Where is the best place to plant ferns? How to grow a wonderful fern in your own garden? Growing fern seedlings from spores

A plant such as fern is familiar to many people precisely because of the legend according to which it blooms only once a year. We cannot vouch for its magical properties, but it is not short of beauty - garden fern can decorate many landscapes. Planting and care will already fall on the shoulders of the summer resident, and it’s worth talking about all the intricacies of these events in more detail.


Ferns can be classified as the most ancient plants, which are perfectly preserved and, perhaps, still for a long time will make people happy. But no one could observe the flowering during all this time - in any case, no official confirmation was given. This, however, does not prevent it from occupying places in gardens and plots, complementing the landscape and being a beautiful decorative element. But there are more than 10 thousand of them! It is not surprising that every summer resident could choose absolutely any specimen for himself.

Landing

An important aspect that precedes the planting itself is the choice of an appropriate place for the fern. The best will be considered any darkened areas, as well as not too heavy and well-moistened soils. The combination of these two qualities will be simply ideal for excellent growth. But sunny meadows are completely unsuitable for ferns. Planted in such places, they not only do not grow to the stated size for their species, but will also be very weak. Pay due attention to this, since a correctly selected place, planting ferns in the country in accordance with the rules, complemented by proper care, will allow you to grow a large plant.
It will not require a large amount of fertilizer, so if there are areas of land at your dacha in which other flowers do not take root at all, you can safely plant a fern there. There is no optimal landing distance that would be strict. In each case, it is important to be guided only by the size to which it will grow. If it belongs to the giant species, then it is rational to maintain at least 30 cm of distance between each hole intended for planting. If necessary, this figure can be increased or decreased. It is only important that no other plant interferes with its development and growth. For those individuals that have extensive roots, it is better to immediately provide a large enough area so that it does not become a hindrance for other flowers. Or, already at the planting stage, provide artificial limiters for root growth. They can be decorated to look like a regular fence.


Some summer residents, for whom planting a fern in the fall is also not difficult, recommend placing the pot with it in water before immersing the rhizome in the hole. As soon as air bubbles stop rising, you can pull out the roots and start planting. By the way, landing hole You will also need to pre-moisten it.
It is important to always ensure that when planting on the rhizome, there remains a certain amount of soil in which the plant grew before. This could be either potted soil or forest soil if the fern was dug up there. This is necessary so that the plant quickly takes root in a new place and ensures that the petals do not fade.


When immersing the root into a hole, it is better not to touch the fronds (leaves) at all. They are very easy to damage, which can affect the decorativeness of ferns. After the roots are straightened in the hole, you can cover them with soil and water them with settled water.
By the way, if some gardeners were suddenly late with spring planting fern roots, then don’t be upset. Buy potted plants- they can be planted throughout the year.

Reproduction

Many gardeners wonder what is the best way to plant ferns in the country. After all, it reproduces in three main ways:

1. Dividing the bush. The simplest method, compared, for example, with planting spores. It involves simple separation of the bulbs and their subsequent planting along a pre-prepared perimeter. It is best to carry out work on dividing the bush in the spring. After this, you can immediately begin planting. If you store the bush, divided in advance, over the winter, then some specimens will not survive the storage period;
2. Rhizomatous mustache. Not every type of fern can be planted in this way, since not all ferns grow tendrils. For example, in the heart-leaved nephrolepis they look like above-ground shoots spreading along the soil. If you bury them in the ground and carry them out intensively, you can soon get a new plant;
3. Brood buds (spores). This method can be considered perhaps the most labor-intensive and least productive. For planting it will be necessary to separate from upper parts leaves, place on peat soil or on moss and moisturize daily. Immediately after this, it is important to cover each spore with a jar and put it in any warm place. Soon the “babies” will take root and after a month they can be planted as a full-fledged plant.

Growing seedlings

In order to understand how different the methods of cultivation are by dividing or purchasing ready-made rhizomes and germinating spores yourself, you need to consider all aspects of this action.
Those seeds that have been previously grown to a certain size take root best in open ground. Seedlings grow best in a mixture of ordinary soil and peat - from them they take all the necessary substances that are important for primary growth and for the development of a powerful root system. In addition, additional fertilizer can be added to each box intended for a particular variety. For some types of ferns, chalk is suitable, for others - compost, and for others - nitrogen or some other fertilizer. As a rule, each package of a certain variety will contain fertilizers suitable for this purpose. But if the spores were collected independently, then it is better not to add anything at all. It is unknown how the plant will react to this if its species is unknown.


Before sowing the spores in a prepared container with soil, it is best to thoroughly disinfect the latter. You only need to plant in warm soil! To do this, you can place the dishes with it on water bath and warm it up a bit. When planting, it is better not to deepen the seeds, but just sprinkle them a little on top. The entire container must be covered on top with polyethylene material, and then installed on the windowsill. Watering should only be done when the soil begins to dry out, but it is still not worth keeping it excessively wet all the time. After a couple of weeks, a greenish coating can be detected on the ground. There is no need to get rid of it, since this is exactly what sprouted spores look like. The only thing that may be required at this stage is picking. The most optimal distance There will be 1x1 cm between each spore.
After they have germinated and increased by about 6 cm, you can start spraying them using a spray bottle with warm water. This procedure must be repeated weekly. Petals in this case appear on about 10 days. Since they will constantly grow, it will be necessary to carry out picking regularly.


