Phlebodium

Family. Polypodiaceae.

Origin. South and North America.

Description. The genus Phlebodium consists of 4 species of perennial, evergreen, epiphytic ferns. The rhizome is short, creeping, covered with rich pubescence or brown scales. The palmately dissected fronds of this plant are often painted in a bluish-green or silver tint and reach 30 - 100 cm in length. Young fronds appear in the center of the rosette, grow vertically, adult leaves gracefully arch. The edges of the leaf segments - fingers - are often wavy. Bright orange or brown sporangia are located on the underside of the fronds.

Height. The plant reaches a height of 30 - 90 cm.

Care at home

Reproduction 

Propagated in spring by dividing large specimens when replanting. Make sure all cuttings have well-developed leaves and roots. It can be propagated by spores, but this is a rather labor-intensive task.

How to care 

If you satisfy the fern's needs for high air humidity, it will grow well for many years in indoor culture. 

Containment temperature

Moderate - warm content at a temperature of 18 to 20 ° C is optimal. The winter dormant period should take place in a room with a temperature of 12 - 15 ° C. With the onset of summer heat, it is worth increasing the frequency of watering and air humidity.

Lighting

The phlebodium prefers a well-lit place without direct sunlight on the plant. Grows well in partial shade and shade. When the light is too bright, the leaves take on a reddish tint.

Soil for phlebodium

They grow best on stumps, which give an additional decorative effect to this fern, or in a ready-made orchid mixture. They prefer soil with a slightly acidic pH.

Feeding

In spring and summer, feed with liquid fertilizers at half concentration twice a month. Reacts well to organic fertilizers.

Flowering time

Doesn't bloom.

Air humidity

About 75 - 80%. Maintain high humidity by placing the fern container on a tray of damp pebbles or using a room humidifier. In the morning you can spray. 

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist at any time of the year and do not overdry the earthen ball. In autumn and winter, reduce watering, dry the soil a few centimeters before each watering. 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. 

Transfer

The fern is replanted as needed to replace the substrate with fresh soil or when the plant outgrows its pot, in the spring.

Pests and diseases

Among the harmful insects, plants can be visited by scale insects and nematodes.

Purpose

Fern leaves look good in flower arrangements.