Characteristics of cytomium, tips for growing a plant at home, recommendations for reproduction, the fight against possible diseases and pests that arise during care, facts to note, types. Cyrtomium (Cyrtomium) belongs to the scientists of the Shytovnik family (Aspidiaceae). In this genus, there are slightly more than 10 varieties, but the most popular in room culture is Cyrtomium falcatum. Native growing areas include the lands of the southern regions of the African continent, India, Korea, Japan, the islands of Hawaii, South America and the Himalayan expanses, that is, wherever a tropical or subtropical climate prevails. If the climatic zone allows, then such a plant is grown in open ground, and although this fern is cold-resistant, in temperate latitudes it is preferable to cultivate it in pots.
Often the plant is called phanophlebia, but there are also multiple folk names that clearly indicate the important merits of the fern: it is often called the "sacred fern", "holly" and "holly".
Cyrthomium can reach 40–60 cm in height and has a long life cycle. Its growth form is herbaceous. The rhizome is erect or ascending, short, (together with the basal parts) densely covered with scales. The scales are two-colored or their color varies from dark brown to blackish brown, their shape is ovoid or broadly lanceolate, the edge is ciliate, fringed, dentate or whole, the apex is pointed. A wide rosette is assembled from leaf plates, which ferns call vayami.
The leaf shape is pinnate, each leaf lobe is located opposite the same. Each frond has a saber shape and can be 35-50 cm long, the arrangement is alternate. The surface of the Lithuanians is leathery, the color is rich green. The shape of the leaf lobes can take linear-lanceolate, lanceolate, oval-lanceolate, broad-lanceolate or deltoid-ovate outlines with a pointed apex, while the edge is often wavy, and the uppermost leaf and some lower, have a pair of teeth at the base.
On these leafy parts, the veins are arranged in such a way that a reticulated pattern is formed. The outer side of the leaflets has a glossy and shiny sheen. The leaf petioles are short, often covered with pubescence in the form of hairs. There is a variety of "Rochfordianum", which is most often sold in flower shops, its leaf lobes are distinguished by a serrated edge. Cyrthomium has rounded sporangia - this is the name of the organs that produce spores not only in ferns, but also in algae or fungi. The sporangia of this fern is brown or orange in color. They are located on the reverse side of the leaf lobes, while there is no clear location, they evenly cover the back surface of the leaf.
This plant can be recommended for beginner flower growers, as it is quite unpretentious to care for. However, the growth rate of this fern is very low, especially when the cyrtomium is still young, but even when the plant matures, only a few leaves are formed in a year.
Tips for growing cytomium at home
- Lighting and tips for choosing a place for the pot. Since ferns grow in nature under the canopy of trees, diffused light or partial shade is suitable for indoor cultivation. A north window is recommended, but shading is required for a different location. If the plant is kept in the southern room, then it is better to place it in the farthest corner.
- Growing temperature. Cyrtomium during the spring-summer period must be kept at temperatures in the range of 23-25 units, but if it is too hot in the summer months, then the humidity will need to be increased. In winter, it is recommended to lower the thermometer column to 15-18 degrees. It should also be noted that the plant is very afraid of the effects of a draft.
- Air humidity. This fern does not need high humidity levels, it can perfectly live in a dry climate of residential premises, however, if summer days are accompanied by heat, then the humidity rises by any available means: spraying foliage, installing a number of air humidifiers.
- Watering. Since the plant is mainly an inhabitant of humid and shaded areas, it is required to moisten the soil in the pot abundantly, but it is not worth pouring the substrate too much, since the root system will quickly rot. In the spring-summer period, watering is carried out every 2-3 days, and with the arrival of winter, they are reduced and carried out once a week. Only soft and warm water is used.
- Fertilizer of cytomium. During the period of increased growth, it is recommended to feed the fern once every 3-4 months. Full mineral complexes are used, which are diluted with water for irrigation by half of the indicated dosage on the label. The plant also responds well to organics, for example, mullein solution.