You need to remove the film from the container only after the stems have become stronger and reached about 8 cm in size. But after a few minutes they will need to be covered again. Such ventilation should be regular. At the same time, the spraying procedure increases to 3 per week.
The method of germinating spores is indeed quite long. And when choosing such a method, you may additionally need special knowledge. That is why it is recommended for gardeners, especially beginners, to choose a different method of planting ferns.

Care

garden fern, planting and caring for which is quite easy even for a novice gardener, is one of the most unpretentious plants. Besides abundant watering, the process of caring for it will include, for example, creating mulch. It is especially important to do it in the fall in order to provide good natural protection both from the cold and from various pests. But at the same time, in the spring there is no need to rush to remove last year’s mulch. The leaves used in its creation will become a good fertilizer for ferns. There is no need to worry that young shoots will not be able to break through the cover of them. After all, it has been proven that the weak-looking young stems of this plant easily penetrate even through asphalt.


Ferns, as a rule, do not need pruning even in the autumn and spring periods. Why? Leaves, covering the ground, create additional protection. By spring, they will have completely dried out and will become the same fertilizer as those that were used as mulch. It will be necessary to trim off broken shoots or those that have been affected, for example, by some kind of disease, so that it does not spread further.
Feeding with fertilizers is optional, but it is important in order to provide the plant with the necessary substances and thus promote good growth. It is best to apply various fertilizers in early spring, at a time when shoots are just beginning to emerge. Moreover, they tolerate both inorganic and organic species fertilizers Be sure to keep an eye on how it grows. If signs of wilting, yellowing or drying of the leaves appear, there is no need to rush to immediately replant the plant. Perhaps he just doesn't have enough in his new place nutrients. In this case, purchase any mineral fertilizer (preferably the liquid type) and apply it to the soil when watering.


During dry periods, it is best to increase watering rates. In this way it will be possible to prevent the leaves from wilting. Additionally, loosening can be carried out. This measure is also not considered mandatory. It is better to use for loosening special devices, but still it’s not worth deepening them too much. As mentioned above, ferns have a huge root system, and therefore there is a risk of damaging them.
Only some varieties that are not resistant to frost need to be covered for the winter. For example, these include heat-loving species such as shield grass and holocacrid. This measure may also be required in areas characterized by long harsh winters. Peat and dry leaves are suitable as covering materials. As a rule, this is enough. But if you are very concerned about the safety of a plant that is not frost-resistant, then cover it with additional film on top, cover it again with leaves or put spruce branches.

This plant has been known to mankind for a very long time. Many endow it with mystical and magical properties. However, in fact it is a simple perennial plant with a beautiful appearance. And those who still think that the fern blooms are mistaken. No, no again. This plant never blooms or produces fruit. But even without this, the fern looks gorgeous in any area and in any garden composition.

In this article we will look at the features and description of fern, and note the most popular types of this plant. We will also tell you in more detail about the main and important nuances agricultural cultivation techniques.

Features and description of garden fern

The fern is a perennial herbaceous plant, which belongs to the Osmundov family. There are indoor, forest, Indian, Thai, garden ferns and many others. All these varieties have their own growth characteristics. The homeland of this plant is considered to be the territory of China, Korea, Far East. The fern feels great in the climatic conditions of Russia and other CIS countries.

Fern is the oldest plant on our planet, growing at the same time as fossil dinosaurs. The fern got its name from the similarity of its sheet plates with a wing, because translated from Greek “preton” means “wing.”

Due to the fact that this is a very ancient plant, there have always been many legends and beliefs around the fern. The most important and well-known thing concerns the holiday of Ivan Kupala. It is on this holiday, according to legend, that the fern blooms. The moment the fern blooms, you can see all the hidden treasures. Our ancestors believed in this and many believe now. According to another legend, the goddess Venus dropped her beautiful hair and in the place where it fell, a fern grew with its wonderful leaves. There is another legend. According to her, the fern appeared in the place where it fell beautiful girl. There appeared a clean, beautiful spring with a fern growing near it.

Description of fern:

• The fern plant is a perennial herbaceous bush that is so familiar to our people.
• In appearance, the fern resembles the wings of a large bird.
• This is a herb that varies depending on the specific species. May be dwarf plant, and the size of a large tree.
• The plant consists of an underground part and an above-ground part.
• The underground part of the fern is represented by a medium-sized root.
• The stem of the fern is dense and consists of wire tissue.
• The plant has no leaves. What we used to call fern foliage is a primitive leaf blade. In scientific language they are called fronds, which are formed from buds in the rhizome.
• The leaf plate consists of complex system stems.
• It is on the fronds that spores ripen, which serve the plant for reproduction. Fern seeds are precisely spores.
• The height of the top part of the fern can be different, from 3 cm to dwarf species up to 80-150 cm for tall ones. In nature there are species with even larger sizes.
• The fern has healing properties, and can also be used for food.
• Fern is considered the perfect plant for the shady corners of your site, because it does not require special works in planting and care.

