, these species are even confused when sold. The second name is "deer's tongue". Has a very wide variety of bred plants, even in its own form. The leaf plates are quite long and wide, grow straight up at first, but over time they slightly bend their top. The color of the leaves is pale green, with a more intense midrib. The edge of the leaf plate is wavy; in the subspecies crispum and undulatum, the edge of the leaf is curly. The plant is quite hardy and can be grown in cool conditions.
- Asplenium South Asian - the native habitat is not South Asia (as the name suggests), but the lands of the east coast of Australia or the Polynesian Islands. It has very long, up to 1.5 m leaf plates, which grow in the form of a rosette. The rhizome of this species is quite thick and upright, completely covered with soft plates. It leads its existence like an epiphyte.
Indoor Asplenium Care Tips
- Lighting. Asplenium is a very unassuming house flower and perfectly tolerates corner places to live. Although he likes good lighting, just not the direct rays of the sun. For its good growth, the shadow sides of the windows can be suitable, as well as the penumbra - north, west or east. If you put a pot of fern on the south window, then you definitely need to arrange shading with light curtains, gauze or paper. Otherwise, the beautiful leaves will begin to take on brown shades and quickly die. The misconception that the plant can be installed in the depths of the room. Since asplenium lives under the spreading leaves of large neighboring trees, there can in no way be a dense shadow, only diffused light.
- Content temperature. Asplenium, for the most part, is a resident of humid and warm areas and a moderate temperature is most preferable for him; in hot weather, the indicators should not rise above 22 degrees, but fall below 14 degrees. But if the air humidity in the room is low, then it is better that the temperature is also reduced to a maximum of 20 degrees. If the thermometer readings will not even show lower temperatures for a long time, this will lead to the death of the fern. Asplenium does not tolerate heat either. Sharp fluctuations in temperature and drafts are contraindicated for ferns.
- Air humidity. In order for the Asplenium to feel comfortable, humidity is the most important of all conditions of detention. Humidification of the air and the plant itself will have a beneficial effect on its appearance and well-being. As soon as the temperature begins to rise in the summer, then spraying should be daily. If it happened that the leaves began to die off, then they can be carefully removed, but spraying and moisturizing must be continued and they will quickly recover. The water for spraying is settled and soft, you can use rainwater, but the water must be warm. In order to increase the humidity next to the pot, it is placed in deep trays with fine expanded clay, peat or sand poured into them, which must be constantly kept moist. In winter, the frequency of spraying can be reduced, as waterlogging will cause the wai to sour. Spraying the plant must be done very carefully so that no water is poured into the center of the leaf rosette, since this is harmful for some species.
- Watering asplenium. For watering the fern, it is imperative to use settled and soft water. It can be softened with peat, which is poured into a bag and immersed in water overnight. But most of all, asplenium loves rain or melt water. Fern watering is performed literally every two days a week. But it is necessary to carefully monitor that the soil in the pot is not very wet, only slightly damp, otherwise this will lead to decay of the root system of the asplenium. In the months with low temperatures, watering is reduced to one time. Many flower growers use soil moistening by immersing the pot in a basin of water, in which case there will be no opportunity to flood the plant. If the soil in the pot dries up very much, then this will also lead to the death of the fern.
- Fertilizer. Asplenium fertilizing should be carried out from mid-spring to mid-autumn once every half a month. Fertilizers are chosen for indoor leafy plants, but the dosage is halved from that indicated by the manufacturer.
- Choosing a soil for asplenium. It is necessary to take ready-made soil for ferns. But you can mix the earth yourself. The soil should be very lightweight, have good air and moisture permeability. For plants up to 2 years old, in which the root system is still very delicate, a mixture is made in combinations (2: 2: 2: 1) of leafy soil, peat soil, humus, sand. If the plant is already old enough, then add turf soil, and change the proportion (2: 3: 3: 1: 1), 2 parts fall on the turf, and parts of sand and humus one by one. Also, to improve the properties of the mixture, crushed broken brick, crushed charcoal or carefully cut sphagnum moss are added to it. The soil should be slightly acidic.
- Fern transplant. This procedure is performed if the root system of the asplenium has completely filled the pot and braided with an earthen ball. The diameter of the pot is only a little larger. For young seedlings, the pot is changed annually. The transplant is performed when the asplenium begins to grow. A pot for it is chosen wide and deep, a sufficient layer of expanded clay is laid out on the bottom, high-quality drainage must be provided in the pot.
- Fern pruning. They cut only damaged or very damaged leaf plates of asplenium, dying off can begin for several factors, but if these wai are not removed, then they can be a source of pests or diseases.
Reproduction of asplenium at home
There are several ways to propagate this fern, namely by dividing the root of the mother plant, spores or brood buds.
It is necessary to divide the root of a very grown plant at the beginning of its spring growth, and combine the breeding process with the operation of transplanting asplenium. When starting the division procedure, it is necessary to determine the growth points of the fern. If there is only one such point or their number is very small, then it is better not to touch the Asplenium, otherwise it can lead to its death. If there are many growth points, then it is necessary to carefully divide the bush and plant it in a prepared pot with drainage and soil. Even with a successful division, the plant will slow down in growth for a very long time.
Only some species can be propagated by brood buds, for example, viviparous asplenium. There are cells on the veins of its leaves that have the ability to divide and produce a brood bud. From such a bud, a baby plant begins to germinate over time, which has leaves and small roots. Over time, such a young plant falls away from the mother and begins to live an independent life. Such a baby can be torn off with a piece of the leaf plate on which it has grown, or you can take an already fallen plant and plant it in a small pot with a light substrate.
Reproduction using spores is the most unpredictable and time-consuming method. Spores form on the outside of the wai. They are harvested with the arrival of spring days and dried well. It should be planted in a mini-greenhouse with constant bottom heating at a temperature of 21 degrees. To continue the disembarkation process, you need to take a transparent container and install a brick in it, on which a layer of peat earth is poured. Purified water is poured into the container to a height of 5 cm. Spores are poured directly onto the peat soil and the container is covered with a plastic bag or a piece of glass. It is necessary to ensure that the water level in the container does not change. The container must be placed in a dark place and continued observation. After a few months, the peat soil will be covered with moss, and only after that the planted spores will germinate. At the same time, the container is placed in a lighter place and the glass or bag is removed. They begin to transplant seedlings when the young growth reaches 5 centimeters in height.
Harmful insects and possible problems when breeding asplenium
With insufficient watering, fern leaf plates begin to take on brown tints. The same damage to the leaves can be observed at low temperatures or in the presence of drafts. If the air humidity is not sufficient, then the ends of the wai become dry. With a significant decrease in temperature indicators, wai go down very much, but do not dry out. Under bright sunlight, the vai change their color to a paler one and lose their gloss. If the leaves have become lethargic, and the soil in the pot is sufficiently wet, then this is a sign of possible rotting of the root system. All described problems arise from dry air or violation of watering rules.
Possible leaf bacteriosis or gray rot can be prevented by treating the soil with fugnicidal preparations, which include ceneb or maneb. The main pests that can harm asplenium are scale insects, spider mites, whiteflies and mealybugs. You can successfully fight them with the help of insecticides. The only thing that cannot be overcome is nematode infection. Brown spots on the leaves may indicate this. In this case, you will have to destroy the entire plant.
Learn more about the Asplenium fern in this video:
