Blehnum

Blehnum is one of the genera of ferns, which, moreover, has a completely direct relationship to loosestrife cultures. This family includes more than two hundred different types of plants, which are distinguished by the fact that they have incredibly high decorative indicators, and in general, from such a variety, any gardener can choose a plant for himself according to his own wishes and in accordance with his tastes.

The genus is particularly distinguished due to the fact that the leaves of the plant are very long, leathery and palm-like, in other words, the leaves are also called vayas. The leaves have a pale green color, while they are collected in a very rich and dense rosette, which has a very decorative appearance. Young shrubs can look very fresh and sophisticated, but trees that reach a more mature age have a half-meter trunk in height, while the palm tree is very low, but still this does not at all negate the fact that blehnum looks incredibly attractive and decorative.

The leaves of the fern are elongated, oval, and can also be very deeply cut, which indicates that this plant belongs to the fern culture. There are also several types of blechnum, in which the lobes are so far apart that this distance can be much greater than their width. In general, in general, this plant looks very decorative, each species has its own features and characteristics that cannot be simply ignored. In this article, we will tell you how to properly care for blechnum at home, as well as what types of blechnum exist, and how these types differ from each other. The article will be especially interesting for those who already have experience in growing fern crops, but they do not want to stop at the same place and strive to discover new plant species with their own traits and characteristics. The article is no less important for novice flower growers, because in it we will dwell in more detail on how to care for ferns, what agrotechnical requirements are put forward by this plant, and what should be done to make the plant feel as comfortable as possible in absolutely any conditions.

Fern Blehnum: home care

Indoor plant Blehnum: photo

Of course, it is worth making a reservation right away and mentioning that the blehnum fern is the very plant that is quite difficult to grow directly at home. This is due to the fact that it has a rather capricious character and puts forward a large number of requirements when it comes to caring for the Blehnum fern. In order for the plant to normally adapt and develop in the conditions set by the grower, you still need to know about some of the rules for the care of the Blehnum fern and adhere to them to get a really decent result.

The indoor plant Blehnum needs to be either in partial shade, or in more diffused lighting, since direct sunlight is contraindicated for the plant. This can lead to the formation of burns on the fern leaves, which will affect not only the external characteristics, but also the fact that the plant can be susceptible to diseases. In this regard, experienced flower growers recommend placing ferns on windowsills, the windows of which face north, and where there will be a minimum amount of sunlight.If flower growers do not have this opportunity, then you can generally place the planting away from windows so that the plant is at a safe distance from direct sunlight. Such a simple procedure can save the life of a plant, so it is worth remembering this rule.

Fern Blehnum is a plant that really loves warmth very much. So, in the summer, the plant must be in a room where the temperature ranges from 20 to 25 degrees, not lower. If winter comes, the temperature may be slightly lower, and it varies from 18 to 20 degrees. It is also worth remembering that the temperature in the room cannot drop below 16 degrees, otherwise this will lead to the fact that the plant's immunity will weaken, and after a while it will die altogether. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain temperatures, follow all the rules for placing a fern, because this way you can not only save his life, but also make the plant even more attractive in appearance. It is also worth fencing the plant from too strong gusts of wind and from drafts, as well as not allowing too sharp changes in temperature, as this has a very negative effect on the plant, its decorative features and, in general, so that it develops normally when normal conditions for development. Ventilate the room (especially the room) in which the blechnum is located should be extremely careful, while it should not be lowered so that a large amount of cool or cold air masses fall on the plant.

The soil, the substrate in which the plant is located, when it is in the pot, must be constantly moistened, but in no case should the plant be excessively moistened. It is also impossible for the liquid to stagnate in the soil, since this creates a swampy environment in which harmful bacteria and microorganisms develop and multiply. It is recommended to water the fern only when the topsoil has already dried out, and for this it is worth taking not running water, but warm and settled water. You can also use rain and melt water for irrigation, because it is also ideal for this. In principle, there are usually no difficulties with watering if the gardener follows all the rules and treats the plant and its condition with all care and responsibility.

Humidity is also an aspect worth paying closer attention to. The humidity in the room should be more than 60% for the plant to feel good, calm and comfortable. You can increase the humidity of the air yourself, for this it is worth placing the plant next to a home fountain, or installing a fern nearby with an open container filled with water. As a rule, conventional spraying for blehnums is completely lacking, especially if you spray the plant during the heating season - the moisture simply will not reach the plant systems and will not be able to perform its functions. The ideal place for installing a blechnum is a spacious bathroom, which will also be well lit, and where, in principle, a high level of humidity is initially implied, which is ideal for this fern plant.

As for the soil or soil mixture, it is desirable that it be neutral, but a slightly acidic soil mixture is also suitable. In order to cook it yourself at home, it is recommended to use this recipe: take humus, leaf and peat lands in equal shares, mix them, add coarse sand to the mixture, and all this is also very thoroughly mixed. You can add a certain amount of tree bark to the resulting mixture, usually coniferous bark is excellent, as it can improve the structure of the soil and make it more comfortable for the further growth of the fern.If there is no time to make the mixture yourself, then in a gardening store you can purchase specially prepared soil, which is just intended for planting fern crops in it. Do not forget that, like any other plant, blehnum also needs good drainage. It should be installed at the very bottom of the container in which the fern will grow, and thanks to drainage, you can get rid of one of the most common problems - stagnation of liquid near the root system of the plant.