Species diversity of fern in the garden

Today there are more than 200 species of fern, which consist of more than 10,000 varieties. 150 species of this plant come from tropical countries, so they can only be grown at home. The rest feel great in the middle zone temperate climate. Next, we’ll take a closer look at the most common types of ferns that you can grow on your property without any problems.

Maidenhair fern

There are several varieties of this fern.

• Adiantum stop-shaped. The birthplace of this type of fern is the Primorsky Territory. Its leaves form a beautifully shaped bush, which can reach 50-60 cm in height. The leaf blades have an openwork shape of yellow-green color. The fronds of the maidenhair plant form unique tiers, as they are located horizontally. The root system is creeping, but grows rather slowly. This type of fern tolerates strong winter frosts. Propagated by dividing the bush.
• Maidenhair maidenhair. This species has poor winter hardiness, so it can only be grown in warm areas. The leaves of the maidenhair maidenhair form spores on the lower part, which serve for the reproduction of the species.

Leaf fern

There are several subspecies of this fern.

• Japanese leaflet. In appearance it differs significantly from ordinary ferns. All its leaf plates - fronds - grow in different directions, creating an unusual shape of the plant. The fronds are dark green in color. This species is short-growing, reaching only 40 cm in height. Japanese leaflet is excellent for decorating various rockeries, alpine slides, reservoirs and ponds.
• Scolopendra leaflet. The homeland of this type of fern is considered to be the territory Western Europe, namely mountain forests. It is distinguished by leaf plates without dissection. The fronds are long and dark green. However, this species has varieties with openwork leaves.

Multirow fern

• It has a horizontal, superficial rhizome that forms only one growing point.
• The rhizome is characterized by poor branching, so the distribution of this fern is not as wide as other species.
• The homeland of this species is considered to be Holland, from where seedlings of this plant are brought.
• Another feature of the multi-row fern is its green foliage even in winter.
• The fronds are very delicate and feathery. In early spring they are curled up like snails, which creates a very beautiful picture.
• There are several varieties of this fern: multirow Brown fern, multirow bristle fern.

Nomadic fern

It is also represented by a large number of varieties with different foliage colors, which can vary from green to brown and reddish.

• Female Kochedyzhnik. This variety of nomadic plant is distinguished by the average size of the plant. It can grow up to 30-70 cm depending on the specific variety. The fronds are heavily combed and collected into separate bunches, which creates a very impressive appearance for the fern. The root system is quite short. The tubercles with spores are covered with a kind of velvet coating. He is a long-liver.
• Kochedyzhnik “Burgundy Lace”. From the name it becomes clear that the color of the fronds of this plant resembles Burgundy wine. This plant will look spectacular in any landscape design.
• Nippon Kochedyzhnik. It also has a rather unusual foliage shade. This plant is silvery with red veins. This type of fern prefers to grow in the shade. Propagated by root suckers.

Male shield fern

• A fairly common type of fern that can be found in our forests.
• Its height can range from 30 cm to 150 cm, depending on the specific variety.
• The root system of this species is quite powerful and strong.
• From the growing points in the roots, feathery leaf plates are formed, which form a funnel-shaped rosette.
• The leaves or fronds of the male shield grow very slowly. They reach their full development only in the third year.
• On the fronds, in their lower part, tubercles with spores form, which, like a shield, are covered with a kind of blanket.

Common ostrich fern

• A fairly common type of fern that can be found on river banks and in shady forests on almost all continents.
• This perennial plant is very popular among landscape designers and serves wonderful decoration for any area.
• The rhizome of the common ostrich is thick and powerful. Underground shoots extend from it, from which young ferns grow. This is how it reproduces, by root suckers. this type fern.
• A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of two varieties of leaves. Some are called sterile. With their help, a beautiful rosette up to 150 cm in height is formed. The second ones are spore-bearing. There can be only a few of them on one plant. They differ in appearance and are very similar to an ostrich feather.
• This plant very unpretentious and grows quickly, which requires constant thinning.

Common bracken fern

• This type of fern is edible.
• The distribution of this species is quite wide; it is absent only in very dry areas.
• The leaves resemble the wings of a large bird in their appearance.
• Fern fronds have a specific tannic odor. They are also poisonous to pets.
• The plant can reach 30-70 cm in height.
• The root system of the plant is long and superficial.
• At the bottom of the plant's fronds there are tubercles with spores.
• The stems and roots of this fern are used in folk medicine.

Reproduction of garden fern: common methods

Fern propagation is different from the propagation of many others. garden plants. It does not bloom or produce seeds. It is characterized by reproduction by spores, as well as vegetatively. Vegetative propagation of fern includes division of the bush, rhizomatous shoots and brood buds. Let's take a closer look at all these methods and their features.

