What is the difference between Elodea and the Boston fern?

Elodea and the Boston fern are two plants that look fairly similar and are easily confused. Below, we introduce the difference between Elodea and the Boston fern.

1. The difference between Elodea and the Boston fern

Elodea is a plant in the genus Elodea of the family Hypericaceae, a perennial submerged plant; the Boston fern is a terrestrial fern in the genus Pteris, a land plant species. In addition, Elodea plants are thicker and softer; Boston fern plants are narrower and longer, with harder, woodier stems.

2. Cultivation techniques for the Boston fern

1. Rooting culture

Transfer the already sprouted green globules grown on the subculture medium to 1/8MS + 0.2 mg/L NAA medium; after 3 weeks they can basically all take root, so using a low-concentration medium and NAA to induce rooting is feasible.

2. Hardening off and transplanting

Transplanted prothallia can survive on moist peat soil, and the survival rate of transplanted seedlings that have grown roots is about 90%.

3. Natural sowing and propagation

Sown on filter paper: the Boston fern spores inoculated on the filter paper in the petri dish for natural germination began to germinate on day 7, with a germination rate of 95%. When conducting germination rate statistical tests, because the spores germinate relatively quickly, the germination rate statistics can be completed before large numbers of microorganisms grow on the filter paper, so carrying out germination rate testing on filter paper is relatively suitable.

4. Sowing on peat soil

Boston fern spores sown directly into peat soil and kept moist: after about 20 days, prothallia can be seen. Sporophytes formed by natural sowing grow relatively robustly, and after transplanting into flower pots, the survival rate counted after 2 months is 96%.

Elodea is commonly used as an aquarium plant, generally used as a midground or background plant, etc.