Adiantum

 
адиантум

Pteris family. Homeland South America, East Asia. There are about 200 species in the genus. Adianthums are ferns with creeping terrestrial scaly rhizomes.

Adiantum capillus-veneris Adiantum venerine hair is one of the most beautiful species of ferns with openwork green pinnately dissected leaves on thin, wire-like petioles. For these leaves, adiantum is called "hair venus." In some species, the leaflets are colored yellow-green, in others they are light red or sizo-green. The leaf itself is large - from 10 to 20 cm, in the outlines of a triangular or rhomboid shape, on it there are many small fan-shaped leaves of obovate shape, with a wavy edge. In the room, the adiantum will grow about 50-60 cm tall.

In nature, Adiantum grows in temperate and tropical climates, where humidity is quite high, but not in the form of wet fogs. It grows on well-drained sandy, clay and even limestone. Fern venus hair occurs on both continents, but has become very rare in places, as Adiantum is on the list of endangered species in the state of North Carolina in the United States. By the way, the indigenous Indians used adiantum leaves for healing, prepared tinctures and took them inside for rheumatism.

Secrets of growing ferns

Adianthum care

Temperature: The temperature during active growth should be no more than 26 ° C, during the rest period - 15 ° C. Adiantum does not tolerate cold drafts, but in general is unpretentious in care, grows perfectly on windows of northern orientation under normal home conditions, and calmly winters in the heating season, provided that the leaves do not hang over the battery.

If your adiantum wilts or dries up wai, may have become too cold when ventilated or delayed watering, just trim them under the base, a new growth will grow very quickly.

Lighting: Light partial shade, requires protection from direct sunlight in summer. But if the adiantum stands in a place too dark, far from the window, its wai become faded. The ideal place is the window sill of the east or northwest window. If you have south or west windows, place a pot in the room, but no further than 1 m from the window.

Watering: Watering should be regular, but by no means redundant. Adiantum does not tolerate overdrying and strong waterlogging, i.e. watered as the top layer of the earth dries - touched the soil, if it is already dry from above - you need to water. Water for irrigation should be well settled, room temperature. Water from aquariums can be used. Adianthums are undemanding to water hardness, but do not tolerate chlorine.

адиантум венерин волос

Fertilizer: Adianthums react poorly to high doses of fertilizers, so feeding is carried out from May to September only 1 times a month of full mineral fertilizer, but only in half the dose recommended for feeding other indoor plants. Fertilizers should not contain lime.

Air humidity: Adiantums like moist air, optimally about 60%. In winter, with heating on, air humidity is about 20%, while adiantum leaves dry, wai gradually die off. Therefore, it is best to place the pot on a wide tray with wet expanded clay or gravel. If there is a central heating battery nearby, then it should always be hung with a wet towel or sheet. These measures are sufficient and usually the adiantum does not need spraying.

Transplant: This plant needs loose soil with a slightly acidic reaction. Soil - 2 part of leaf or peat, 0.5 part of humus land and 1 part of sand or vermiculite. It is advisable to add a handful of finely chopped pine bark. Be sure to pour drainage on the bottom of the plastic pot. If the plant has grown a lot, you can cut part of the roots, from the edge, without revealing the main root lump.

Adiantum is transplanted annually. He does not tolerate planting in too big a pot. In nature, adiantum often grows in rock crevices, on sheer ledges, like lithophyte. Therefore, the requirements for the soil are special - no clay and fibrous, poorly wetting peat! The soil should absorb water very easily and dry out quickly.

Reproduction: Adianthums are propagated mainly by dividing old bushes, cutting off part of the rhizome with several bays during transplantation. Use a sharp knife, cut, do not be afraid, but you do not need to tear the entire mother bush into small plots, otherwise the fern will grow and get sick for a very long time.

By the way

The leaves turn yellow, brown spots appear on them - the temperature is too high indoors, above 25 ° C the temperature is not desirable for ferns. With an increase in temperature, humidity also needs to be increased. The reason may also be not regular or insufficient watering .

The leaves turn yellow, the plant grows poorly - the humidity in the room is too low, the proximity of the heating system.

The leaves are faded, translucent, lethargic - too intense sunlight.

The leaves are pale or dull, the ends turn yellow or brown, the plant does not grow or grows poorly - lack of nutrition, too tight or too large a pot.

Leaves can turn yellow, brown, curl and fall, young leaves wilt and die - at too low a temperature in the room, from exposure to a cold draft, watering with cold water, when watering with hard or chlorinated water.

By the way

Spider mites can attack ferns, although not often, while the leaves rapidly turn yellow and curl.
It is very difficult to detect a tick, especially if small species of pests gnaw at the plant.

Control measures. Beat soap foam, apply to the plant, leave for 10 minutes. Then rinse from a very hot shower. Just water on top, sideways, straight into the ground. It is important after this procedure to dry the soil properly, drain the water from the pallet.

You can spray from a tick with drugs from the acaricide group.

Scutes - also sometimes affect adianthums, but these pests are easy to notice - they look like small brown scales (0.5-1 mm), sometimes translucent, if crushed, a wet spot remains. The shields suck the juice from the leaves, which is why the wai twist, turn yellow, dry out.

Mealy worms are relatives of scale insects, only white, shaggy and larger - about 2 mm, swarm in the basal zone, very depress the plant, suck out all the juices until complete death.

Measures to combat worms and shields - if possible, remove the affected leaves. Dilute the actar preparation according to the instructions in a small bucket. Lower the fern in the insecticide solution down with leaves, immerse completely. Hold it for a minute. Remove and thoroughly water the soil with the same solution, you can also immerse. After that, let the water drain through the drainage holes, and do not water until the ground dries well. After a week, repeat the procedure, even if the soil has not yet dried up!