Fern reproduction by spores

• This method is the most common, but not the simplest.
• It is through spores that ferns reproduce in nature, forming large thickets in a short time.
• Spores can be collected from an adult plant, or can be purchased at a specialty store.
• Spores form on the back of fern leaf blades, where they are contained in small dark-colored tubercles. However, not all leaves have sporangia on their surface.
• To extract spores, it is necessary to cut off part of the leaf with such tubercles and place it in a paper bag.
• The sheet should remain in this bag until it dries.
• Spores need to be collected in the spring.
• Around January, after drying, small brown specks of spores should be collected from the bag.
• Prepare containers for sowing into which you need to fill a suitable soil substrate consisting of peat, leaf soil and sand.
• Next, you need to carefully scatter the spores over the surface. There is no need to cover them with soil.
• Lightly moisten the surface with a spray bottle and cover the containers with glass or film.
• Spores begin to germinate a month after planting. The glass will need to be removed and the seedlings allowed to breathe air. On at this stage they resemble moss.
• Caring for sprouts involves daily spraying.
• After some time, the male and female sprouts unite and then a full-fledged fern seedling begins to form, which can already be transplanted into separate pots.
• In spring you can plant seedlings in open ground.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

• This method is the simplest and fastest.
• It is best suited for popular fern species such as common ostrich and common bracken.
• It is best to divide the fern bush in early spring, after the last frost has gone.
• It is necessary to select fern bushes with a large number of rosettes. You can even find such a plant in the forest.
• Next, carefully dig out and divide into parts.
• Plant on permanent place young plants are needed immediately, because long-term storage most seedlings will not survive.

Fern propagation by rhizomatous shoots or tendrils

• This propagation method is suitable for ferns that have ground antennae.
• For example, the fern Nephrolepis sublime.
• In the spring, these plants produce rhizomatous tendrils, from which young plants may emerge in the future.
• Several antennae need to be buried in soil and watered. After some time, young fern shoots will appear.

Reproduction by budding

• This method is the most labor-intensive and is suitable only for some types of fern, for example, multirow fern.
• Buds form on the leaves of this species, from which young plants subsequently emerge.
• These buds need to be disconnected and planted in wet moss, while covering them with jars.
• After some time, the buds will sprout and become small sprouts.
• The babies need to be watered at all times.
• A month after rooting, the plants can be planted in a permanent place.

Stages of preparation before planting fern

Although a fern is considered unpretentious plant, however, to obtain a beautiful and decorative decoration The garden must be carefully prepared before planting. It is important to purchase high-quality and healthy fern seedlings, and also to choose a suitable place on your site for the growth of this plant.

Stage 1. Selection of planting material

• First you need to determine what type and variety of fern you want to purchase. Lower varieties of this plant are ideal for decorating rockeries, mixborders, and alpine slides. Tall ferns look great as solitaires and centerpieces in garden arrangements.
• The next step is to determine how to obtain fern seedlings. You can grow seedlings yourself from spores or by dividing a bush if you already have this plant on your site.
• If you don’t have this opportunity, you can buy fern seedlings without any problems.
• Buy now planting material only in specialized stores or agricultural firms that professionally breed plants.
• Seedlings with foliage are usually available for sale. Therefore, when purchasing, pay attention to the condition of the foliage and its color. There should be no stains or visible damage. The leaves should be approximately the same length. There should also be no dry parts.

Stage 2. Selecting a landing site

The right place for planting garden fern is the key to the successful growth of this ornamental plant.

• First of all, for this plant you need to select shady place, however, if possible, it would be better to have shade with small glimpses of the sun. For example, a fern can be planted near a large garden tree.
• Remember that ferns do not like strong winds and drafts.
• Alternatively, the fern can be planted along north side houses or other buildings.
• An excellent place for planting ferns is along water bodies or ponds that are in the shade.
• For these plants, the presence of fallen trees or stones on the site is ideal. This way you can create a unique composition.

Stage 3. Selection and preparation of soil

Fern is considered a soil-unpretentious plant, but for full growth it is still necessary to provide optimal composition. It is best to plant ferns on loose and light soils. Remember that the soil should be well moistened, but the water should not stagnate. This can cause the fern roots to begin to rot. Therefore, to drain the soil you need to use clean river sand.

Ferns grow very quickly and strongly, so you can bury about 20 cm of slate around the perimeter of the selected area in advance.

Technology for planting garden ferns in open ground

• Ferns are planted in the garden in the spring, when the last frosts have gone and the earth has warmed up well.
• In the selected area it is necessary to prepare planting holes. Their size should be at least twice the size of the root system of your seedling.
• Consider the distance between the holes. If you have chosen tall varieties of fern, then the distance should be at least 30 cm.
• Next, prepare soil mixture, which should consist of peat, deciduous soil and sand.
• You can add a little compost to the prepared hole.
• Pots with seedlings need to be filled with water, then carefully remove the young fern. Try not to touch the fronds or shake off all the soil from the roots.
• Next, all the seedlings need to be placed in the holes, carefully straightening the roots. In this case, soil with previous place growth.
• Gently cover the plants with soil.
• The fern should be positioned evenly and steadily.
• The soil around the fern needs to be mulched with peat.

