How to grow maidenhair fern? Cultivation methods and precautions

Maidenhair fern is a fairly common plant. Its leaves are relatively small and, seen from a distance, look somewhat like cilantro leaves. Growing maidenhair fern at home helps purify the air, so many people like to buy a pot to grow. However, when growing it, there are many techniques.

How to grow maidenhair fern

1. Potting soil selection: First of all, choose the potting soil well. The first choice is mountain forest soil mixed with half garden soil.

2. Watering and fertilizing: During the growing season, watering should be sufficient to promote lush growth. In winter, reduce watering and keep the potting soil slightly moist; low temperature and high humidity can very easily cause root rot.

3. Fertilizing tips: In winter, because the temperature is on the low side and overall physiological activity is not vigorous, it is best to fertilize less or simply stop fertilizing in winter, so that the plant can safely overwinter.

4. Placement: After winter begins, move it indoors and place it in a spot with diffused light. Be careful not to let direct sunlight hit it. To help it overwinter safely, keeping the room temperature at around 10°C is enough. In winter, place it in a sunny spot indoors. It is not cold-tolerant; when the overwintering temperature is not lower than 5°C, the leaves will show symptoms of cold damage.

Maidenhair fern cultivation methods

1. Soil: Maidenhair fern prefers loose, well-drained, fertile calcareous sandy loam. For potting, the growing medium can be made by mixing equal parts loam, leaf mold and river sand.

2. Temperature: Maidenhair fern prefers warmth, and the suitable growing temperature is 13-22°C. Planting it in spring in the south is excellent, and it can also be done in the north, but because maidenhair fern is not tolerant of high temperatures, the care methods are also different.

3. Light: Maidenhair fern prefers a semi-shaded environment. Never let direct sunlight hit maidenhair fern; it is suitable for growing in semi-shade.

4. Watering: Maidenhair fern prefers moisture and needs more watering during the growing period. In hot weather, spray or splash water on the leaf surface to maintain relatively high air humidity and keep the leaf pattern clear and the leaf color emerald green.

5. Fertilizing: Apply dilute liquid fertilizer 2-3 times per month. When fertilizing, do not stain the leaf surface, so as to avoid causing leaf rot. Because maidenhair fern likes calcium, it is advisable to add an appropriate amount of lime and crushed eggshells to the potting soil; frequently applying calcium fertilizer will give better results. In winter, reduce watering and stop fertilizing.

6. Pests and diseases: Potted maidenhair fern often suffers from leaf blight. In the early stage, Bordeaux mixture can be used for control; in severe cases, 70% thiophanate-methyl 1000-1500 times solution can be used for control. If scale insects harm the plant, 40% omethoate 1000 times solution can be used for control.

7. Pruning: After autumn begins, as the temperature drops, maidenhair fern enters a stage of slow growth, and old leaves gradually turn yellow. At this time, cut them off.

Precautions for growing maidenhair fern

1. Maidenhair fern is best planted or repotted in spring. When repotting, be careful not to damage the root system, avoid wind, and replace half with new soil. After repotting, keep the potting soil moist and the air humidity suitable.

2. Because the leaves of maidenhair fern grow quickly, during the growing season, regularly thin out and cut away some old leaves. When the leaves are too dense, maidenhair fern not only loses its graceful form, but the new leaves growing inside will also die from lack of light, easily forming a hollow center, so timely pruning is needed.

3. During care, if dead leaves are found on maidenhair fern, cut them off promptly to keep the plant fresh and attractive and to help new leaves sprout.

Maidenhair fern propagation methods

1. Division propagation of maidenhair fern. Division propagation of maidenhair fern can be done indoors in all four seasons, but it is generally done in early spring together with repotting. Take the mother plant out of the pot, cut its rhizome so that each piece has some rhizome and leaves, then plant them separately in small pots. Cover the rhizomes with mixed soil, water them, and place them in a shady, moist environment for cultivation, and new plants can be obtained.

2. Spore propagation of maidenhair fern. Maidenhair fern can also be propagated by spores. Place peat and fine sand used as the substrate in an oven for high-temperature sterilization to kill pathogens and weed seeds. Then put the sterilized soil into a shallow sowing pot, cut off leaves with mature spores, collect the spores and evenly scatter them over the shallow sowing pot. No soil covering is needed. Cover with a glass sheet, soak water up from the bottom of the pot, keep the potting soil moist, and place it in a semi-shaded environment at 20-25°C. After about one month, the spores can germinate into prothallia, and once they have filled the pot, they can be divided and planted.

When growing maidenhair fern, be sure to pay attention to aspects such as temperature, light and soil. During cultivation, pest and disease control is also needed. There are many propagation methods for maidenhair fern, and everyone can choose a suitable one to carry out; these have been introduced above, so everyone can learn more about them.