Millipede family. Homeland - tropical and subtropical areas of South America, Australia, New Zealand, India. There are about 75-100 species of deciduous or evergreen species in nature.
Do not confuse the genus Polypodium and Phlebodium - these are two different genera of the same family, plants are very similar, many species have been transferred by scientists from the genus Polypodium to Phlebodium and renamed. For example, the fern formerly known as Polypodium aureum gold - currently has the name Phlebodium aureum gold. From the point of view of growing a crop, this did not affect the approach to the basic rules of care.
- Polypodium virginianum is a small rhizome fern with narrow leaves 10-30 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, on smooth petioles up to 15 cm long. The leaves are pinnate, oblong in outline, each segment with a slightly serrated margin, rounded at the apex. It forms large, round spores on the underside of leaves in late summer and autumn. Sporangia are covered with brown hairs. This fern is good for its small size, it requires a wide and shallow plate or even a box. In nature, it grows on rocky terrain or on a loose forest substrate of fallen branches and forest litter, while forming spreading curtains, many grow as epiphytes in cracks in the bark on trees.
There are a lot of decorative species in the genus Polypodium, which look great in hanging baskets or planters - these are Polypodium scouleri Polypodium scouleri, Polypodium polypodioides centipede fern, etc.
Polypodium is quite easy to grow if you follow the irrigation regime and properly prepare the soil mixture, which is somewhat different from the soil for other ferns, since it should be loose, light and preferably contain some coniferous land.
Polypodium - Care and Cultivation
Temperature: Polypodium is thermophilic, grows perfectly all year round in normal home conditions. In summer, the optimal temperature is 20-24 ° C, in winter it is slightly cooler, about 18-20, but not lower than 16 ° C. These are the temperature ranges at which no special measures are required to increase air humidity or light. If the room is hot, above 26 ° C, additional spraying is most likely required, and in the autumn-winter period (probably) exposure.
Lighting: The place for the polypodium should be bright enough, but with shading from direct sunlight in the afternoon. Ideally - the east window, you can grow in the north. On the west window, shading will be required in the summer until 4 pm.
Watering: Watering only with settled water, free of lime, chlorine and fluoride! Watering in spring - in summer plentiful, with drying of the upper layer of the earth. Watering is moderate in winter, but the soil should not dry up to dust. It is impossible to compensate for too dry air in the room with more frequent irrigation.
Fertilizer: The polypodium is fed with liquid fertilizer for indoor deciduous plants from May to August every two weeks. Never exceed fertilizer doses!
Humidity: The polypodium, like all ferns, loves moist air and requires frequent spraying. Ideal humidity is about 60%. Place the plant away from radiators and batteries. During the heating season, do not allow air humidity to fall below 40%.
Transplantation is carried out annually in the spring. The soil should have a slightly acidic reaction. Try not to bury the roots heavily in the ground, but press them slightly into the soil and sprinkle a little on top, so the polypodium container should not be too deep. Soil mixture: 1 part of coniferous land, 2 part of leafy, 1 part of humus land and 1 part of chopped pine bark or coconut substrate. Drainage is about 2 cm high made of foam or expanded clay.
Reproduction: Reproduction mainly by division or abductions, as well as spores. Do not try to share a bush that has less than 5 leaves - the plant will hurt for a very long time.