Pteris fern is a deciduous plant from the large Pterisov family. It is common in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, found in Japan, USA, Africa and New Zealand. The name of the plant translates as "wing." Many botanists see the similarities between foliage and bird wings. Florists are happy to acquire these lush green plants, which are also very undemanding in care.
Plant description
Pteris is a land plant with a superficial, creeping rhizome. On the shell of soft roots are short brown hairs. The plant has an underground stem, which can be taken as a continuation of the root. Leaves are shown directly from the ground. In the natural environment, the bush can reach a height of 2.5 m. Creeping forms are also found, which are located vertically on the rocks and rocky cliffs.
The plant forms dense bunches of green vegetation. Dissected leaves have a feathery or tabular shape. They are located on long, dense petioles. Leaf plates are painted bright green. Varieties with variegated coloring of leaves are found. Leaflets are soft, leathery. Soruses are located on the back of the sheet and have the form of a continuous line located on the edge.
Species of pteris
The pteris family is very numerous, about 250 species are registered in it. In addition to the main varieties, there are also decorative varieties. In the photo, pteris is very diverse, which allows gardeners to create a whole composition of several ferns.
Pteris longifolia. Lush foliage is located on a creeping light brown rhizome. It is covered with small scales of beige and orange. The length of the dark green leaves is 40-50 cm, and the width is 8-25 cm. The long scaly petiole is covered with narrow and long leaves with a shiny surface.
Pteris is trembling. The plant is a large bush with light green leaves. Erect petioles are quite fragile and easily break. The plant is rapidly growing green mass.
Pteris Cretan. A popular variety with an unusual leaf shape. On beige petioles up to 30 cm long, there are larger lanceolate leaves. Their length is 15-50 cm. The leaf plate of dark green color has slightly wavy edges. Popular varieties:
- Albo-lineata - along the central vein of the leaf is a silvery wide strip;
- Rivertoniana - leaves are grouped at the top of the petiole in the shape of a five-pointed star;
- Whimsettii - the plant consists of many openwork bright green leaves.
Pteris xiphoid. In this species, the leaves are divided into sterile (drooping and wider) and fertile (upright, narrowly linear). Long sporangia are located along the edge on the underside of the leaf. Decorative varieties:
- Victoriae - a narrow white stripe is located along the center of the sterile leaf;
- Evergemiensis - leaf edges are drawn in white.
Pteris is divided. The plant has many very narrow dark green leaves. Petiole is about 30 cm long. At its end there are five narrow lanceolate leaves up to 45 cm long. Varieties for indoor cultivation:
- Variegata - in the upper part of each leaf is a double white stripe;
- Cristata - each leaf in the upper part is wider and comb;
- Tenuifolia - a gray stripe is drawn in the center of the leaves.
Pteris is tape. The plant forms a tall and sprawling shoot. Wii 70-100 cm long have a drooping shape. Cirrus-dissected long leaves are arranged alternately and painted in dark green color.
Pteris gear. A delicate light green plant consists of cirrus, folded leaves. The leaf length is 30-80 cm, and the width is 20-40 cm. The blades are perpendicular to the petiole. Fern grows fast and is highly decorative.
Breeding methods
Reproduction of pteris is done by sowing spores or dividing the rhizome. For crops use a wide and flat pot with a mixture of sand and peat. The soil is moistened, spores are placed on the surface and cover the container with glass or film. Until the shoots appear, the greenhouse is kept in a dark room with an air temperature of + 15 ... +20 ° C. When the spores germinate, it is transferred to the light. Ventilate and spray the seedlings daily. Thick places thin out and leave the strongest ferns. The grown pteris are transplanted into separate small pots with earth for adult ferns.
When transplanting an adult bush, it can be divided into several parts. It is important to correctly determine the growth point, because it may not be in the outlet with Wii. The slice is performed with a sharp blade and sprinkled with crushed charcoal. Delenki immediately planted in the soil so that the rhizome does not dry out.
Transfer
Pteris need regular transplantation. For plants, small pots are selected, in proportion to the rhizome. A deep container is not needed, since the roots are located on the surface. When planting, the rhizome is deepened no more than 7 cm.
For planting fern, you can make the following soil mixture:
- river sand;
- peat;
- turf land;
- humus;
- sheet earth.
You can buy in the store a ready-made substrate for ferns. The soil reaction should be neutral or slightly acidic. At the bottom of the pot should be poured pebbles, expanded clay or brick chips.
Care Rules
Home care for pteris is not difficult even for beginner growers. A pot with fern is placed in partial shade or in a shady place. Variegated forms need a little more light. The plant is placed in the back of the room or on the eastern and western windowsills.
The air temperature for pteris should be constant throughout the year and should be in the range from + 17 ... +20 ° C. On hotter days, it is recommended to spray the shoots daily. In winter, it is allowed to lower the temperature to + 14 ... +15 ° C.
Pteris is watered frequently and plentifully. The soil should always be slightly moist, but water stagnation is unacceptable. Excess fluid must leave the pot freely. The pallet should also be emptied regularly. This will help protect the roots from the development of rot.
Fern needs high humidity. In a dry room, the edges of the leaves begin to dry. Leaves are regularly sprayed with settled, soft water. Placing plants near aquariums and fountains is welcome. The leaves are periodically rinsed under a weak warm shower to remove dust.
In summer, it is recommended to feed pteris with special complexes for ferns. Twice a month, half of the fertilizer recommended in the instructions is added to the water for irrigation.
As the foliage dries, it is trimmed. With proper care, the leaves retain their attractiveness for a long time and pruning is extremely rare. Dry petioles are cut off at the very base. It is convenient to carry out the procedure when transplanting, in early spring.
Possible difficulties
Pteris is not prone to frequent diseases. Most problems are due to improper care. The most common difficulties are as follows:
- leaves turn yellow and dry - too dry air or insufficient watering;
- leaves turn pale and become transparent - a sunburn;
- leaves turn brown, wither or curl - too cold a room, the presence of a draft.
Pteris often suffers from attacks of scale insects and thrips. If parasites are found, immediately treat the leaves and soil surface with an insecticide. The treatment is repeated 2-3 times with an interval of 5-7 days to get rid of new generations of insects.
