Ferns
Except for the ferns, which are common in wet parts of our forests, there are many species in warmer climates, some of which, due to their beautiful foliage, can be grown as ornamental plants in greenhouses or apartments.
The most common are two species: adiantum klinowate (Adiantum cuneatum) and high nephrolepis (Nephrolepis exaltata). Adiantum is characterized by a loose structure, feathery leaves with fan-triangular sections, shiny brown petioles. The sporangia gathered in heaps are located on the edges on the lower side of the leaf sections.
Nephrolepis has single or double pinnate leaves, about sections almost touching each other, on very short petioles and forming a plume. At the bottom of the episodes, sporangia gathered in heaps are arranged parallel to the shore, on both sides of it. Long stolons grow from between the leaves, on which new plants develop when they come into contact with the ground. Adiantum is a delicate plant, requires a temperature of 18-20 ° and very humid air. For this reason, it does not hold up well in an apartment and is mainly grown for cut greenery, as a garnish for bunches and baskets, and less often sold in pots. On the other hand, nephrolepis as a houseplant is suitable for decorating rooms that are not too much sun, especially about the North and Northeast exhibition.
Propagation by seeding spores. These varieties of ferns, that produce spores can be propagated by sowing them. When the sporangia are mature and browned, Cut the leaves and wrap them in paper. After a few days, spores fall out of the ruptured sporangia, which we gently clean from dried parts of the leaves.
The most appropriate time to sow the spores is February and the beginning of March. We sow into clay bowls, filled with moderately moist peat, which previously should have been boiled by 20 min., and then, after drying, melting. Spread the spores evenly over the peat surface, tapping lightly, we water with a sprayer, we cover with glass and shade with a sheet of paper. In order to ensure a constant and even moisture of the spores, it is recommended to put the bowls with seeds in a vessel with water, which will steeply soak. The water level should be up to 1/3 the height of the bowl: it should be replenished as it decreases. The temperature in the greenhouse should be 20-24 °.
In general, the spores germinate after 3-6 weeks and develop flat precursors. After fertilization, young plants will emerge from the precursors, which we quilt several times, first at a distance of 3X4 cm, then 5X7cm, usually to heather ground with little (1/5) addition of sand. When the plants have 3 or 4 leaves already formed, characteristic of a given species, we plant them into pots with a diameter of 7-8 cm or directly on the window sills covered with earth.
Propagation by division or runners. Many varieties of ferns do not develop spores and we reproduce these by dividing older plants or subtracting them, leafy runners with 2-3 leaves.
A suitable time to divide the adiantum is early spring - February, March; nephrolepis, on the other hand, can be reproduced from March to mid-September. The separated plants are planted in a greenhouse on tables with a 15-20 cm layer of light humus soil.. For adiantum, a mixture consisting of 3 parts of the leaf ground, 1 parts of peat and 1 parts of sand. For nephrolepis, a mixture richer in nutrients can be recommended, consisting of 1 parts of the frame land, 2 the leaf part, 2 parts of peat and 1 parts of sand. We plant the plants shallow, slightly tightening the spacing 30 X 30 cm; for early March or April nephrolepsy planting, the larger spacing is used 40 X 40 cm. We no longer plant the suckers removed in September on the tables, but for pots with a diameter 7 cm, where they stay through the winter.
On smaller farms, which do not have separate greenhouses for growing ferns, The plants separated from the mother plants are planted in pots with a diameter 8 cm, and then every 4-6 weeks transplant into pots with a diameter of 10-11 cm and 12-14 cm. This is a more troublesome way, especially, that the plants need to be set to 10 cm layer of peat and spaced apart as they begin to touch the leaves. Initially, we set it to 1 running meters of the table 64 plants, then successively 49, 25, 16 and finally 12 or 9 plants.
Nursing. Ferns require moist soil and high air humidity. To create the right conditions, we not only water the ground, but we spray sidewalks and walls and plants, but only when it is nephrolepis; we do not spray adiantum, for the water does not stick to its leaves. Every 10-14 days we clean the ground of weeds, and plants from dead leaves, then nephrolepis fed with slurry diluted in the ratio 1 :30 or a solution 1 g saletry na 1 liter of water. We rarely fertilize Adiantum, 1-2 times a season at most, so that the leaves do not get too dark in color.
In the fall of October, In November, the adiantum is dormant - so we reduce watering a bit, and the temperature is lowered by 15-12 °. After 6-8 weeks, we increase it to 18-20 ° t Nephrolepis in winter tolerates the temperature 10-12 ° quite well, but from the end of January and during February it should be raised to 18-20 °, for plants to grow quickly.
Ferns planted early in spring in September are already commercial material. From adiantum, you can start cutting well-formed leaves, which we sort on 3 elections:
And with tails longer than 25 cm,
II with petioles 20-25 cm long,
lit with petioles shorter than 20 cm,
and then we tie them in bunches after 20 pcs.
Nephrolepsy should be planted in pots with a diameter of 12-14 cm or more. We join the weaker copies 2-3 together. After two weeks of keeping the nephrolepes in the greenhouse, they will be ready for sale.