Osmunda

Family. Osmundaceae.

Origin. Europe, Mediterranean, Asia.

Description. Osmunda are evergreen or deciduous ferns with a powerful, creeping black rhizome. The fronds are wide, oval, bright green, usually turning yellow or brown in autumn, up to 1 - 2 m long. Most species have sporangia located on the underside of the fronds, but some plants form sterile and spore-bearing fronds. Spore-bearing fronds appear in the center of the rosette and often die off after the spores have matured.

Height. Up to 1.5 m.

Home care

Containment temperature

During the growing season, osmunda can be kept at a temperature of about 20° C; during the winter months, do not expose the plant to temperatures below 8° C. 

Lighting

Tolerates both well-lit places and partial shade. Does not like direct sunlight in spring and summer.

Care

Remove old, dried leaves promptly. Maintain high soil moisture and high indoor air humidity - this will stimulate healthy fern growth.

Soil

Prefers moist, organic-rich, acidic soils, but adapts to most soil types.

Fertilizer

During the growing season, feed with a solution for hydroponics or fertilizers for flowering plants, diluted to 1/3 of the recommended dose, monthly.

Flowering time

Doesn't bloom.

Spraying

Requires very high air humidity - about 70%. Spray the fern daily, preferably in the morning, or install a room humidifier near the plant.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist, but not waterlogged. Soft water is used for irrigation. It is very useful to periodically immerse the plant pot in a large container filled with water. 

Transplantation

Transplantation is carried out in the spring - when the root system fills the pot. A larger container causes additional growth. When planting, you should maintain the same planting depth that was in the previous pot.

Reproduction

Adult specimens can be divided in autumn or winter. After division, the bushes take a long time to recover. Osmunda spores are sown immediately after ripening on the soil surface, without covering with earth. Germination occurs within a few weeks. Cover the crops with a polyethylene cap and periodically spray the seedlings.

Purpose

A beautiful forest dweller that will attract attention in any interior. 

Pests and diseases

Yellow leaf tips are often a sign of waterlogged soil and can be trimmed off. Check the roots - maybe they have started to rot. Healthy fern roots have white or light brown tips. If the roots turn black, they should be cut off.  Browning leaves may indicate low humidity, although older branches may turn brown simply due to age. Trim such leaves and increase the humidity around the fern. 

Insect pests appear quite rarely, sometimes mealybugs, check the leaves regularly. 

Varieties:

Osmunda regalis

An attractive fern with sterile and spore-bearing fronds of varying sizes. Spore-bearing fronds are vertical, narrow, reaching a height of 20 - 50 cm, sterile - arched, wide, emerald green and larger - up to 60 - 150 cm. The leaves are arranged alternately and have an oblong - oval shape. The spores are located on the tops of spore-bearing fronds and become brown or burgundy when ripe. 

Osmunda cinnamomeum

A lacy, airy fern 60 - 90 cm high. The plant is the first to form spore-bearing vertical fronds, which turn brown in the summer months due to the many sporangia. Further, the osmunda forms wide sterile fronds 60 - 120 cm. The leaves of the fronds are arranged alternately and have a light green tint.

Osmunda cleytoniana

A beautiful fern 40 - 100 cm high with delicate, light green, wide, curved fronds, consisting of alternately arranged coarse-toothed, oblong segments. The spores are found on spore-bearing segments located in the middle of each frond; when ripe, they become dark, almost black. 

Osmunda japonica

A perennial fern with soft, light green sterile fronds, curved in an arc and vertical spore-bearing fronds 20 - 50 cm high. Sterile fronds reach a height of 100 cm and consist of oblong-oval entire segments. Spore-bearing fronds are located in the center of the plant and are abundantly covered with bright brown sporangia.