Is the maidenhair fern toxic? The latest answer is here
The maidenhair fern is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Adiantum in the family Pteridaceae, with high ornamental and medicinal value, strong adaptability and easy cultivation, suitable for year-round indoor pot culture, and is one of the most popular potted foliage plants in homes today. Let us take a look below at whether the maidenhair fern is actually toxic!
Is the maidenhair fern toxic
The maidenhair fern is not toxic. The maidenhair fern is also known as wire grass, maiden's hair, wire fern, water pig bristle soil and so on. It tastes bland and bitter, is cool in nature, and is non-toxic. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, draining dampness and reducing swelling, and promoting urination and relieving strangury. It is often used for dysentery, scrofula, cough due to lung heat, hepatitis, strangury, venomous snake bites, bruises and other conditions.
Types of maidenhair fern
1. Fan-leaved maidenhair fern: the fan-leaved maidenhair fern plant is 20-45 cm tall, with a short and upright rhizome densely covered with brown, glossy, awl-shaped lanceolate scales. The leaves are clustered, the veins branch dichotomously many times, and the leaves are nearly leathery when dry, green or often brown, hairless on both sides. There are 2-5 sori per pinna, borne transversely on the upper and outer margins of the lobes, separated by notches. The indusium is semicircular or oblong, with a straight upper margin, leathery, brown-black, entire, and persistent. The spores have inconspicuous granular ornamentation.
2. Whiptail maidenhair fern: the whiptail maidenhair fern is also called bristle maidenhair fern. Its leaves are linear-lanceolate, about 10-25 cm long, with the apex often extended into a whip shape and rooting where it touches the ground. The leaf blade is rectangular, once pinnate or twice torn, with the upper and outer margins often deeply cleft into narrow lobes, and the lower margin straight and entire. The sori are borne under the indusium formed by the metamorphosed reflexed apex of the lobes. The indusium is kidney-shaped to roundly cup-shaped, slightly hairy.
3. Lotus-leaf maidenhair fern: the lotus-leaf maidenhair fern is also called lotus-leaf moneywort, wire grass, wire fern and so on. It is 5-20 cm tall, with a short and upright rhizome. The leaves are elliptical-kidney-shaped, 2-6 cm wide, dark green above, smooth and with 1-3 concentric rings, sparsely covered with brown long soft hairs below, and the leaf margins have round serrations. The leaf margins of fertile leaves roll back to form false indusia. The sori are oblong or short linear, borne on the leaf margins.
How to grow the maidenhair fern
1. Soil: the maidenhair fern likes loose, permeable, fertile calcareous sandy loam. When potting, the growing medium can be made by mixing equal amounts of loam, leaf mold and river sand.
2. Temperature: the maidenhair fern likes warmth, and the suitable growing temperature for the environment is 13-22°C. Planting in spring in the south is excellent, and it also works in the north, but because the maidenhair fern is not tolerant of high temperatures, the care methods are also different.
3. Light: the maidenhair fern likes a semi-shaded environment. Never let the maidenhair fern be exposed to direct sunlight; it is suitable for growing in semi-shade.
4. Watering: the maidenhair fern likes moisture, and during the growing season it should be watered more. In hot weather, spray or sprinkle water on the leaf surface to maintain relatively high air humidity and keep the clear patterns and emerald green leaf color of the leaves.
5. Fertilizing: apply dilute liquid fertilizer 2-3 times a month. When fertilizing, do not stain the leaf surface, so as to avoid causing leaf rot. Because of the maidenhair fern's calcium-loving habit, an appropriate amount of lime and crushed eggshells should be added 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 ferns often suffer from leaf blight. In the early stage, Bordeaux mixture can be used for control. In severe cases, a 1000-1500 times dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl can be used for control. If scale insects harm the plant, a 1000 times dilution of 40% omethoate can be used for control.
7. Pruning: after autumn begins, as the temperature drops, the maidenhair fern enters a stage of slow growth, and the old leaves gradually turn yellow. At this time, they should be cut off.