Asplenium

Family. Aspleniaceae.

Origin.  Asia, Australia.

Description. The genus Asplenium includes about 700 species of evergreen or semi-evergreen, terrestrial or epiphytic ferns, found on every continent except Antarctica. One of the most easily adaptable ferns to growing at home. This species will delight you for many years with good care.

In nature, it often grows as an epiphytic plant (on trees). Has larger leaves than most ferns. A dark green fern with a rosette of glossy narrow leaves consisting of smaller leaflets. Each leaf has 10 - 40 pairs of leaflets arranged alternately. The leaf petioles are round in cross-section, dark violet-brown, usually glabrous, but sometimes with sparse white pubescence. New shoots appear from the center of the rosette. The branches are fragile, so it is worth placing the asplenium away from the passages. 

Height. In nature, branches can reach 1.2 m in length, indoors - up to 60 cm. 

Care for asplenium

How it reproduces 

It reproduces by spores, but it is quite difficult. Spores are separated from the lower surface of the leaves when they mature and turn brown. Sowing is done in damp sphagnum moss - directly on the surface, without covering it with substrate.

For good germination, it is very important to maintain the required level of humidity - cover the crops with a transparent plastic cap or glass and keep pots with young plants away from direct sunlight. At a temperature of about 25 º C, germination will occur within 2 weeks.

Care at home 

Asplenium is one of the easiest ferns to grow as a houseplant. Keep the pot out of direct sunlight and drafts, provide the necessary humidity, and the plant will look quite healthy. Older outer branches may turn brown. This is normal. You can trim them at the base to keep the bush looking neat.

Soil for growing 

Based on peat with the addition of perlite. 

Watering asplenium 

Keep the soil of potted flowers evenly moist. Water the plant so that water does not enter the outlet. In winter, reduce watering. Avoid stagnation of water at the roots - it can cause rotting. Unlike most of its relatives, asplenium is more likely to tolerate a short drought than a flood.  For irrigation, use softened water at room temperature - for example, bottled, rain, melted water. To reduce hardness, you can add regular baking soda to tap water - a teaspoon per 2 liters of water. 

Transplant 

You should not change the pot of indoor plants very often, since the root system of the fern is small. Adult plants are replanted every 2 years, young plants - every year. The asplenium pot must have sufficiently large drainage holes. 

When it blooms 

Doesn't bloom.

Diseases and pests of asplenium 

Mealybugs. Do not use insecticides on houseplants, as the delicate leaves are easily damaged by chemicals. Dry air and lack of moisture cause the leaves to turn brown. Pale leaves and stunted growth indicate a lack of nutrients. 

The fronds of the house fern turn yellow and dry out when exposed to direct sunlight. Deformed fronds of indoor flowers with brown and yellow spots indicate an excess amount of nutrients in the soil - stop feeding the fern. The tips of the leaves turn brown when kept in too cold conditions.

Harmful insects may include spider mites and scale insects, nematodes, and aphids.

What to feed 

Every 2 weeks in spring and summer, apply a liquid fertilizer at half strength to stimulate new growth and healthy looking leaves. 

Containment temperature

The ideal range is 18 - 24º C, not lower than 13º C. 

Lighting

Moderate light without direct sun, rotate the pot regularly. Leaves can become sunburned if exposed to direct sunlight.

Spraying

Place the pot on a tray of wet pebbles or use a humidifier if the indoor humidity drops below 50%. 

Purpose

Quite a large decorative fern for spacious rooms. This species can be grown in poorly lit corners of rooms. 

Hydroponics. Grows well in hydroponics. 

Types of asplenium:

Asplenium nidus

         A small attractive fern forming a leafy rosette of light green, glossy, solid fronds. The edges of the leaf blades are often corrugated, and the tips of the fronds are bent into the rosette. Asplenium nesting belongs to epiphytes and grows slowly. One of the varieties of this asplenium is asplenium osaka or antikum. 

Asplenium viviparum

           A light, airy fern with light green, delicate, pinnately incised fronds. In contrast to the fronds are the petioles of the leaves, colored dark brown. Young plants develop at the tips of the fronds of this fern, which is why asplenium got its name.

Asplenium trichomanes

      This species has long and very narrow fronds consisting of light green, oval, numerous leaves arranged alternately. The spores are orange and are found on the lower surface of the leaf blades. Petioles are glossy, brown or burgundy. 

Asplenium bulbiferum

A beautiful evergreen fern whose leaves can be eaten as a salad. It got its name “bulbous” because from time to time small daughter onions are formed on the fronds, which, as they mature, fall off and take root in the ground. The fronds of this species are deeply dissected and resemble lacy carrot tops, reaching a length of 60 cm. Young leaves that have just appeared are painted in a lighter shade, but darken with age. 

​​Asplenium "Crispy Wave"

A newly developed variety with entire, elegantly ruffled, stiff, erect leaves of light green color. It is believed that this variety most effectively purifies indoor air from harmful substances.