Arachniodes

Family. Dryopteridaceae.

Origin. Asia, Australia.

Description.  Arachniodes is a fern with a long creeping fern, 5 - 8 mm. diameter creeping rhizome, scaly and knotty. Tough but graceful branches rise to a height of up to 80 cm, 20 cm wide, evergreen.

Fronds are erect or slightly inclined, triangular, shiny, dark green on light green petioles, dark at the base, emerging from the rhizome at a distance of 0.5 - 4 cm from each other. Leaf segments are lanceolate, pinnately dissected, thin, dark green, shiny, sometimes finely pubescent. Grows rather slowly.

Variegated varieties have shiny dark green fronds with characteristic bright yellow-green stripes along each vein.

Height.  Up to 100 cm.

Care at home

Temperature 

Room temperature is quite suitable, in winter not lower than 10° C. 

Lighting

Shade-loving indoor fern, prefers a shady but warm location.

Care

Remove dying and yellowing fronds promptly to maintain an attractive appearance and prevent fungal diseases and rot.

Substrate

Medium-moist, well-drained peat-based soils with a slightly acidic pH.

Feeding

Feed your indoor arachnoides weekly during the period of active growth.

Purpose

Quite a large ornamental foliage species.

Flowering time

Doesn't bloom.

Air humidity

If the air is dry during the heating season, periodically spray the fronds with room temperature water. Remember that tap water can leave unsightly whitish spots on the fern leaves.

Soil moisture

Arachniodes prefers moist soils that never dry out. Maintain uniform humidity by watering with soft water. 

Transfer

They are grown in fairly large pots, since the fern has a long rhizome. Repotting is carried out as needed, in the spring.

Reproduction

Propagated by dividing adult specimens or by sowing spores in spring, at a soil temperature of 18 - 20 °C.

Pests and diseases

A very pest-resistant indoor plant with shade, mealybugs appear occasionally.