- Fern transplant and soil selection. Usually, with the arrival of spring, you can transplant the cyrtomium, and then only if the bush has grown very much. All this is due to the fact that the root system of the plant is characterized by increased fragility. It is recommended to put 2-3 cm of a drainage layer on the bottom of a new pot, usually medium-sized expanded clay or pebbles are protruding from it, pieces of brick or shards from clay or ceramic containers are used. The transplant is carried out by the transshipment method, when the earthen lump does not collapse, but is simply transferred to a new container with the addition of new soil on the sides. In this case, the root collar does not sink into the ground, but remains at the same level. When transplanting cytomium, you can use store substrates intended for ferns, which should be characterized by increased looseness and permeability to the roots of air and water. If the grower makes up the soil mixture on his own, then it includes the following components: peat, leafy earth, river sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Chopped sphagnum moss, small pieces of charcoal and pine bark are also added to such a substrate to lighten the mixture.
Recommendations for reproduction of cytomium at home
To obtain a new pinnate fern, the overgrown rhizomes are divided or spores are sown.
When a cytomium transplant is carried out in the spring, it is combined with the division of the rhizome of old specimens. To do this, when the bush is removed from the pot, and the soil is slightly shaken off the root system, using a sharpened knife, you can cut the rhizome. At the same time, it is important that the delenki are not too small, but have a sufficient number of leaf wai, growth points (at least 3) and root processes. Then you need to sprinkle all the sections with charcoal powder, but if this is not the case, then the pharmacy activated one will do. Delenders are planted in separate pots with a drainage layer at the bottom and suitable soil. Plants are not placed in brightly lit areas.
Reproduction by spores is more problematic. To do this, you will need to scrape off the ripened spores from the back of the leaf lobes onto a piece of paper and, by folding an envelope out of it, dry them. For germination, a home mini-greenhouse with bottom heating is being prepared. A brick is placed in a plastic container with a lid (or another deep and wide vessel), on top of which a layer of peat is poured. Then distilled water is poured into the container so that its height is 5 cm.
After that, when all the preparatory processes are completed, then spores of cytomium are evenly poured onto the surface of the peat. The container is covered with crumbs or wrapped in a transparent plastic wrap. When germinating, it is important that the water level does not drop, and the temperature is in the range of 20-22 degrees. Crops should be placed in a location where light levels will be low. After several months, green moss will appear on the surface of the peat. During this period, the water level is slightly raised so that the overgrowths are covered with moisture for some time. Fertilization occurs in such conditions, and small leaf plates appear. Only when the height of young ferns becomes equal to 5 cm, then they are deposited in separate pots.
Fight against diseases and pests arising from the care of cytomium
If the conditions for keeping the fern are often violated in the room, then it becomes vulnerable to pests such as spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects. In this case, spraying with insecticidal preparations should be carried out.
You can also highlight the following problems when growing cytomium:
- if the fern is constantly in a brightly lit place, then its growth slows down, and the color of the foliage becomes pale;
- if the substrate is often poured, then it is covered with moss, the lower fronds take on a yellow tint, and brown spots are formed on the upper ones;
- when the soil is dry in the pot, the leaf plates begin to dry out and curl up, then it is recommended to cut off all the foliage, moisten the soil thoroughly, and a little later new green leaves will appear on the cytomium;
- if watering is carried out with too hard water, then there is a slowdown in the growth of the fern, its fronds begin to fade, and the surface of the substrate is covered with a salt coating;
- also a very low growth rate is observed at low doses of top dressing.
Facts to note about venerophlebia, photo
Since cytomium is a fern, it is worth remembering that many beliefs and legends, as well as folk signs, are associated with such representatives of the flora. According to one of them, the owner, this plant gives endurance and great physical strength.
However, many people are afraid to keep any fern and cytomium, including in their home, as they believe that this representative of the flora is an energy vampire. Rumor has it that in order for a plant to feel comfortable, it will require a very large amount of energy. And it will begin to pull it from its environment. But experienced flower growers argue that such properties of a plant can be easily neutralized if you put a flowerpot with cyrtomium in an energetically unfavorable place, such in a room it can be next to a computer or TV.
