Southern maidenhair fern profile

Southern maidenhair fern, scientific name Adiantum capillus-veneris is a common family potted foliage plant called Southern Maidenhair because of its elongated stems and wire-like color. Don't look down on this plant, where it is there is calcareous soil. Place Southern maidenhair fern in your living room or bedroom and it will grow well without sunlight.

Southern maidenhair fern picture

Growth habit of Southern maidenhair fern

Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) prefers a rich, well permeable calcareous sandy loam. Home potted plants can be made from a mixture of loam, foliage and river sand. southern maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is an indicator plant of calcareous soil, native to running streams or dripping rocks at an elevation of 100~2800 m.

The optimum growth temperature ofSouthern maidenhair fern is 21~25℃ in daytime and 12~15℃ at night. As long as the temperature is above 5 ° C, the leaves will keep green, but under 5 ° C the leaves will be frostbitten.

Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) likes scattered light and is afraid of the sun. southern maidenhair fern should be put in the place with bright light indoors, although place 1 year also can grow normally.

Southern maidenhair ferndistribution area

Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is found in warm regions of Africa, America, Europe, Oceania and Asia.

Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is available in Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, Beijing, Northeast China.

Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is widely distributed in Africa, America, Europe, Oceania and other warm regions of Asia.

Model specimens of Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) were collected from Europe (United Kingdom).

Southern maidenhair fern growing methods

(1) Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) likes warm and humid and semi-cloudy environments, avoiding direct sunlight. It is best to put Southern maidenhair fern in a place where the indoor sunlight does not shine, too much too strong light will cause the leaf edge to withered and scorched. Growth is good at 10~20℃ temperature, high temperature in summer will inhibit growth, winter is not less than 5℃, in order to evergreen.

(2) Ferns grow in humid environments, and Southern maidenhair fern is no exception. In the cultivation, in addition to paying attention to keep the soil moist, but also often to the leaf surface water, in order to improve the air humidity, plants appear yellowing, often caused by insufficient humidity. There is also the possibility of freezing damage.

(3) Repot once a year in spring, prune to dry leaves and old roots. The basin soil for Southern maidenhair fern should be changed into fresh, fertile and loose leaf soil, and had better add a small amount of brick debris.

The propagation of Southern maidenhair fern

Southern maidenhair fern division propagation

The Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is usually propagated by division, which can preserve the parent character. Generally in the next April when the pot change, depending on the size of the mother plant, the plant base can be divided into one or one into three for cultivation. In addition, once the mature spores are scattered in the moist soil, they will also develop into seedlings, and when they are a little older, they will dig the pot and become new plants.

In the indoor four seasons can be, but generally in early spring combined with the basin. Remove the mother plant from the pot, cut off its rhizomes, so that each with part of the rhizome and leaves, and then plant in small pots. Around the rhizome of Southern maidenhair fern covered with mixed soil, irrigation and then placed in the wet environment culture, you can get new plants.

The spore propagation of Southern maidenhair fern

The substrate peat and fine sand are placed in an oven and sterilized at high temperature to kill bacteria and weed seeds. Then, put the sterilized soil into a shallow seeding pot. Cut off the leaves with mature spores, concentrate the spores and evenly spread them in the shallow sowing basin without covering the soil. Cover Southern maidenhair fern with glass sheets, soak the soil from the bottom of the basin, keep the soil moist, and place them in the semi-shade environment of 20~25℃. After about 1 month, the spores can germinate into the proto leafs, and can be planted after the basin is overgrown. Pay attention to 1~2 days before planting to remove the planting pot on the glass for ventilation, so as not to cause plant rot or disease and insect pests. In addition, in a warm, damp environment, the spores spread easily and propagate themselves. 

Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) grows fast, changes pot in spring every year, pot soil with leaf rot soil to add a small amount of brick dust and wood ash powder preparation. Southern maidenhair fern needs to be fully watered and sprinkled water, if the basin soil dries when wet, the leaves easily turn yellow. Fertilizer 1 times every half a month, can choose Huiyou 15-15-30 potted flower fertilizer. Fertilizer, fertilizer liquid by all means avoid stain foliage. Summer avoided strong light exposure, so as not to cause the leaf edge of Southern Maidenhair scorched, winter moved to indoor maintenance.

Garden use of Southern maidenhair fern

Among ferns, Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is one of the most widely cultivated species. Beautiful stems and leaves, beautiful shape, compact plant type, extremely suitable for small pot cultivation and embellishment bonsai rocks. Because the black petiole is thin and shiny, similar to human hair, plus its texture is very soft, like a girl's soft hair, so it is also called "girl's hair"; Southern maidenhair fern thin pale green leaves are elegant and graceful with a glossy black petiole. Southern maidenhair fern likes shade, strong adaptability, easy cultivation, more suitable for indoor perennial pot ornamental. As a small potted plant, it is better than asparagus in many aspects. Small potted plants can be placed on the desk, tea table; Larger potted can be used in order to decorate the windowsill of shaded room, corridor or sitting room, can offer a person for a longer time to appreciate. Southern maidenhair fern foliage is also a good leaf cutting material and dried flower material.