| Description: |
Tufted fern with three feet (90cm) tall, feather-like fronds. The end of each division of the leaf usually split into two. New plants form on creeping rhizomes. |
| Environment: |
Suitable for the home or a greenhouse |
| Growing Ease: |
Requires a little extra care |
| 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 humus (leaf mold), 1 part garden soil, 1 part peat and 1 part coarse sand or perlite.
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 weekly with water soluble fertilizer diluted by half. An alternative is a granular slow release fertilizer if applied annually in the early spring. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to whitefly, mealy bugs, aphids and spider mites. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Division, spores
at anytime.
After dividing plant, pot in the plant's regular potting mix. 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 avoid drafts. 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 if the plant is in a pot.
An ideal plant for a hanging basket.
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| Air Purifier: |
A good remover of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene and trichloroethylene from the atmosphere. |