Agricultural technology for growing ferns: secrets and nuances of care

No special care is needed for ferns, but it is still worth paying attention to it occasionally. Moist soil, a shady area and fertilizing will help you grow beautiful fern in the garden.

Watering the fern

Moist soil is perhaps the main condition for normal fern growth. In the first months after planting, water young plant need regularly and abundantly. The plant also needs a large amount of water in particularly dry summers. During watering, you can sprinkle the fronds of the fern.

Loosening and mulching

After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil around the plant. This will make it looser and lighter. At the same time, you can remove weeds that interfere with the full growth of the fern. After loosening and watering, the soil around the plant must be mulched. This will prevent excessive evaporation of moisture and will also reduce the number of weeds. You can use spruce needles or paws as mulch, which are also useful for the root system of the fern.

Fern feeding

There is no special need for fertilizers when growing various types of ferns, but not a large number of it won't hurt them. Best used liquid fertilizers and solutions during the period of active vegetation and growth of fronds, as well as during the formation of offspring. Complex mineral fertilizers and a solution of organic fertilizers can be used as fertilizers.

Fern update

Once every 1-2 years, ferns need to be thinned out, as they grow and expand very quickly. Old and damaged sockets are usually removed. This should be done in the spring and very carefully. In this way, you can simultaneously multiply this plant.

Preparing for winter

Many types of ferns thrive in our winter conditions, but there are ferns that must be covered with the onset of frost. First of all, the soil around the plant needs to be mulched with straw or fallen leaves. Next, carefully cover the entire bush with a layer of straw, over which you need to stretch the covering material.

Using ferns in landscape design

All types of ferns are widely used in decorating and landscaping areas. This plant can give the garden an atmosphere of forest and natural nature.

• The fern looks great next to artificial ponds and reservoirs. On the banks you can create interesting compositions with fern. It's good if it grows nearby garden tree, so the fern will get shade.
• Ferns are great for creating rockeries and rutarii. IN Lately it’s fashionable to create on the site natural environment. Therefore, you can place a fallen tree, a stump, a couple of stones on the site and plant a fern.
• Along the northern walls of the house or outbuildings the fern will feel especially good, while creating incredible beauty.

Photo of fern in landscape design

You can more clearly see all the beauty and ways to use fern in decorating a site in the photos below.

Ferns along the paths

Fern on the shore of a pond

Garden composition with fern

Fern combined with trees

Such a familiar fern is simply irreplaceable plant to create interesting and unusual compositions on your site. With a little effort, you can grow this without any problems. ancient plant in your garden.

One of the most mysterious plants on Earth it is a fern. This species has existed for millions of years. On the night of Ivan Kupala, many who want to find a flower of this plant go into the forest, but no one has found it yet. Everyone knows the fern, some know it only as a forest dweller, and for some this green beauty feels quite comfortable in their room.

If you want to plant a fern behind it, it’s not at all difficult. You just need to familiarize yourself with some rules so as not to bring your green pet to death. nephrolepis is most often found among flower lovers. The richness of its leaves makes the room feel cozy.

Indoor fern: care at home

Among all ferns, Nephrolepis is the best option for growing indoors, as it is the hardiest representative of this species. Nephrolepis - very beautiful ornamental plant with leaves of rich green color, dark and light shades. The color of the leaves depends entirely on the lighting and the soil in the flowerpot.

How to care for indoor fern? The main thing is not to overwater or overfeed the plant. Besides this, there are some other features: you need to know what the fern likes, and what makes it start to hurt and dry out. Basically there are no difficulties, you just need to follow the rules outlined in this article. As a result, you will get a beautiful plant with luxurious green leaves.

Indoor flowers. and air atmosphere

Ferns are considered unpretentious plants, but there are still some conditions without which they will not please the eyes with their green beauty. Let's take, for example, their forest brothers: in natural conditions Ferns feel great without regular watering, without spraying and without fertilizers applied according to the norms and at the right time. At the same time, their indoor relatives, even if all the rules are followed, with timely replanting and circumcision, can wither away right before our eyes. What is the reason for the death of the plant?

To prevent the fern from drying out, it must comply with all the rules. In addition, the gardener must take into account the fact that the fern is an accurate indicator of the atmosphere in a house or apartment. If the air in the room is too dry, polluted or smoky, the green beauty will begin to get sick. Thus, you will have an excellent advisor in the form of a fern: by its appearance you will be able to determine that the atmosphere in the house does not meet the standards and you need to look for the reason for this. There may be a gas leak - call the gas specialists and make sure everything is in order. There may be a shortage in the kitchen fresh air- install the hood. Maybe the air is too dry, very low humidity- buy a humidifier. As a result, you will ensure a normal existence for both yourself and the plants.

Where should I put it?

In order for indoor fern to grow and develop normally, care at home must be correct. Think carefully about where to place the plant. Nephrolepis can tolerate shadow, but it also needs light, although not direct, but slightly diffused and not in large quantities. Therefore, it is better to place it in a corner opposite the window. At the same time, he needs to provide access to fresh air.

