The Latest Tutorial on Cultivation and Management Techniques for Asparagus Fern

Asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus) belongs to the Liliaceae family, genus Asparagus. It is used specifically for cut foliage and small potted plants. As a potted ornamental it is elegant and refined, and as an important ingredient in cut flowers its marketable rate is very high. Because it is highly adaptable and simple to cultivate and manage, requiring little labor, it can be grown on the edges of greenhouses, in corners of buildings, and on marginal land, and has great prospects for development.

Morphological Characteristics

Asparagus fern is a perennial herbaceous climbing plant. The stems grow in clusters from the rhizome. There are many branches, spreading horizontally, with an overall shape approaching triangular; the edges are often wavy, the surface is green with numerous small white spots, and the underside is dark red. The flowers and stalks are deep purplish red, forming clusters and drooping. The berries are spherical, turning purplish black when ripe, containing 1 to 3 seeds. Also commonly cultivated is dwarf asparagus fern (var. nanus), a variety of asparagus fern with a smaller plant, clustered and upright stems that are not climbing, and finer, denser cladodes.

Ecological Habits

Native to southern Africa, it prefers a warm and humid environment. It fears strong light and low temperatures; in summer it needs shading, and in winter the temperature should not fall below 5°C. Loose, fertile humus soil is most suitable. For field planting, asparagus fern requires well-drained, loose, fertile sandy loam, and waterlogging must be strictly avoided. In winter the temperature should be maintained at 12°C to 15°C, and not below 8°C.

Propagation Methods

For propagating asparagus fern, seed sowing is generally used, and division propagation is also possible, but plants propagated by division tend to have an uneven crown in the early stage and an irregular shape.

1. Seed propagation: The berries of asparagus fern mature successively in winter. When the berries turn purplish black, they can be harvested. After harvesting, rub off the outer fruit skin to extract the seeds. After rinsing them clean, they can be sown. If the room temperature is below 15°C, sowing should wait until the weather warms in spring; during the interim the seeds should be stored in sand. Sowing is mainly done indoors in pots, generally sown in shallow pots at a spacing of 2 cm. The covering soil should not be too deep. After watering, cover with glass or plastic film to reduce water evaporation, keep the potting soil moist, and place in a sunny spot. After sowing, maintain the temperature at around 20°C, and germination will occur in 25 to 30 days; at 15°C to 18°C it takes 30 to 40 days to germinate. When the seedlings grow to 3 cm to 4 cm tall, they can be divided and transplanted.

2. Division propagation: Carried out in spring when repotting. Pull the roots apart, taking care not to damage too many roots, and according to the size of the plant, choose pot or field planting. After dividing and planting, water thoroughly and place in semi-shade or provide shading. Afterwards, watering should be properly controlled, otherwise yellow leaves are easily caused.

Cultivation Techniques

1. The key to managing asparagus fern is watering. Watering too frequently and too much tends to yellow the branches and leaves, causes poor growth, and easily leads to root rot. The amount of water should be adjusted according to the plant's growth condition and the season. In winter, spring and autumn, watering should be properly controlled; generally water again once the soil surface looks dry. If you find the water amount difficult to judge, you can also alternate between light and heavy watering. That is, after 3 to 5 light waterings, give 1 thorough watering, so that the potting soil remains moist throughout without holding too much water. In summer, water in both morning and evening; a slightly larger amount does no harm.

2. Although asparagus fern does not greatly favor fertilizer, when potted, especially for plants intended for seed production, more nutrients should be supplied. Fertilization for asparagus fern should be light and frequent, and concentrated fertilizer should be avoided. During the growing season, generally apply decomposed organic liquid fertilizer once every 15 to 20 days. Asparagus fern prefers slightly acidic soil. Therefore, along with fertilization, an appropriate amount of alum fertilizer water can be applied to improve the soil pH.

3. Asparagus fern should overwinter indoors. The indoor temperature in winter is best kept at around 10°C, with sufficient light, and after April of the following year it can be moved outdoors for care. For field-planted asparagus fern, the branches and leaves are luxuriant and new vines grow rapidly, so trellises must be set up in time to facilitate ventilation and light penetration. Properly prune dead branches and old vines to encourage the sprouting of new vines. Before flowering, apply an additional dose of bone meal or superphosphate to increase the seed-setting rate. For asparagus fern used as cut branches, at harvest select branches that have reached the length required for market and cut them at the base; bundle every 20 stems into a bunch for market. Generally, winter prices are more than 20% higher than summer and autumn prices.