Blechnum

 

Derbennikov family. Homeland - South America. In nature, there are about 200 species of blechnums.

блехнум

Humpback blechnum Blechnum gibbum - in nature, this is a large, palm-like plant with vai reaching 1.5 m in length. The stem of the fern is a modified rhizome, in old plants in room conditions it reaches a height of about 50 cm, covered with brown scales. Its wai are single-pinnately dissected about 50-60 cm long, light green. Sporangia on the underside of the leaf, closer to the edge of the segments.

At home, blehnum, of course, is smaller - old specimens occupy about 100 cm in width and the same height. But this fern is a real home ornament.

How to grow blehnum

Temperature: Blehnum - fern of warm rooms. In summer, it is kept at ordinary temperatures, optimally up to 28 ° C, in the heat of dry air at blechnum, wai can dry. In winter, it is desirable to lower the temperature to 18-20 ° C, at least 16 ° C. Be sure to protect the fern from the directed hot air of the heating batteries.

When airing, especially in winter, rearrange the plant away from the flow of cold air, including from the air conditioner.

Lighting: The place should be quite light, but with shading from direct sunlight - bright diffused light or light partial shade. Blechnum grows well on the north and north-west window, well on the east and south-east. You can put a pot near the south window under the shade of a tulle curtain or blinds. It will be hot on the western windowsill in summer. But in winter, from about October to the end of January, direct sun will not harm ferns at all.

блехнум

Watering: Only with warm settled water that does not contain lime. They water blehnum in spring and summer abundantly, wetting well with an earthen lump, but only after the upper layer of the earth dries up. In winter, watering is moderate, the soil should not dry out completely, to a dusty state.

Fertilizer: In summer, liquid fertilizer for indoor deciduous plants every two weeks. Blechnum is very sensitive to excess fertilizer, so the dose should be taken 2 times less than recommended by the manufacturer. Never fertilize after a transplant for at least 1.5 months.

Humidity: Like many ferns, blechnum likes moist air, but spraying can ruin leaves. Therefore, pots with plants are placed on pallets with wet expanded clay. Batteries are hung with a damp cloth in winter.

Transplant: Transplants are carried out in the spring, when the roots will fill the entire pot. The soil should have a slightly acidic reaction. The soil is 2 part of the sheet land, the 1 part of the peat, the 1 part of the humus land and the 1 part of the sand. It can be added to the substrate of chopped pine bark. Good drainage at the bottom of the pot and drainage holes are mandatory.

Reproduction: Predominantly by dividing the bush or spores forming on the back of the leaves. When breeding by dividing the bush, during transplantation you need to cut 2-3 leaves with a small part of the rhizomes with a sharp knife from the edge of the bush. Place the plot in a pot, about 2 cm larger in size than the root lump. Cover with earth and water. The fern grows slowly after transplantation - at first the root system gains strength, new roots grow. Noticeable growth can only be a month after transplantation. Do not replant or share bushes of blechnum and other ferns during the hot summer.

By the way

Blechnum cannot be called easy to grow, like many tropical and subtropical plants that require warm and humid conditions. Blehnum with a thick wide crown cannot be grown in a greenhouse room, and from frequent spraying, the ends of the leaves on the bays brown, and the plant loses its decorative attractiveness.

If the large plant does not clean on the windowsill - the leaves hang over the battery, rearrange the pot in the room, but put a lamp next to it for illumination (fluorescent or LED in a regular lamp).

Blechnum, like many ferns, has a "dense" buff root system. When transplanting, you do not need to try to rid the plant of the old land, so you injure, rob the roots, and the plant will hurt for a long time. Simply transfer the blehnum to a larger pot and fill up with fresh earth.

Growing problems

The leaves turn yellow and develop brown spots - if the temperature is too high indoors - above 28C, which is not desirable for ferns. The reason may also be irregular or insufficient watering and frequent spraying - when the plant is dried, the earth dries for too long.

The leaves turn yellow, the plant does not grow well - if the air is too dry (near the battery, in the heat of summer) or pests have appeared, be sure to examine the leaves with a magnifying glass, a tick or thrips may appear.

The leaves are pale or dull, the ends turn yellow or brown, the plant does not grow or grows poorly - a lack of nutrition if the ground in the pot turns sour from excessive watering, or from overfeeding with fertilizers.

Blekhnum responds well to outdoor accommodation in summer and regular ventilation of the room, but at the same time does not tolerate drafts and sharp temperature changes. Therefore, if there is the slightest likelihood of a night cold snap, bring the plant into the room.