Todea

Family. Osmundaceae.

Origin. South Africa, Australia.

Description. Todea is a beautiful large evergreen fern. Mature specimens form a low trunk, small plants have triangular or oblong-oval pinnately dissected green leaves. Young fronds are erect, large ones are gracefully curved. Leaves are divided into spore-bearing and sterile. Spore-bearing ones are smaller in size and covered on the underside with numerous sporangia.

Height. Fronds reach a length of 1 m and grow slowly.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

Moderate - warm content at a temperature of 16 - 20° C. In winter, the temperature should not fall below 10° C. 

Lighting

Todea does not tolerate direct sunlight and prefers to grow in partial shade. It can be grown without problems even in deep shade.

Care

The fern is relatively easy to grow indoors, but is rarely seen in collections. Remove old fronds to maintain a neat appearance.

Substrate

Permeable soil based on peat with the addition of leaf humus and well-rotted manure. To improve drainage, coarse sand is added to the mixture. pH range from 5.5 to 6.5. 

Feeding

Young seedlings are fed with liquid fertilizers with a high phosphorus content to form a strong and deep root system. Adult specimens require a large amount of nitrogen to develop green mass. Fertilizing is carried out monthly from spring to autumn.

Purpose

A large species with an airy, delicate appearance, which is suitable for landscaping large spaces.

Flowering time

Doesn't bloom.

Air humidity

About 60 - 70 percent. Spray the fronds daily with room temperature water, preferably in the morning, or place a room humidifier near the plant.

Soil moisture

During the growing season, the soil should be kept evenly moist, avoiding waterlogging. In autumn and winter, watering is slightly reduced and the top layer of soil is dried. 

Transfer

Replanting is carried out in the spring, approximately every 2 - 3 years to change the soil or the volume of the pot.

Reproduction

Propagated by dividing large plants when transplanting. Spores can be sown in spring, but an adult bush can only be obtained after several years.

Pests and diseases

The tips of the leaves dry out when there is insufficient air humidity.

The main flower pests are mealybugs.