| Description: |
Trunk of densely interwoven roots densely covered with yellow-brown hairs, may eventually reach fifteen feet (5m) in height. The crown of large, finely divided leaves is blue-green on the underside, dark green above. |
| Environment: |
Suitable only for a greenhouse |
| Lighting Needs: |
Does best in bright indirect sunlight coming from the South/East/West |
| Soil Type: |
Use a GOOD rich potting soil (a soil that retains water yet drains well), such as an African violet mix. If you want to mix your own take:
2 parts garden soil, 2 parts humus (leaf mold), 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part rinsed aquarium charcoal chips and a little fine grade fir bark.
Always use a pot with a hole.
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| Watering: |
Keep the soil barely moist and if you use rainwater, be careful as it could be acidic. Use warm water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed every six months with a water soluble fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to scale, mealy bugs and aphids. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Spores
in the spring.
Take spores from ripe spore cases on the undersides of the fronds. Put the spores in an envelope and allow to dry. Place a brick in a plastic box or pan and put 2 inches (5cm) of distilled water in it and cover the brick with a quarter inch of moist peat. Sprinkle spores on the peat and cover the container with a piece of glass or plastic. Be sure to maintain the water level. Place in low light, after a few months a green moss like growth should cover the peat. Eventually leaves will appear, divide and transplant after they are 2 inches (5cm) tall.
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| Gardening Tips & Care: |
Mist frequently with warm water (lime free to avoid leaf staining) and pinch back occasionally. Place pebbles or gravel in the drainage dish to hold water and increase the humidity, make sure the pot is sitting on the gravel and not in the water. Repotting is recommended in the early spring.
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| Air Purifier: |
A good remover of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene from the atmosphere. |