Platicerium - home care, photo

Platicerium (Platycerium), antler, ploskorog- fern from the family Centipede. It belongs to epiphytes, in the natural environment it grows, catching on shoots of shrubs, stones or tree trunks. The birthplace of the platitcerium is in the tropical zones of Southeast Asia. It is found in nature in Australia and Africa. Fern height - 0.25 m, leaf length - up to 0.8 m.

Develops at medium speed. At home, can live for many years, each year forming no more than 3 leaves. The platicerium does not bloom, but is of interest to large spectacular leaves resembling deer antlers. The name of the roots goes back to the Greek foundations of platus - "flat" and keras - "horn".

Useful properties of the platicerium

The platitcerium purifies the air in the room, leveling the harmful effects of gaseous hydrocarbons - propane, methane, butane, ethane (many of them enter the room through open window leaves from the street). Plant cells secrete volatile - antibiotics created by nature.

These volatile compounds purify the air of harmful microorganisms and saturate it with useful ions.

Platicerium: home care (briefly)

Being an unpretentious plant, the platicerium grows well at home. But so that the fern does not sit in the pot, sadly dropping the leaves, and really decorating the house, you need to know its preferences:

There are features of growing platycerium. The first feature is associated with fern leaves. The plant has vayi (organs similar to leaves) of two types:

1. sterile - supporting leaves. These are the broad lower leaves covered with scales. In the space between them and the trunk of the tree on which they grow, organic remains accumulate in the form of dead foliage of the supporting tree and the sterile leaves themselves. The leaves dry quickly, turn brown and overlap. Over time, decayed leaves become food for the roots of the plant.
2. Sporiferous flat leaves similar to deer horns. They perform the function of reproduction, retain moisture in the fern and protect it from bright light.

Leaves are handled with care; sterile leaves cannot be cut. Another feature is that the platycerium belongs to epiphytic plants, so it is often grown on a fragment of a tree or in limbo. To do this, moss is attached to the saw cut of the tree, on which the plant will be located.

The roots of the platycerium are surrounded by sphagnum. The fern is fixed with a fishing line to several nails driven into the wood. Under the lower leaves a little soil is poured. Instead of traditional irrigation, in this case, an immersion method is used: the platicerium is completely immersed in water so that it is saturated with it. There will be enough water for a long time.

Platicerium: home care. In detail

Ferns adapt well to indoor life, care for the platicerium at home is quite simple. But the situation around him should be comfortable, then the plant will develop fully and become a decoration of the house.

Flowering platicerium

The legend of the fern blooming on the night of Ivan Kupala is known to all. A flower blooming once a year promises to point the way to happiness and countless treasures. But this is a beautiful fairy tale. Blooming platitcerium can not be seen, because ferns do not bloom.

This is a special group of plants that appeared on Earth long before flowering crops. They have no seeds and reproduce by spores.

Temperature mode

When growing plants, it is important to observe the temperature regime. Although the platycerium suffers a short-term decrease to + 5 ° C, you should not keep the plant at this temperature. In winter, the thermometer should not fall below + 12 ° C. In summer, the optimum temperature is + 25 ° C.

Home platycerium tolerates a higher temperature, but at the same time it is necessary to increase air humidity. The plant does not like temperature changes and drafts. Therefore, it can not be placed next to the air conditioner and vents.

Spraying

Prefer average humidity. Spraying the air space around the plant from a fine spray. During the heating season, the platycerium is kept away from batteries. The plant is placed on a pallet with moistened pebbles.

Humidity in the room is also maintained using a humidifier.

Lighting

For harmonious development of the platicerium, diffused bright lighting is preferable. It is best placed on a west or east window. With insufficient lighting, the fern will grow slowly, the leaves will stretch and deform, possibly insect damage.

The direct aggressive effect of the sun also transfers with difficulty: burns appear. In winter, include additional illumination for at least 6 - 8 hours.

Platycerium with wide short leaves requires less light than species with elongated leaves.

Watering

Fern requires moderate watering. In summer, the platicerium is watered up to 2 times in 7 days, less often in winter. It is necessary to wait for the top layer of the substrate to dry between waterings. It is important to comply with the measure. Excessive soil moisture and watering with cold water lead to root rot, death of the plant.

With over-dried soil, bush growth slows down. Florists with experience recommend the use of lower watering. In this case, the platicerium is placed on a pallet and poured lingering tepid water.

Hygiene

Hygiene is important in caring for home plants. Simple hygiene procedures help keep flowers clean and healthy. The upper part of the leaves of the platycerium is covered with fibers that preserve moisture and protect against aggressive sunlight. When wiping with a cloth or washing in the shower, they can be accidentally removed. The dust accumulating on the leaves, it is recommended to blow away or carefully remove with a silky brush.

Sometimes the plant is immersed in water to not only clean the leaves, but also replenish moisture reserves.

Pitcher's Pot

The root system of the fern is poorly developed, so the pot for the platicerium is chosen wide and rather low. There should be enough space in the pot not only for fern, but also for drainage. There must be a drainage hole at the bottom of the tank.

