Leaflet is a very beautiful garden fern, which can also be grown as a houseplant. Unlike other representatives, it has solid leaves, so the leaflet in the photo looks very bright and unusual. Often it is also called a bones or phyllitis. The plant lives in the Mediterranean and at the foot of the European mountains, in shady and humid areas.
Description
Fern leaflet is an evergreen perennial from the Kostenets family. The plant has a straight, slightly branched rhizome of medium length. The roots are covered with small scales and form a small compaction on the soil surface.
The ground part of the bush consists of petiole foliage. On short, dense petioles, which barely reach one third of the leaf length, there are whole-edge lanceolate or strap-like leaves. Their length is 20-50 cm, and their width is about 4-7 cm. Young leaves appear in the spring and at first resemble a swirling snail shell, over time they straighten. The upper side of the waya is leathery, bright green. On the sheet plate, transverse strips are visible, like the outlined pattern of cirrus foliage.
Soruses are on the back, darker side of the surface of the vaya. They resemble grayish transverse stripes located symmetrically. Numerous spores ripen in them under a thin film.
Varieties
In total, 10 species are registered in the leaflet genus, but only a small part of plants is used in the culture. The most common is scolopendra or ordinary leaflet. It is common in European and American foothills. The fern forms a small bush up to 60 cm high. The width of the petiolate sternate leaves is 3-5 cm. The base of the leaf is heart-shaped, and the edges are slightly wavy. The foliage is straight and only slightly bends to the sides. Greenish or brown scales are visible on the petiole. Within this variety, several decorative varieties are bred:
- undulata - vayas have beautiful wavy edges;
- marginatum - distinguished by narrowed, lobed veyi;
- cristatum - the edges of the whole vaya have a comb shape;
- crispa - a curly variety with a perforated edge and bright green leaves;
- Ramo Cristatum is a highly decorative variety with branched and highly wavy foliage.
Japanese leaflet. The plant is widespread in the vastness of Asia: from shady foothills to the shores of fresh water bodies. Lanceolate-belt-like, leathery leaves form a wide rosette. They greatly expand in breadth, exposing the central part of the outlet. The length of the dense foliage is 20-40 cm.
Breeding
The leaflet can be propagated vegetatively or by seed. When transplanting, it is enough to cut off part of the rhizome with growth buds. Its length should be at least 20 cm. The procedure is best carried out in early spring, until young waiyi began to appear. The cut site is sprinkled with crushed coal and placed in peat-sandy soil. The pot is covered with foil and left in a cool, bright place.
Healthy fern leaves can be rooted in the same way. It is important to maintain high humidity and periodically spray the soil from the spray gun. The rooting process is rather difficult and can take almost a year. Not all segments are rooted.
Seed propagation is considered more effective. Spores mature in large volumes and retain high germination for 5-8 years. Flat wide tanks with peat are prepared for planting. Spores try to evenly distribute on the surface, they do not need to sprinkle them with earth. The plate is covered with film or glass and exposed in a warm, bright place. Every day the air is ventilated for 15-30 minutes and, if necessary, sprayed with water.
After 2-5 weeks, the surface of the soil will be covered with thick greens of young shoots. The grown seedlings dive into small pots in which peat, heather land and sand are mixed evenly. After 2-3 weeks, the pick is repeated. Seedlings are actively developing and by the end of the first year they have the appearance of an adult plant.
Care Rules
The leaflet requires more attentive care at home, but rewards bright and very beautiful shoots for their efforts. The best place for him would be a shaded and moist area of the garden. For indoor cultivation, it is worthwhile to choose a cool room with diffused lighting. With excessively bright light, the foliage of the leaflet becomes yellowish, which reduces its attractiveness. Fern can be placed in the darkest areas where other flowers feel uncomfortable.
The leafer needs regular ventilation and fresh air. The optimum temperature is + 20 ... +22 ° C. The plant is not afraid of drafts and night cooling, but the summer heat is a real endurance test. In winter, indoor copies need to create a cooler atmosphere (+ 12 ... +15 ° C). Garden plants can winter with shelter, they do not dump bright foliage.
The leafer needs regular watering. The soil should not dry out, but stagnation of water is undesirable. It is better to water the fern daily or every other day in small portions. It is often useful to spray waya, as well as place nearby plates with wet pebbles or expanded clay. A neighborhood with a small pond or fountain is welcome. In dry air, the leaves may dry out a little. As a resuscitation, you can periodically bathe fern under a weak warm shower.
Usually a leaflet gets everything he needs from the soil. Fertilizers are applied only to depleted lands. Once a month, from May to September, half the dose of the mineral complex for deciduous plants is added to water for irrigation.
Every 2-3 years, the leaflet needs a transplant, and every 8 years in the rejuvenation and division of the bush. To do this, use a ready-made substrate for ferns. You can also make the mixture yourself from the following components:
- leaf soil (2 parts);
- river sand (1 part);
- crushed bark (1 part).
A thick drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the hole or flower pot. Rhizomes are placed on the surface without deepening the apical buds.
Possible care problems
The leaflet has strong immunity and does not suffer from parasite attacks. Problems can only be associated with improper care. Let us dwell on the most common problems:
- the leaflet turns yellow leaves - too hot and dry air;
- the color of the leaves becomes faded - a long stay in direct sunlight;
- growth retardation or stunting - overflow, possible rotting of the rhizome.
Using
The leaflet looks spectacular on rocky areas and under dense thickets of trees. You can plant fern near coniferous thickets or along the shore of a small reservoir. Decorative bunches of leaves adorn the room and blend well with other ferns. A composition of several decorative varieties in a wide pot or on a flower bed will become a real masterpiece.