One more feature of plant growth needs to be taken into account. Nephrolepis grows quite large, its beautiful leaves grow both to the sides and upwards. Based on this, he definitely won’t have enough space on the windowsill. The leaves will rest against the glass of the window and become deformed, the shape of the plant will be ugly.

Soil for ferns

To find out what kind of soil is needed for an indoor fern, just remember what kind of soil is in the forest. The soil there is very loose, with rotted leaves or pine needles, with peat residues. This is the kind of foundation that nephrolepis needs, then he will feel comfortable, like at home.

When filling a flower pot, remember that the soil mixture for the fern should contain the addition of forest leaf soil. Also add sand and humus, make sure that the soil allows water to pass through freely and is loose. If water stagnates in the flowerpot, the roots of the fern will immediately begin to rot and the plant will become sick. Signs of this are brownish spots on the leaves. Sometimes it can be very difficult to understand the reason why an indoor fern is withering. The leaves dry and become covered brown spots and when the soil dries out. You just need to do everything according to the rules, water the plant on time, but not overdo it.

How to replant?

Indoor ferns should be replanted every year. As mentioned earlier, nephrolepis is a large plant, so after a year it becomes cramped in its pot.

How to replant an indoor fern without damaging the roots? The answer is simple: transfer it to a new flowerpot, this way the roots will not be damaged. It is recommended to replant in early spring, when the growing season is just beginning. If you do not heed this advice and replant the plant in the fall, it will take a long time to take root poorly, and may even die.

The new flowerpot should be three centimeters larger in diameter than the one that was used previously. Do not forget that the plant is growing in size and needs a larger home. Then, very carefully, so as not to shake off the soil from the roots, transfer the plant into the prepared pot, after which you can add the earth mixture prepared in advance according to all the rules. As you can see, there are no difficulties in this matter, you just need to do everything carefully and not rush.

Reproduction

Ferns reproduce by dividing the bush. You can, of course, try to grow nephrolepis from seeds (spores), but this is practically impossible. It is much easier and more effective to divide the bush; it is recommended to do this during spring transplant so as not to disturb the plant again.

The division process itself is quite simple. After pulling the bush out of the flower pot, examine the base. You will see small basal rosettes there. So they need to be carefully separated from the parent bush along with part of the rhizome. After separation from the bush, the small “babies” of the fern need to create greenhouse conditions so that they can withstand the break.

Proper watering

Once again, I would like to remind you what you can expect if you water your indoor fern incorrectly: the leaves dry out, the plant becomes covered with brown spots and eventually dies.

The main principle of watering ferns is moderation! Soil in flower pot should not dry out, make sure that it is always slightly damp, and do not allow it to become waterlogged. It is recommended to water the plant 3 times a week, but this is not a criterion at all; the timing of watering depends on the air temperature and the place in which the flower stands. Water Nephrolepis only with settled, preferably rainwater, it should be soft.

Mandatory spraying

Having found out that the fern can die without fresh air, you need to take measures to prevent such a sad ending. To do this, you need to regularly spray the bushes indoor ferns. This procedure should be carried out frequently, with an eye to the atmosphere in the room. If the air is too dry, then it is necessary to spray nephrolepis every day, but if the atmosphere is normal, then it is recommended to do this two or three times within seven days.

Fertilizers for the green beauty

If, when planting a fern, the soil was prepared according to all the rules with all the necessary additives, then you do not need to feed the plant often. It will be enough to fertilize it twice a month so that it continues to please you with rich and bright green their leaves.

For these purposes, use a solution mineral fertilizers weak consistency. In addition, suitable organic fertilizers, for example, mullein infusion. Only, using organic matter, you can overdo it and overfeed the fern; this should not be allowed. The easiest way is to purchase ready-made minerals, which are sold in every flower shop. There are instructions on the package. In accordance with it, fertilize the fern in spring and summer. As a result, thanks to the efforts of a caring gardener, Nephrolepis will delight you with the beauty of its green, spreading leaves!

Fern is one of the most beautiful garden plants. Planting and caring for ferns in the garden are concerns that fall on the shoulders of the gardener. First you need to figure out what conditions are necessary for the normal growth and development of a plant, how it can be grown, and what care involves. Taking into account all the subtleties and features, with the help of garden plantings you can significantly transform the landscape of your site.

Let's consider the types of plants that can be recommended for growing in the country or in the garden. For home use decorative ferns, but for the garden it is worth choosing those species that are adapted to climatic conditions(frost, rainy weather, hot summer). At the same time, the choice of plants is quite large.

The most common types include asplenium. Most ferns are heat-loving. However, there are varieties that can tolerate climatic features winters in the middle zone. To form rosettes of leaves, plants are planted in partial shade, which will ensure that they remain decorative from the beginning of spring until the first snow.

It is also worth considering the low-growing woodsia, which belongs to medium-sized garden ferns. This plant grows naturally on rock ledges. Its crown can reach a height of 20 cm depending on the species. It can grow in one place for about 30 years.

A fern such as kochedednik forms a dense bush, reaching a height of 1 m. The plant has one feature - it constantly forms new foliage.

