Pellea

 

Pteris family. Homeland - tropical, subtropical and temperate areas in America, Africa, New Zealand, etc. About 80 species of representatives of this genus are common in nature. Pellaea are fern plants, but are not considered easy to grow.

пеллея
  • Pellaea rotundifolia is a small shrub with a creeping scaly rhizome. The wai are pinnate, up to 25 cm long and 4-5 cm wide, segmented into 15-20 pairs of rounded, glabrous, leathery leaflets on short petioles. The edges of the leaflets bend slightly and sporangia are located under them with a wide strip. It grows in rocky terrain and tolerates dry air well.
  • Pellea green Pellaea viridis - with creeping rhizome and wai collected in a basal rosette on long brown petioles. Wai are once pinnate, up to 50 cm long and 20 cm wide, segmented into oval, glabrous, leathery leaves on short petioles. This species is very similar to the previous one, but differs in the more elongated shape of the leaflets and the larger size of the bush.
  • Pellaea hastata is a creeping rhizome with two- or three-feathered wais collected in a basal rosette on long brown petioles. Wai about 50-60 cm long and 20-30 cm wide, segmented into triangular, asymmetrical "leaves" on short petioles. Sporangia are arranged in a strip along the edge of the segments.

Caring for Pellea

Temperature: During active growth (in summer) it should be no more than 25 ° C, in winter, ideally, a rest period is needed at 14-16 ° C, due to a natural decrease in illumination. However, the pellea grows perfectly under normal home conditions in winter on a bright windowsill. But if the temperature is above 24 ° C, the pellet will have to be sprayed.

Lighting: Light partial shade in spring and summer protection from direct sunlight. If the pellea stands in a too dark place, its wai become faded, and the bush is very liquid. With warm content in winter, you need a lot of light, direct sunlight is useful from October to January.

Watering: Moderate and regular (not allowing overdrying or waterlogging). Watering water should be soft, well maintained, at room temperature. If the temperature is below 18 ° C, you need to dry the soil well before the next irrigation.

Fertilizer: From March to August, 2 months after transplantation, pellea can be fed with complex fertilizer for deciduous indoor plants, containing not only nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but also other minerals. Feeding is carried out after three weeks in a dose not more than recommended by the manufacturer!

Humidity: Pellaea, unlike many other ferns, tolerate dry air well.

Transplant: This plant needs loose soil with a slightly acidic reaction. The soil is the 2 part of the leaf, 0.5 part of the humus earth and the 1 part of the sand or pine bark. Transplant annually, and if the soil is salted, try to remove it with a scoop and add fresh soil. At the bottom of the pot, be sure to make drainage holes and pour 1-1.5 cm expanded clay or pieces of foam.

Reproduction: Propagated by spores and division of rhizomes. The overgrown bush can be separated during transplantation by cutting off a part with several branches and roots. The pot shouldn't be too spacious!

   

By the way

Pelleians have enough 50% humidity. Too high humidity is destructive for them - gray rot and other infections quickly develop if there is no regular ventilation. Therefore, this fern is rather an exception compared to its moisture-loving counterparts.

If you do not know what to plant a pellet or any other fern - buy ready-made soil based on top peat, add perlite or sand, but only large, sifted from dust.

Growing problems

This fern does not tolerate and constantly damp soil.

Tip: Let the top of the soil dry well before watering again. Leaves that turn yellow or droop are a sign of excessive watering.

The leaves shrivel, dry and fall - if the temperature is too high - above 25-26 ° C, or if the soil is too dry.

The leaves become lethargic, turn black and fall, there is softening of the stems - with excessive watering, when the soil does not have time to dry out, especially if it is cold.

The leaves are made very pale, somewhat transparent - from excess lighting, this is possible only from February to September, the winter sun is completely painless.

The leaves lose their color, the ends of the leaves or edges are brown and dry, the shoots are extended, the new leaves are small - this seems to be the case when there is little light.

Yellow, then brown spots on the leaves - possibly from an oversupply of fertilizers, low-quality store soil, with acidity closer to alkaline.