Top dressing is recommended during the period of the most intensive growth and development of the plant. Usually, feeding is carried out twice a month, that is, once a week. To feed the plant, it is best to use complex mineral fertilizers and mixtures, which are specially designed for ornamental and deciduous plants. In this case, it is worth taking not the entire dose indicated on the package, but only half of it, so that the fertilizer is better absorbed by the fern, and so that the plant does not develop any diseases that could be provoked by an excess of fertilizer. In winter, it is best not to add any fertilizers and substances to the soil at all, since at this time the plant is dormant, so you should not carry out any interventions at all.

Transplant - we must also mention it. Experienced gardeners recommend not replanting the plant once again, but doing this only in case of serious need. For example, if the root system has outgrown the pot, feels cramped in it, then certainly the only way to save the plant is to transplant it into another container of a larger size. It is best to prescribe a transplant in the spring, so that the plant has time to take root, gain strength and quickly demonstrate its decorative features and traits.

The houseplant Blehnum has a distinct trunk, and in principle it does not need pruning at all, since ferns branch only in very rare and exceptional cases. So on pruning, the florist will be able to save enough of his physical strength and his own free time. One way or another, it is still worth inspecting the plant, removing branches and leaves that have been damaged or affected by insects or pests, diseases, so that infections do not spread even further.

In order for the houseplant Blehnum to successfully and safely take root at home, it is recommended to propagate it in such a way as division. To do this, a specimen of a fern, which has grown a lot, should be divided into several parts, or in half. At the same time, some growth points should be located on each separated part, since it is they who will then form the fern bush. The more growth points are located on a separate part of the bush, the faster the division will take root in new conditions, and the adaptation will take place without any problems. Also, if the gardener suddenly has a desire, then he can collect controversial material, which is located from the inside of the leaves, and then these spores are sown in containers. To do this, it will be necessary to equip a very small greenhouse and create all favorable conditions for the spores to germinate, but it is also worth remembering that in this case the fern will grow much more slowly than if the plant propagated using another method - by division.

Ferns are crops that are distinguished by the fact that they are incredibly resistant to attacks from pests. Diseases can form only if the gardener does not follow the rules of caring for Blehnum and agricultural technology, or initially made mistakes when planting a plant in a container. Therefore, it is worth remembering that compliance with such basic rules can save the life of a plant.And the rules and regulations that we are talking about do not present any difficulties at all, even for those gardeners who have absolutely no experience in growing ferns. But there are some circumstances in which the fern does not respond very well. For example, a plant feels uncomfortable if the humidity level in the room is too low. Also, sometimes ferns can experience difficulty in growth and development due to the fact that the composition of the provided substrate is not quite suitable for them, watering is carried out with too cold and not settled water. In general, as a rule, in almost every situation, the reaction of the plant is exactly the same, they begin to change their color, and spots can form on the surface of the leaves, which also indicate that something is wrong with the plant, and the florist should turn to this Attention. The leaves can curl, but the condition can be restored if all the unfavorable factors that essentially provoked this condition of the plant are removed. Of course, there are different types of Blehnum ferns, and in the next part of the article we will just dwell in more detail on their identification and a more detailed description.

The main types of fern

As a rule, there are a huge number of fern species, but only a few can be perfectly cultivated at home, since they have all the capabilities and characteristics for this. Next, we will list several species that are great for growing at home, and tell you about some of their features.

• Indoor plant Blehnum Humpbacked - in general, this type of fern comes from fairly humid regions - New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, which may not even be known to every grower. The leaves do not have any petioles, they are usually painted in a very juicy and bright green hue. The dissection is usually carried out only to the central vein, the lobes are very narrow, pointed at the tips. The bases are very wide, sometimes they can even grow together slightly. In general, this particular species is considered, perhaps, the most popular among all other types of ferns, so that it can be found most often in home plantings and in interior design.
  

Indoor plant Blehnum Humpbacked: photo

• Blehnum Brazilian - based on the name, you can immediately understand that the plant is originally from Brazil. The fern has a pronounced trunk, and the leaf plates differ in their width and saturation in terms of color. The foliage is olive-colored if we talk about younger plants, but those ferns that have already matured - their deciduous part is painted in a dark, deep green hue, which also looks very attractive, and the plant as a whole is a decorative element that can beautify absolutely any room, house or apartment.
  
• Blehnum Mura - This fern species is especially interesting, and now we will tell you why. The plant is very short, almost dwarf, reaching no more than thirty centimeters in height. The petioles are elongated and very thin, while they are painted in a deep dark shade, which sometimes even seems to be almost black. The leaves are glossy, their color is the same dark, deep, green, it seems almost black. Under natural conditions, such a fern can grow only in Australia, but if we talk about the home cultivation of this type of fern, then it perfectly takes root in any apartment in any city in our country. Of course, it is important to create all possible favorable conditions for the plant to feel comfortable, and then an excellent decorative result will not take too long.
• River Blehnum is another fern species that is well cultivated at home. The homeland of this species of blehnum is New Zealand, and initially the fern was actively distributed in Australia. The leaf lobes are very wide and oval, while they are not too long, the crown has an almost spherical shape - quite unusual if we talk directly about ferns that grow in indoor conditions. Plant height usually reaches forty centimeters. The width of the plant is usually thirty centimeters, no more.