What are the cultivation methods and precautions for asparagus fern?
Asparagus fern, also known as cloud-pine, spring asparagus fern, cloud bamboo and so on, is an evergreen plant of the genus Asparagus in the family Asparagaceae. Its roots are slightly fleshy, its stems are soft and clustered, and it can grow several meters tall. It is a highly ornamental plant that can be placed in the living room or study, purifying the air while adding a literary atmosphere. Let us take a look at the cultivation methods for asparagus fern!
The growing environment for asparagus fern
Asparagus fern prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded, well-ventilated environment. In winter it is not tolerant of severe cold or drought, and it cannot be watered too much or its roots will rot. In summer it should be kept out of direct sunlight. It is best cultivated in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam rich in humus. The room temperature should preferably be kept between 12 and 18°C; when it exceeds 20°C, ventilation is needed to dissipate heat. The optimum growing temperature is 15 to 25°C, and the overwintering temperature is 5°C. It grows in the mountains and wilds, and is also cultivated in gardens.
Propagation methods for asparagus fern
1. Sowing: Sowing is the main method of propagating asparagus fern. When the fruit skin of the asparagus fern seeds turns black and soft, they are ripe. At this point they should be picked gradually according to their degree of ripeness, the flesh rubbed off, rinsed clean with clear water, dried until half-dry and then stored for later use. Sow in early April, and by 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 to 3 cm, with 2 to 3 seeds per hole. After sowing, cover with fine sand 5 mm thick, and cover with glass or plastic film, keeping the temperature at 20 to 25°C, and spray water frequently to keep the pot soil moist. About 30 days after sowing, germination and sprouting begin. When the seedlings are 4 to 5 cm tall, transplant them for growing on, and when they are 8 to 10 cm tall, they can be planted into pots.
2. Division: Asparagus fern plants 3 to 5 years old grow relatively densely and can be propagated by division. Carry this out in spring when repotting. Use a sharp knife to divide the clustered stems and roots into 2 to 3 clumps along their natural direction, so that each clump contains 3 to 5 shoots, then plant them separately into pots. When dividing, damage the root system as little as possible. After dividing and planting, water thoroughly, place in a semi-shaded spot, and pay attention to moisture retention and shading. Afterwards, watering should be properly controlled, otherwise yellow leaves are easily caused.
Making a bonsai with asparagus fern
1. Material selection: One asparagus fern about 20 cm tall, two asparagus ferns over 10 cm tall, an irregular-shaped white marble shallow pot with its matching stand, several landscape stones about 10 cm tall, and an appropriate amount of potting soil and green moss.
2. Bonsai shaping: Spread a thin layer of potting soil on the surface of the white marble shallow pot. Plant the tallest asparagus fern with its curved branches and leaves facing left at the right end of the pot. Plant the second-tallest asparagus fern to the left of the first one, not far away, suitably near the back edge of the pot. Then plant the shortest asparagus fern at the boundary between the 1/3 and 2/3 points of the pot's length, with its curved branches and leaves also facing left, so as to achieve coordinated and unified orientation of the three asparagus ferns. Then adjust the positions of the asparagus ferns in the pot until they look natural and graceful.
3. Adding stones and laying moss: Place several landscape stones at a suitable position toward the right rear on the pot surface, and cover the potting soil on the pot surface with green moss to achieve a greening artistic effect. Finally, spray clear water onto the asparagus fern and the green moss to moisten the potting soil.
Cultivation methods for asparagus fern
1. Pot soil: The potting soil for cultivating asparagus fern should preferably be fertile sandy loam. It requires 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 fertilizer added 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 growing.
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 yellow leaf tips. Therefore, in the process of watering, it should be determined according to the weather, the growth condition and the dryness or wetness of the pot soil, following the principle of not watering when dry? No: not watering unless 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 less water should be given.
3. Fertilizing: Asparagus fern does not like much fertilizer, but it cannot lack fertilizer either. Limited by the pot soil of container growing, nutrients must be replenished in time during cultivation to meet its growth requirements. In the process of fertilizing, apply little but often, and do not apply concentrated fertilizer, otherwise yellow leaves will be caused. Generally, applying a thin liquid fertilizer once a month after decomposition is sufficient. After the plant has grown and taken shape, fertilization can be appropriately controlled and reduced. During the growing season, apply a thin fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus 1 to 2 times a month to promote lush branches and leaves; other liquid fertilizers may also be used. Do not fertilize too much during the flowering period; in May to June and September to October, applying liquid fertilizer 2 times each is sufficient.
4. Light: Asparagus fern cannot be exposed to the scorching sun when being cultivated. In hot seasons, it should be placed in a cool, 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, and 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 damage.
5. Placement: Asparagus fern loves a clean environment with circulating air. If stimulated by harmful gases such as smoke, dust, coal gas and pesticides, its leaves will turn yellow, curl and even wither and die. Therefore, asparagus fern should be placed in a clean, well-ventilated environment, away from marble-type decorative materials that release mercury gas.