How to grow asparagus fern: master these few steps to keep it evergreen

Asparagus fern is usually propagated by sowing seeds or by division. Seed propagation is generally done indoors in pots. After the seeds mature in March-April, sow them immediately after harvesting. Before sowing, soak the seeds in clean water for 1 day, then sow them individually in a shallow pot, about 1 cm apart, cover with a thin layer of soil, and after soaking with water cover with glass. They generally germinate in about 20 days. When the seedlings reach 5-8 cm tall, they can be divided and potted for growing. Division propagation can be done in spring and summer when repotting, dividing the mother plant into several small clumps.

When dividing, operate carefully and take care not to damage the roots, stems or bark too much, then plant each clump into a pot sized to match it. Asparagus fern likes a warm, humid environment, but fears strong light. In summer, give it proper shade to prevent exposure to the sun, so that its branches and leaves are not scorched or turned yellow, or wither and drop. In the cold, dim winter it needs ample sunlight. Asparagus fern is fairly adaptable to potting soil, but prefers slightly acidic sandy soil. You can mix garden soil,

leaf mold and river sand in a 1:2:2 ratio, and add a small amount of decomposed cake fertilizer as a base fertilizer; because asparagus fern has clustered fleshy roots, choose a purple clay pot or ceramic pot with good air permeability as much as possible. This plant lover personally prefers a rectangular purple clay pot, or you can choose a modern-style glazed purple clay pot according to your own preference. If conditions allow, you can use moss or gravel as a top dressing, which makes it look more beautiful. Although asparagus fern likes light,

it fears direct strong light, and ample scattered light is best. Usually it can be placed on a coffee table or stand in the living room or bedroom; asparagus fern dislikes hot, stuffy environments. Its suitable growing temperature is 20-30 degrees, and the safe wintering temperature is above 5 degrees. Always keep good ventilation, otherwise it is prone to pests and diseases. Asparagus fern likes warm, humid and shaded environments, and fears long exposure to strong light and high temperatures. The suitable growing temperature is 20-30°C,

it is not cold-tolerant, and the wintering temperature must be above 10°C. Below 5°C, it is easily damaged by cold; in summer, when the high temperature exceeds 35°C, growth stops and the leaf-like stems turn yellow. Spring and summer are the peak growing seasons for asparagus fern, requiring plenty of water, but the potting soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged, to avoid the tuberous roots rotting; after late autumn, gradually reduce watering so the potting soil stays only slightly moist. To beautify the plant's shape, asparagus fern needs frequent pruning. Cut out dense stems and long branches to improve ventilation and light penetration.

During the growing season, remove dead branches and yellow leaves at any time to keep asparagus fern symmetrical and beautiful. Different placement positions in the living room represent different meanings. Placed due east, it can protect the family's peace and health; placed in the south, it can attract fame and learning; placed in the north, it adds to your career; the southeast direction can bring success. But asparagus fern must not be placed in the southwest, northeast or center positions. The stems of asparagus fern are upright or slightly spreading, woody and shrub-like.

It has white, thick, fleshy roots. The plant has a large number of clustered stems and is much branched; the stems are grayish-white and woody at the base; the branchlets are slender, and the leaves are short pine-needle-like, clustered into tufts, very much like five-needle pine leaves. New leaves are tender green, old leaves dark green. Flowers are pale red to white, fragrant, with a flowering period of July-August, and the berries are black. Seed propagation: the germination rate of asparagus fern seeds can be as high as over 90%. When the cones mature from mid-September to mid-to-late October, collect them promptly. First pile them for 5-7 days,

then sun them for 3-4 days, beating and turning them so the seeds come out. Select them in water promptly, remove empty grains and debris, dry them in the shade, and store them in bags over winter. Asparagus fern has a thick seed coat and germinates slowly, so it should be sown early. Choose slightly acidic soil with good drainage for the nursery bed, and apply enough base fertilizer when preparing the soil. Before sowing, carry out germination treatment. Soak the seeds in cold water for 3-7 days (change the water during soaking), then mix the seeds with slaked lime. Once the seed coat splits, they can be sown. Germination and emergence begin in mid-to-late April, and the seedlings can reach 8-12 cm in the same year.