Types of indoor ferns and their care

HomeFor apartment and officeTypes of indoor ferns and their care

During the Victorian era, large collections of house ferns were grown in greenhouses and in purpose-built glass cases. Now these plants have gained incredible popularity in indoor floriculture. In addition, many types of indoor ferns are willingly planted in offices – with their impressive size and pretentious appearance, they give the institution a strict, serious image.

Very few indoor ferns can tolerate warm, dry air. However, most varieties of these plants are actually easy to grow in a modern home. True, they will not put up with the lack of care. The compost in which house ferns are planted should never dry out and the surrounding air should be kept moist.

The classic depiction of a fern is a rosette of strongly dissected arcuate leaves (called “fronds” among ferns), but there are also ferns with lanceolate leaves, holly-like leaves, and small, rounded leaflets. There is also a wide range of ways in which the collection can be maintained.

Many ferns, named and photographed below, are ideal plants for hanging baskets, and some, such as Nephrolepis Bostoniensis and Asplenium nest, are large enough and impressive enough to be used as single plants.

Caring for indoor ferns at home

Delicate species, such as maidenhair venus hair, are best planted in a greenhouse. When caring for indoor ferns in a group with other plants, make sure they don’t get squeezed – their fronds are very fragile and need space to develop. Remove all dead and damaged growths so that new ones can develop freely.

Temperature: Moderate – cool but not cold nights desirable. The best temperature range is 16-21°C; the minimum for most types is around 10°C, and ferns can suffer at temperatures above 24°C.

Light: Contrary to popular belief, ferns are not shade lovers indoors as most varieties come from rainforests where shade is punctuated by patches of bright light. A window sill with an east or north orientation is ideal – a well-lit place without direct sunlight.

Watering: The soil should be constantly moist and never dry out. However, waterlogging will lead to rotting of the plant. Reduce watering in winter. When caring for a fern at home, it is necessary to ensure sufficient humidity. To do this, regularly spray the leaves of plants.

Transplant: Transplant in the spring when the roots fill the pot; most young specimens will probably need an annual transplant. Do not bury the base of the rosette of leaves.

Propagation: The easiest way is to divide the plant into 2 or 3 parts in early spring if it forms rhizomes. Some ferns grow at the ends of offspring shoots (for example, Nephrolepis Bostoniensis) or on leaves (for example, Asplenium bulbiferum). It is possible, but not always easy, to grow plants from spores obtained from the underside of mature leaves.

Names of types of indoor ferns and their photos

Choosing a fern is not so easy. Nearly two thousand varieties are suitable for indoor cultivation, but relatively few are commercially available. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the names of the types of indoor ferns, the photos of which are presented on this page.

here is the text. Adiantum (ADIANTUM) has thin strong stems, delicate leaves and an elegant structure. They need moist air, warmth and shade – these are plants for a terrarium or a shaded conservatory, not a living room.

Adiantum Ruddy (Adiantum raddianum) perhaps the easiest to grow.

Adiantum gentle, f. Farlean (A. tenerum farleyense) is the most attractive.

Adiantum small-haired (A. hispidulum) is quite peculiar.

A maidenhair venus hair (A. capillus-veneris) grows in nature in the wild.

Asplenium (ASPLENIUM) needs shade and a humid atmosphere. There are two main types that are grown as houseplants, and they look completely different from each other. Firstly, it is nesting asplenium (Asplenium nidus).

Its lanceolate leaves surround a fibrous “nest” in the center. It is not difficult to grow, but its young leaves should not be touched. Aspleniums of another type have fronds that are thinly dissected and, when mature, bear numerous tiny sprouts.

Asplenium bulbous (A.bulbiferum) is a common species.

Asplenium viviparous (A. viviparum) is smaller, and its fronds are more curved.

Blekhnum (BLECHNUM) or derby looks like a palm tree. The large crown consists of hard fronds, with age a well-defined trunk develops – the crown reaches 1 m in diameter.

The most popular species is the humpback blechnum (Blechnum gibbum).

Less common is the Brazilian blehnum (B. braziliense).

Davallia (DAVALLIA) is grown for its thick rhizomes that extend beyond the rim of the pot. Hence its popular names – Hare’s feet , Squirrel’s and Rabbit’s feet.

Pay attention to the photo of an indoor fern called “Davallia canariensis” (Davallia canariensis) – this species has foliage similar to carrot tops.

Platycerium (PLATYCERIUM) or flathorn – has large and spectacular fronds. The name of this species of fern is due to its huge leaves, usually divided at the ends into antler-like lobes. Their fronds are of two different types – sterile and spore-bearing.

Platycerium bifurcatum is a popular and easy-to-grow species.

Dixonia (DICKSONIA) in its youth is a lovely pot plant, but in adulthood it forms a tall tree with a trunk 3-6 m tall. Suitable for large rooms.

Nephrolepis (EPHROLEPIS) – a species that does not tolerate neighborhood. If you can only have one fern, choose a Nephrolepis variety.

Popular species with dense foliage:

Nephrolepis cordifolia (Nephrolepis cordifolia)

and Nephrolepis sublime (N. exaltata).

Particularly good is the form of nephrolepis sublime Bostoniensis and many of its other varieties.

The leaves are sometimes very strongly dissected, which creates a fluffy or lacy effect.

Pelleya (PELLAEA) has an unusual feature for a fern – it prefers dry habitats.

Round-leaved pellet (Pellaea rotundifolia) is easy to grow. Its long arcuately curved fronds depart from a creeping rhizome.

Pelleya green (P. viridis) is much more like a classic fern.

Centipede, polypodium (POLYPODIUM) is a type of indoor fern with deeply dissected leaves on thin stems. It has 2 unusual features – the rhizome creeps on the surface, and it is able to grow in dry air.

The most attractive polypodium variety is Mandainum.

Pteris (PTERIS) has many varieties.

The most popular variety is Cretan Pteris (Pteris cretica) of various colors and shapes.

The cultivar Albolineata has leaves with a creamy center, while the cultivar Alexandrae has a cockscomb tip.

The cutest xiphoid pteris Victoriae (P. ensiformis victoriae) with leaves with a silvery center.

Pteris trembling (P. tremula) is quite different in its petioles 1 m long and pinnate leaves.

Pteris ribbon (P.vittata) has long leaves arranged like steps of a ladder.

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