Platicerium at home is often planted in hanging containers and flowerpots, like an ampel plant.

Soil for platicerium

You can buy a special substrate for ferns or make the soil mixture yourself from the sheet earth, perlite and peat, taken in equal proportions. Improve the mixture with crushed bark, activated carbon, cut with moss. To enhance drainage, add crumb brick, vermiculite.

Soil for platycerium should be slightly acidic (pH 5.7 - 6.2) and very light.

Fertilizer and fertilizer

Fertilizing and fertilizing the platycerium is carried out once every 2 weeks liquid fertilizer for home plants containing important elements - potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus - in the correct ratio. Concentrated fertilizer is diluted with water 2 times and used after watering on a cloudy day or in the evening.

Sometimes foliar top dressing is performed. At the same time, the concentrate is diluted 3-4 times with water: high doses of trace elements can adversely affect the appearance of the fern. The leaves coarsen, cracks appear on them, the color becomes darker.

Transplantation

Platicerium ferns are transplanted at home in the very beginning of spring, every 2, 5 years. The plant has small roots, during this time they will fill the pot, and a transplant of the platycerium will be needed. Ferns are planted carefully in a low wide pot, being careful not to deepen the growth point.

It is also important to avoid the surface location of the plant. The substrate is pressed against the roots of the platicerium so that there are no air voids. It is well watered with filtered tepid water and mulched with ground sphagnum.

After transplanting, the fern is kept in a shaded place for several days so that it takes root well. Feeding begins after 2, 5 weeks after transplantation.

Pruning

To form a crown, the platycerium does not need pruning. Dried, sterile vayi fall off themselves, they can not be cut off: when they die, they provide the root with nutrients. Only spore-bearing wiyes, which have turned yellow, are cut off at the very base.

Rest period

From the beginning of October to the end of February, the period of rest of the fern lasts. The duration of daylight is reduced, in the room the air becomes drier due to the heating season. Platicerium is rarely watered at this time when the top layer of the substrate dries. The plant is kept at + 12 ° C; they are not fed.

If on vacation

If you plan to go on vacation for 14 days, the platicerium is placed in a pallet with moistened pebbles and placed away from direct sunlight.

The reproduction of platycerium

At home, the reproduction of the platycerium is carried out using lateral shoots or spores.

Growing Platicerium from Spores

Growing platycerium from spores is rarely used. In an adult plant, spores similar to ginger dust appear at the ends of the leaves. They are carefully collected on paper and dried. Sown in loose light soil, covered with glass and left warm. After 6 to 7 weeks, seedlings similar to moss will appear. They are systematically ventilated and sprayed. After fertilization occurs, young plants will form. Seedlings grown to 50 mm are transplanted into separate containers.

Propagation of the platycerium by side shoots

Reproduction of the platycerium with side shoots is carried out more often. Choose shoots having their roots and several leaves. The processes are carefully separated from the parent plant and planted in loose soil (the bud of the cut off process should be 1, 5 cm above the soil). During rooting, monitor air humidity.

Reproduction of the platycerium requires accuracy and exact adherence to technology from the grower, so often only an experienced master takes on this matter.

Diseases and Pests

Sometimes improper care provokes diseases, and pests more actively attack a weak plant. The plicerium may have problems:

• platycerium is slowly growing - a small pot (transplant into a large container);
• platicerium leaves are covered with brown spots - sunburn (pritenit plant);
• the leaves of the platyserium become brown - moisture deficiency with dry air (water well, put in a tray with wet pebbles);
• the leaves of the platycerium become faded and lethargic - excess light (rearrange in a shaded place);
• green leaves rot - waterlogging in low temperature conditions (transplant into another soil, adjust watering);
• the leaves of the platycerium turn yellow - too hot; sparse watering (rearrange in a cooler place; water).

Occasionally, the platycerium affects aphids, scale insects, spider mites, and thrips.

Types of Platicerium Home

There are 17 types of platycerium, some of which are most popular in indoor culture.

Platycerium bifurcated, "antler" (Platycerium bifurcatum)

It has rounded sterile vaya with a radius of 0, 1 m. They are pressed to the soil and retain nutrients and moisture. After decomposition, they themselves become a food source for the plant. Spore-bearing vayi, divided into parts 40 mm wide, look like deer antlers. Their length reaches 0, 5 m. Assembled in a socket.

Large platycerium (Platycerium grande)

The height of the fern is 0.25 m. Vayi have no clear cuts. Elongated spore-bearing vaji hang down, their length is up to 1 m. Sterile vaji are wide - up to 0.6 m.

Platycerium Hillii

It forms numerous straight leaves with shallow cuts. Some lobes are shorter than others, their edges are pointed. Outwardly resembles a two-forked platycerium, but smaller than it.

Platicerium is a relic plant, surprising with bizarre shapes of its leaves. Fern attached to snags or grown on a stump, as if he came to the house from an old fairy tale. An unusual plant will decorate the interior and emphasize its originality.

Watch the video: Staghorn Fern Care Platycerium bifurcatum (April 2024).