One of the most common plants of this type is bracken. It can be grown in the middle zone for decoration garden plot. After planting, the plant grows quite quickly. To prevent the crop from growing beyond the boundaries of the area where it was planted, it is necessary to take appropriate fencing measures.

Planting and growing spores

There are several ways to plant ferns in your area:

• purchase seedlings in a specialized store;
• grow it yourself from spores;
• bring bushes from the forest.

You can also purchase spores in a store or collect them yourself, especially since there is nothing complicated about it. Most varieties are characterized by the formation of spores on back side leaves. In order to collect spores, place a piece of cloth or plastic bag, after which the sheet must be carefully scraped using a knife. The resulting mass is dried for a week. Next, yellow particles are separated from debris and large particles. They are the spores of the fern.

The best time for planting is considered to be the beginning of spring. But you can sow at any other time of the year. To grow seedlings, prepare a soil mixture of peat and soil. Depending on the fern variety, you can add additional components, for example, chalk. Before sowing spores, the soil is disinfected and warmed. Suitable flat containers are filled with soil and spores are poured on top. To create optimal conditions, the container is covered with a transparent film and placed where the temperature will be maintained at +23-25˚C. During this period, there is no need to moisten the soil.

After 2 weeks, a greenish coating will appear, which will indicate spore germination. If the coating is too thick, a pick is made. Optimal sizes spores are considered 1*1 cm. When the spore diameter reaches 5-6 cm, spray with warm water. Further moisturizing is carried out once a week. After 7-10 days, young fern leaves should appear. At first they do not look much like fronds (fern shoots), but gradually the shoots will grow. In the future, you will need to perform another diving procedure.

When the leaves reach a height of 8 cm, you will need to remove the film from the container for 3-5 minutes a day. Gradually the time interval needs to be increased. Spraying is also done more often, up to 3 times a week. As one might understand, planting ferns with spores is a fairly lengthy process and requires some attention. It is worth knowing about these nuances in advance. Plants can be planted in open ground in May.

Root separation and budding

Above we looked at how to plant ferns from spores. If this method seems labor-intensive, you can grow plants by separating the roots and budding. Let's consider these methods in more detail. To separate the roots of a fern, it is necessary to find a healthy and mature plant. There should be no damaged or dry leaves on it. Rosettes are separated near the root, and the separated part is planted in a prepared place in your garden within 24 hours. When removing a plant from the ground, you do not need to shake off the soil. For better survival, keep as large a lump of earth as possible. To avoid moisture evaporation during transportation, it is necessary to cover root system moss

As for budding, it is carried out at the end summer period or in the fall. For the procedure, you need to find a bush at the end of August, bend the developed leaves to the ground and sprinkle them with a 1-1.5 cm layer of soil. In this case, you need to be careful not to cover the main vein. On next year In the spring, several young shoots will grow in this place. They are separated from the branch and transplanted to a permanent place on the site.

Disembarkation and care

In order for a culture to feel as comfortable as possible, it is necessary to create optimal conditions for it. Where do ferns grow? Optimal place are shaded areas in the garden, under trees, near ponds. Depending on the group of plants, planting in sunny areas is possible, but at the same time they are provided with timely watering to create comfortable conditions. These ferns include the Male Shield Fern and the Female Kochedyk Fern. As a rule, planting is done in the spring. The soil should be loose and moisture-permeable. The planting depth should be no less than the lump of earth with which the ferns are planted on the site. Be sure to add a layer of drainage, which can be used as river sand. It will prevent stagnation of water and rotting of roots. The root system must be straightened and covered with soil. After which the soil is carefully compacted.

When planting, it is recommended to apply some fertilizer. To do this, you can use sand, compost, peat or humus in equal proportions. How to care for shrubs? In the future, they resort to fertilizing with universal fertilizers for garden plants. The planted fern is fed once a month from May to June. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer more often than once every 3 weeks. It is necessary to monitor soil moisture. It is especially worth paying attention to humidity in the first week after planting plants from the forest. Both excessive waterlogging and drying out of the soil should be avoided. Excess moisture It will simply destroy the root system. Depending on what types of ferns are grown on the site, they may need to be covered for the winter (peat, fir branches, fallen leaves) or additional care.

There are no strict distances when planting plants. The main thing is to consider what size they will be when they grow up. If you plan to plant ferns belonging to giant species, then the distance between the holes should be at least 30-60 cm. The main goal is to ensure that the plants do not interfere with each other during the development process. For ferns with an extensive root system, provide large plots so as not to interfere with other plants. It is recommended to thin out the bushes every few years. If you follow these simple tips for planting, growing and caring for crops, garden ferns will delight you with their beauty for decades.

When beautiful flowering plants the gardener gets bored, he strives to diversify landscape design your site with something more exotic. Forest fern will help add mystery to the garden. There are many varieties of this amazing plant, but they all require similar conditions: a damp and shaded place, space. Garden fern - cultivation does not require special knowledge, in addition, when favorable conditions it will go wild and grow beautifully without human intervention.

