Scolopendrium leaflet (Asplenium scolopendrium) belongs to an extensive group of perennial ferns. In the botanical classifier, he is credited with being related to the Kostenets family. In the popular saying, you can often hear the name "deer tongue". The plant comes from the countries of Eurasia, where it mainly lives in mountainous areas. The fern climbs limestones or hides in narrow rocky gorges.
Leaflet description
A shortened, even rhizome, covered with a thick layer of scales, serves as the basis for the development of dense petiole leaves gathered together. The length of the leathery wai is approximately 60 cm in mature specimens. A convex vein is clearly visible on the surface. The foliage is belt-shaped. The width of the plates reaches 3-7 cm, depending on the variety denomination. The bottom of the sheet looks like a heart. The petioles on which the plates are held are overgrown with small brown hairs with a greenish tint. On the reverse side, oblong spores are grouped. They sit in pairs in a perpendicular direction to the main vein. Sori are considered an important reproductive organ.
In addition to smooth foliage, there are ferns with wavy or split fronds. On their plots, flower growers grow various varieties and hybrids of the centipede leaflet. Let's list some of them and pay attention to the key features:
- "Crispa" - foliage with a folded edge, which gives the bushes "curliness" and visually increases in volume;
- "Undulata" - decorated with leaves with wavy edges, and the plates seem to be corrugated along the length of the main vein;
- "Marginatum" - has narrow, divided into blades vayami with a curly edge;
- "Lacerata" - stands out against the background of other varieties with wide leaves, whose tips are not corrugated along the entire perimeter;
- "Cristatum" - the top of the leaves are comb, and the rest of the surface is solid and smooth;
- "Ramosum" - this species is in demand more than others, because it has forked spreading fronds;
- "Ramo Cristatum" - the plant is characterized by curly, lush leaves.
Caring for a skolopendra leaflet at home
The leaflet is adapted for home cultivation, provided that the plant is provided with proper care and a suitable microclimate is created.
Location and lighting
Direct rays are detrimental to the fern. At home, they put the bushes away from the window and choose a darkened corner. If it is not possible to protect the flowerpot from the sun, you can keep the plant on the windowsill on the north side of the building.
Temperature
During the period of freezing of vegetative processes, the pots with a leaflet are transferred to a cool room, and when the intensive growth of greenery begins, they are returned back to the warmth. In the summertime, flower growers are advised to adhere to a temperature regime of 20-250C. In winter, the thermometer should not fall below 120FROM.
Watering
Reindeer tongue should be watered frequently throughout the year.Drying out of the substrate negatively affects the development of culture. Moistened, but not wet structure - the optimal state of the soil mixture. Excess water leads to root rot and death of the seedling. Failure in watering mode is the cause of many leaflet diseases.
Irrigation water is defended for 24 hours until there are no chlorine impurities in it, which are debugged in the soil next to the root system. Since the fern prefers to grow on limestone, they take a liquid with normal hardness.
Air humidity
Most city apartments are characterized by low air humidity, and the leaflet needs a constant source of moisture. Without spraying, foliage wilts and loses turgor pressure. Rinsing the herbs under a stream of a warm shower is beneficial. To increase the humidity, pallets with expanded clay or pebbles are installed near the leaf flowerpot, where a little water is poured. If there is no expanded clay at hand, you can put buckets or jars of cold water on the floor, then the plant will absorb just as much moisture as it takes.
Overdried air harms young shoots, especially in the early stages of development. If the shoots do not receive the required amount of moisture, then wilting and dying off awaits them.
Soil composition
The planting of the leaflet is carried out in a lime-type soil with a high content of nutrients. It is important that the substrate is breathable. Dredge is bought in a store or assembled by hand. Take 1 part of chopped pine bark, 2 parts of leafy soil and 1 part of sand. The bottom of the container is covered with drainage material to drain the liquid.
Top dressing
Fern is very carefully applied under the fern bushes. The procedure is performed in spring or summer at the time of active growth of leaf mass. It is enough to fertilize the seedlings once every 3-4 weeks with complex mixtures for fern crops. It is recommended to add only half of the amount indicated by the manufacturer in the instructions.
Transfer
At a young age, leaflet bushes are transplanted every year in March or April, so as not to hamper the roots in growth. The new flowerpot is selected one size larger than the previous one. When the bush turns 3-4 years old, the growing season is already slower, and the roots do not grow so intensively. Therefore, the plant is allowed to be transplanted only once every 2-3 years. The apical buds should not be covered with earth.
Leaflet propagation methods
Cultural species of scolopendricum leaflet in room conditions are propagated by division. The bushes are divided during transplantation into several healthy sections. Another way to reproduce a leaflet is to sow ripe spores in the fall. However, the latter method is laborious and does not always bring results.
Diseases and pests
The leaflet resists a number of dangerous diseases and insects. Unlike other decorative deciduous plants, it is able to restore wilted foliage and grow fresh greens again if the root system is not completely dead. It will take a little time for young growth to appear from the dormant buds that hide in the ground. This can be prevented by prolonged drought, dehydration of the rhizome, lowering the air temperature in the room below the critical level, or causing burns to the leaves.
If the bushes of the leaf have lost their visual appeal, the ground part is completely cut off to allow the plant to acquire new fronds. However, in the event of death and decay of the roots, which occurs when deviating from the irrigation regime, there is practically no chance of saving the fern.
