| Life form | Fern |
| Family | Davalliaceae |
| Origin | The tropical forests of Southeast Asia |
| Ease of cultivation | Easy |
| The size | Usually 46-50 cm in height. The specimens grow up to 1 m and more. |
| Growth rate | Fast. In good conditions, the dimensions can double in a year. |
| Lifespan | Many years |
| Temperature | In the summer: 64,4-69,8 ° F, higher temperatures require high humidity; in the winter 57,2-59 ° F. |
| Humidity | High, not less than 60%. The pot should preferably be placed in a tray with kermazite or with wet peat or sprayed daily with warm and soft water. Especially important is the high humidity at a temperature above 68 ° F. In winter, keep away from radiators. In summer it is necessary to ventilate. |
| Lighting | Scattered light or partial shade. Does not tolerate direct sunlight. It is ideal to place the plant near a window facing north or east. Can grow under artificial lighting. |
| The soil | Suitable shop soil for ferns, it must be loose and breathable. Equal parts of peat, leaf earth and sand for the mixture of own preparation. It is better to add peat moss andcharcoal, may be a bit of pine bark. Good drainage is necessary (1-2 cm). |
| Watering | It requires copious watering 2-3 times a week, and in winter at least once a week, but overflow is not permissible, the soil must be moist all the time, but not moist. It is better to place the plant in a water tank with water. |
| Fertilizer | During growth, every 2 weeks, feed twice diluted with fertilizer. |
| Reproduction | In June, the division of the bush or the separation of the kidney-eyes, formed on the underground tubers of plants, which should be cut with a sharp knife. From such a bud, a new rosette of leaves develops (or simply separates the already formed young rosette from the “mustache”). Slicing sprinkled with crushed coal and planted separately, just slightly pressing into the kidney. It is possible to propagate even a part of the rhizome (“whisker”), the growth part of which is placed on top. It is quite difficult to multiply by spores, it is necessary to use a miniteplike with bottom heating. Disputes should be put in an envelope and dried. Then put a brick in a plastic box or another vessel and wet peat on its surface. Pour distilled water to a height of about 5 cm. Sprinkle spores on the peat surface and cover the container with glass or a plastic lid. Constantly maintain the desired level of water. Place the container in low light conditions. A few months later, green moss will appear on the surface of the peat, and then leaves. Plant plants should be when they reach 5 cm in height. |
| Bloom | Ferns do not bloom |
| Transfer | Every year in April-May, young plants – in a shallow pot, old – in a more spacious dishes. |
| Features of care | In the summer it is desirable to take out on the balcony or in the garden in the shade. Suitable for suspended flower pots. On the bottom side of leaves are arranged in two rows sores, which are characteristic of ferns, but they are sometimes mistaken for scale insects. |
| Difficulties | Shocked by scutes, spider mite, aphids, whitefly. However, pests appear very rarely. When there is a lack of moisture in the soil and air, the leaves or tips of leaves dry, from cold air or draft, and when watering with cold water they curl and fall off. When the air is dry, the bases of the leaves turn yellow and die, the tips of the leaves can dry, for the same reason the leaves can be covered with brown spots. Sometimes, in dry air and with insufficient watering, the leaves become brittle and fall off. With excessive watering, the fern turns yellow and resets the segments. From bright sun, leaf burns are possible. If the plant becomes pale and does not grow, this indicates a lack of nutrients or a small pot volume and the need for a transplant. Leaves can become faded and lethargic also from excessive lighting. |
| Air cleaning | The plant cleans the air, being one of the best natural filters. Large plants also moisturize the air well. |
| Toxicity | – |