But if you do not pay attention to the legends, but listen to the conclusion of scientists, then it becomes quite clear why people, if a room contains such or a similar fern, feel unwell. The first is that plant spores that attach to the underside of the leaf can be allergic to very sensitive people. The second trouble is the morning headache, which can be triggered by the fact that at night the cytomium begins to actively absorb oxygen from the surrounding space and then emit carbon dioxide.
However, people born under the constellation Gemini will only feel a good message from the fern, since for them the plant will help improve communication skills and acquire ease and ease when communicating with other people. Such a plant can even act as a kind of green talisman.
Types of cytomium
- Cyrtomium falcatum often referred to as Phanerophlebia falcata. The native area of distribution falls on the territory of Japan and the southern regions of the African continent (in particular, South Africa). The plant is a perennial, which from leafy vai forms a shrub with spreading outlines, not exceeding 60 cm in height. At the same time, the diameter of such a bush will reach 20 cm. The variety is resistant to low temperatures and dry air. The leaf plates have a pinnately dissected shape and are composed of bright green leaf lobes with a grayish coating. Such leaflets are not placed in pairs on the petiole. The length of the frond can reach 35-50 cm with an average width of about 10 cm. The edge of the leaf lobes has an uneven dissection and sparse denticles. As already mentioned, there is a whiter decorative variety "Rochfordianum", in which the surface of the leaflets is denser and with a rich sheen on top. But its frost resistance is lower than that of the base species and the plant is not suitable for cultivation in open ground.
- Cyrtomium fortuni. The native lands of this fern are considered to be China, Korea and the Japanese islands. The form of wai is often lodging, and when growing, such ferns form clumps (low thickets) in height ranging from 30 to 60 cm and a total diameter of about one meter. Lobes of leaf wai have oblong, ovoid or triangular outlines and are colored in dark green, grayish or light green color. The difference between this variety and others is that leaflets are located on the petiole at large intervals. The petioles are light or dark brown in color. Their length reaches 10 cm. The central vein itself has pubescence and there are 20–30 leaf segments in the plate. Also, the plant has the highest cold resistance and can be used for growing outdoors, but requires shelter for the winter months. However, its appearance after wintering is devoid of decorative effect. When grown in more severe climatic conditions, the fern freezes completely. In culture, it is most common to grow the variety "Сlivicola", which has leaflets with a silvery-green color and a narrow form with a serrated edge.
- Cyrtomium caryotideum. The rhizome of this plant has a scaly coating, painted in a light brown color. The fronds grow lush and erect. In height, the bush can reach 70 cm. The shape of the leaf plate is pinnate and it is made up of large lobes with an uneven edge, on which there are small denticles, which is why the leaf is prickly. Each frond has 3 to 6 pairs of leaflets. The leaf lobes are distinguished by broad-lanceolate outlines with a pointed apex, they are shaded gray-green and resemble a feather in their contours. And on the petioles there are densely growing scales of a gray-green tone, which are also present on the reverse side of the leaflets, but they have threadlike outlines. In appearance, this species bears little resemblance to a representative of ferns.
- Large-leaved cyrtomium (Cyrtomium macrophyllum). It is distinguished by the presence of large leaflets with a shiny surface on a rigid leaf petiole. The shape of the wai is in the form of a feather and the length is measured 70 cm, with a width of about 30 cm. The contour of the leaflets is oblong-lanceolate, thin, the arrangement is paired, there is a sharpening at the top. There are 2-8 pairs of such leaf lobes on frond. On the back of each leaf lobe, sporangia of rounded outlines are formed, characterized by a dark green or grayish color.
- Cyrtomium hookerianum. This fern, growing, forms sprawling clumps. Each frond can have up to 10-15 pairs of leaf lobes. The shape of the leaflets is broad-lanceolate, the color is light green. Each leaflet is usually 12–15 cm long and does not exceed 5 cm in width. This variety is the rarest in the culture.
