Davallia is an unpretentious perennial fern. It attracts attention not only with lush green foliage, but also with soft aerial roots that form a dense cap over the surface of the pot. It is these roots that resemble soft paws, so the davallia flower is called "rabbit or squirrel paws."
Plant description
Davallia belongs to the family of the same name. It is a perennial epiphytic plant with a spreading crown. The plant is common in East Asia (China, Japan) and Europe (Canary Islands). In our latitudes, davallia fern is grown as an ampelous houseplant. In the natural environment, the bush reaches a height of 1 m and a width of up to 1.5 m, but the davallia ampelous grows 25-45 cm in height.
Davallia has a branched, fleshy rhizome. The roots are covered with brown scales or villi. A thick bunch of carved leaves rises above the surface of the soil. Vayi have an elastic stem covered with strongly dissected bright green leaves. On the back of the foliage are brown sporings with seeds.
Varieties
The family has about 60 species, but only a few are used in indoor cultivation. Let us dwell in more detail on the following representatives.
Davallia canary distributed in southern Europe and northern Africa. Fern is a perennial with curved, creeping roots. Rhizome is covered with brown scales and styloid setae. Cirrus incisors grow 30–45 cm up, and their width is 22–30 cm. Leathery leaves sit tightly on the stem and have an oval or rhomboid shape. Leaflets are located on long (10-15 cm) bare petioles. Multiple sporangia are located on the upper leaves and are covered with a cup-shaped blanket.
Bubble Davallia spread from Japan and China. The roots of this species have a spiral shape and are painted in light brown tones. Cirrus leaves are slightly swollen and are 20–25 cm long and 15 cm wide. Brown sporangia are visible on the tops of leaflets and give the species a very attractive appearance.
Davallia Fijian It has a darker shade of greenery and an openwork shape of the leaves. The height of the spreading bush can reach 90 cm. The length of the leathery leaves is 30 cm, they are attached to the threadlike drooping petioles, so the variety is suitable for ampelous cultivation. This species tends to get rid of old leaves every year and grow young shoots.
Davallia is dense widespread in Malaysia and in the vastness of Australia. The plant has thin, dense roots covered with villi. Three times cirrus foliage grows 35-50 cm tall and 15-25 cm wide. Linear serrated foliage contains brown sporangia. Below, on the same petiole, sterile, more rounded foliage grows. The leaves are attached to the top of the brown petiole, about 25-30 cm long.
Davallia dissected - a grassy variety with dense, low shoots and creeping rhizome. Petioles are painted in a yellow-green hue, on them are shiny leaves about 30 cm long. The blades have a triangular shape.
Davallia maries is a compact variety. The height of the bush does not exceed 25 cm. Brown roots are covered with whitish villi. On light green vayayas is a triangular, four-dissected foliage. The plant has good resistance to cold and is able to winter in the open ground at positive temperatures.
Davallia is five-leafed. The plant has thin, fluffy chocolate-colored roots. On short green stalks are solid, glossy leaves.
Reproduction of davallia
Reproduction of davallia by dividing the bush is considered the most easy and effective way. Division is combined with an adult fern transplant, which will certainly increase the growth rate. In the spring, the bush is completely dug up and cut with a sharp blade. The place of the cut is sprinkled with crushed charcoal and a shoot is planted in a small pot.
A large bush can be cut into several parts at once. It is enough to leave at least one healthy leaf and from 7 cm of rhizome in each dividend.
When propagating davallia by spores, more effort is needed. Spores are located in soruses, which, when ripe, become dark brown or brown. Ripened spores crush from a wai on a sheet of paper and dry in a dark room.
For planting, prepare a light peat mixture in a flat bowl. Earth must be decontaminated by baking in the oven or scalding. Spores try to evenly distribute on the surface of the earth. The soil is sprayed and covered with a film (glass). The container is left in a bright and warm place.
Within 2-4 weeks, part of the spore germinates. Young ferns are left in a warm greenhouse and sprayed regularly. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting only after 2 months. Shoots need high humidity, so they are gradually accustomed to the natural environment. Shelter is removed daily for 15-20 minutes, gradually increasing the time interval.
Individual parts of davallia are able to take root and develop independently. So, a piece of root or a cut sheet, placed in well-moistened soil and covered with a film, will soon begin to grow.
Care Rules
Caring for davallia at home is not too complicated. She should choose a bright place, but without direct sunlight. The eastern or northern windowsill will do.
For planting, not too deep, wide pots with a thick layer of expanded clay or other material for drainage are used. The soil can be mixed from:
- turf land;
- sheet land;
- moss sphagnum;
- peat;
- sand.
As the container is filled with roots, davallia is transplanted, and if necessary, divided into several bushes. When transplanting, it is important to be careful. Ground roots gently lift and sprinkle soil under them.
Fern loves warm air, it can withstand heat up to + 40 ° C. In winter, it is advisable to provide a cooler atmosphere, but not lower the temperature below + 15 ° C.
The plant needs frequent watering so that the soil does not completely dry out. Stagnant moisture is very undesirable. The air should be humid (at least 70%). You can place a fern next to a small pond or fountain. Use wet claydite in trays next to the fern.
In spring and summer, complex nutrients for green plants can be used to replenish nutrients. They are applied in liquid form twice a month.
Possible difficulties
During the life of davallia, some problems can arise that are easy to cope with if you correctly understand the plant's signals:
- twisting and falling of green leaves - too low air temperature;
- yellowing and drying of the leaves - insufficient moisture;
- the appearance of yellow and brown spots on the leaves - a sunburn;
- slow growth - overly dense soil.
Parasites (aphids, ticks, worms, whiteflies, scutes, thrips) are of interest to the lush greenery of ferns. To control pests, it is better to immediately use insecticides.