Choosing a site for growing ferns

To begin with, the gardener should decide on the type of plant. The following species grow well in the central and northern parts of the country:

• Adiantum stop-shaped,
• Polygonal bristlecone,
• Common centipede,
• Japanese larch,
• Metallicum.

A fern can transform the landscape of a garden plot beyond recognition. It can be planted near a pond, in rock gardens or in the backyard among stones and tall trees. The main requirement is partial shade and moist soil. It is not at all necessary to add a large amount of organic matter or minerals to the soil before planting a fern and when caring for it in the future. The plant will thrive in depleted soil.

Growing fern from spores

If there is already a fern on the site, then it can be easily propagated by collecting spores from an adult bush. Otherwise, you can ask your friends, collect them yourself in the forest and purchase them in a specialized store. Collecting seed material is easier than it seems. On inner surface The leaf contains small tubercles, in which the treasured spores are located. A piece of white cloth or a sheet of paper is laid under the bush, onto which the seed material is carefully shaken. Next, they are dried on newspaper in a dry and warm room for a week. After this, the spores are ready for sowing.

Growing ferns from spores is a fascinating process; you can assign it to your child as a practical task in natural history. Sowing is best done in mid-January. To do this, take a box and fill it with substrate. It is recommended to use the following mixture:

• fibrous peat substrate - 2 parts,
• leaf soil (preferably forest litter) – 1 part,
• calcined river sand – 1 part.

The controversy is very fine particles, therefore it is more convenient to carry out sowing from a syringe (without a needle). The material is carefully scattered over the surface of the substrate, forming a continuous carpet, after which it is not sprinkled with earth, but only sprayed with a spray bottle. Next, the box is covered with transparent glass or a piece of polyethylene to create greenhouse conditions. The fern will germinate for a long time, at least 2 months. All this time it will need to be monitored and the soil moistened in a timely manner, preventing it from drying out.

Planting and caring for ferns is somewhat different from growing other plants. Young sprouts will look like a continuous carpet of moss, and only after a while it will be possible to notice that individual rosettes with small leaves are appearing. They are taught to grow without film gradually, opening the “greenhouse” slightly for several hours every day. Once they have grown to 7 cm, the plants can be planted in individual pots with a diameter of about 12.5 cm.

Planting ferns in open ground

Grown plants should be planted in open ground no earlier than May 15th, in the northern regions 10–14 days later. It is important that the soil has time to warm up well, and there is no longer a threat of frost. To plant a fern, dig up an area measuring 60x60 cm, adding garden soil peat and coarse river sand. In the flowerbed, make a hole one and a half times larger than a lump of earth from a pot, carefully place the plant, sprinkle it with soil and compact it. At the end of the work, the fern should be watered.

When growing ferns, you need to take into account that the leaves (fronds) can be quite wide, so depending on the variety, leave free space from 40 to 60 cm.

Features of fern care

The main feature of fern is that it practically does not get sick. For good growth and development, it will occasionally require additional nutrition, and when grown in regions with a harsh climate, winter shelter.

Watering, loosening the soil, fertilizing

To avoid rapid evaporation of moisture, it is recommended to mulch the soil. You can use grass clippings, wood chips, crushed tree bark or shavings. The fern is watered only as needed; if the summer is rainy, then it does not need additional moisture. “Forest Guest” loves coolness and humidity, so in the summer, even if the weather is moderately warm, it is recommended to spray it with a garden sprayer.

After planting the fern, care does not include the application of fertilizers. Fertilizing can be carried out in the second year in the spring, using any complex mineral compounds or organic.

Preparing ferns for winter

Species such as bracken and ostrich are quite frost-resistant and do not need additional shelter. Heat-loving varieties are hilled up in the fall and sprinkled with a layer of mulch. You can use straw, wood chips or wood shavings. At the end of the season, the leaves (fronds) die off and take on a not very attractive appearance. There is no need to remove them at all, in the spring fresh herbs will kill the withered parts of the fern, and it will regain its decorative beauty.

Every 3 years, when there are significantly more dead parts, the plant is replanted. Having dug up the bush, the old leaves are removed, and the root system is carefully divided into parts. The procedure is carried out in early spring, before the fern has time to start growing. With this method of propagation, planting and caring for ferns is carried out in exactly the same way as when growing young seedlings.

Diseases and pests

Although forest plant It is quite resistant to diseases and has good immunity; sometimes trouble awaits the gardener. The most common problem is slugs and snails. They will not be able to destroy the plant, they will only reduce its visual attractiveness. Pests can be collected by hand, using special traps that are sold in the gardening department, or using chemicals. The best known is Metaldehyde - it is used to treat plantations with fruits and berries, vegetable crops, as well as in decorative floriculture.

Also, when growing ferns, a gardener may encounter brown spots on the fronds, which often deform the leaves as they grow. These symptoms are a sign of a bacterial or fungal infection. It can be quite difficult for an amateur gardener to diagnose a disease, so it is better to use fungicides wide range actions. Affected leaves must be cut off and burned, only after this a course of spraying with chemicals should be carried out. Do not forget that any drug is a poison, both for pests and for humans, so when processing plants you must wear gloves and a respiratory mask.

Video on how to grow garden fern