How to propagate asparagus fern best? A detailed guide to practical propagation methods

Asparagus fern is an ornamental plant of extremely high value; it can be placed in the living room or study, purifying the air while also adding a scholarly touch. There are many friends who love asparagus fern. Although asparagus fern is not bamboo, its stems have nodes like bamboo, and its form is very beautiful. Many friends who grow asparagus fern do not know how to propagate it. Today, the editor will introduce the propagation methods of asparagus fern to everyone!

Growing conditions for asparagus fern

1. Asparagus fern likes a warm, humid, semi-shady and well-ventilated environment. In winter it is not tolerant of severe cold, nor of drought. It cannot be watered too much, or the roots will rot. In summer, direct sunlight should be avoided.

2. It is best cultivated in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil rich in humus.

3. It is advisable to keep the room temperature between 12-18°C. When it exceeds 20°C, ventilate to dissipate heat. The optimum growth temperature is 15-25°C, and the overwintering temperature is 5°C.

Seed propagation of asparagus fern

Sowing is the main method of propagating asparagus fern. When the fruit skin of the asparagus fern seeds turns black and soft, they are mature. At this time, they should be picked gradually according to the degree of maturity, the flesh rubbed off, rinsed clean with clear water, dried until half-dry, and then stored for later use.

Seed propagation of asparagus fern is generally carried out in early April. In the autumn of the same year, they can become commercial seedlings or be displayed indoors. The sowing medium is generally fine sand, and the container is a clay pot or wooden box. Place the seeds on the pot soil at a spacing of 2-3 cm, with 2-3 seeds per hole. After sowing, cover with fine sand 5 mm thick, and cover with glass or plastic film. Keep the temperature at 20-25°C, and spray water frequently to keep the pot soil moist. About 30 days after sowing, germination and seedling emergence begin. When the seedlings are 4-5 cm tall, transplant them for cultivation, and when they are 8-10 cm tall, they can be planted into pots.

Division propagation of asparagus fern

Household potted asparagus fern can also be propagated by division. Asparagus fern has a strong clumping habit. Plants 4-5 years old can continuously send up root-sucker seedlings from the root crown, making the clump continuously expand. In spring, when repotting, the potted plant can be divided into several clumps and planted separately into pots, and new plants can be obtained.

Household cultivation of asparagus fern

1. Pot soil: For the pot soil for cultivating asparagus fern, it is best to use fertile sandy loam, requiring warmth and moisture, richness in humus, and good drainage. Generally, a ratio of 4 parts garden soil, 2 parts leaf mold, 2 parts compost soil and 1 part sand can be used, and the soil should be changed and fertilized regularly. If excessive fertilization causes “root burn”, the pot needs to be turned out to remove the fertilizer, and the soil ball rinsed with clear water, then replaced with new soil for cultivation.

2. Watering: Watering is the key point in cultivating and growing asparagus fern. Too much watering and overly wet pot soil easily cause root rot, while too little watering leads to withered, scorched and yellowed leaf tips. Therefore, during watering, it should be determined according to the weather, growth condition and the dryness or wetness of the pot soil, following the principle of not watering when dry, and watering thoroughly when watering. In hot and dry weather, the leaves can be sprayed with water to increase humidity and lower temperature, while in winter, water less.

3. Fertilizing: Asparagus fern does not like heavy fertilizer, but it cannot lack fertilizer either. Limited by the pot soil of container cultivation, asparagus fern must be supplemented with nutrients in time to meet its growth requirements. When fertilizing asparagus fern, apply little but often, and do not apply concentrated fertilizer, otherwise it will cause yellow leaves. Generally, applying a thin decomposed liquid fertilizer once a month is enough. After the plant grows and takes shape, fertilization can be appropriately controlled and reduced. During the growing season, apply a thin fertilizer containing ammonia and phosphorus 1-2 times a month to promote lush branches and leaves; other liquid fertilizers may also be used. Note that during the flowering period, do not fertilize too much; in May-June and September-October, topdressing with liquid fertilizer twice each is enough.

4. Light: Asparagus fern must not be exposed to the scorching sun. In hot seasons, it should be placed in a cool and ventilated place. At the same time, during the flowering period, asparagus fern is afraid of both wind and rain, so attention should be paid to good ventilation. In good weather, it can be appropriately placed outdoors to receive sunlight. In winter, the temperature for potted asparagus fern should be kept above 5°C to avoid freezing.

5. Placement: Asparagus fern loves a clean and well-ventilated environment. If stimulated by harmful gases such as smoke, dust, coal gas and pesticides, the leaves will turn yellow, curl and even die. Therefore, asparagus fern should be placed in a clean, well-ventilated environment, away from decorative materials such as marble that release mercury gas.

6. Plant pruning

① Pruning when leaf-like branches are missing: When the growth position of small leaf-like branches on the main branch is unsatisfactory or they are missing for some reason, short pruning can be carried out at an appropriate position on the main branch to force the dormant buds there to sprout. Generally, the height of the cut is the height at which the leaf-like branches sprout, and the position of the thorns on the branch is the position where the leaf-like branches sprout. The greater the thickness of the branch, the higher the sprouting rate of the dormant buds.

② Renewal pruning of the whole plant: If the branches and leaves of the whole plant grow poorly due to severe sunburn or overly dry pot soil, lack of fertilizer, or some unknown reason, renewal of the whole plant can be carried out. During renewal pruning, all leaf-like branches can be cut off, but attention should be paid to the positions of the backward thorns on the branches, because they determine whether the distribution of the retained branches is even. Pruning in the growing season generally makes it easy to sprout new branches. After pruning, the amount of watering should also be appropriately reduced. The pot soil absolutely must not be too wet, otherwise the pruning will fail.