Venus hair: plant description and home care. Adiantum (Adiantum) or venus hair. Care, reproduction at home What does a healthy hair root look like?

The plant adiuantum (Adiantum), which is also called adiant, belongs to the genus of ferns of the monotypic family Pterisaceae. This genus includes about 200 species. The name of such a plant consists of the prefix "a", which translates as "without-, non-", and the second part of the name from Greek is translated as "wet", or "moisten". As a result, the name of such a flower is translated as “wetless plant”, this is due to the fact that its foliage has the ability to repel water, so that it does not get wet. Such a plant is most often found in the tropical regions of the South American Andes and East Asia. Adiantum prefers to grow on fertile, moist soil, which is typical for rocks in places located near waterfalls and springs. Adiantum was known to man already in the time of Pliny the Elder, who was the author of Natural History, he wrote about him in his writings. Among flower growers, the maidenhair is the most popular among all decorative ferns. It can be grown both at home and in a greenhouse. In addition to the fact that this plant has a spectacular appearance, it is also healing.

Bloom. Grown as an ornamental leafy plant.
illumination. Shaded location (east and north facing windows are best).
Temperature regime. IN summer time no more than 22 degrees, and in winter - about 15 degrees.
. It is necessary to moisten the substrate in a pot systematically. In the warm season, this is done twice a week, and in the cold - 1 time in 7 days. It is recommended to water the fern using the bottom watering method; for this, the pot with the bush is immersed in a container filled with water.
Air humidity. It must be elevated. On hot days, it is recommended to moisten the foliage from the sprayer every day.
Fertilizer. In April-September, the fern is fed with fertilizer for decorative leafy plants in half the dose recommended by the manufacturer. IN winter time feeding is not carried out.
rest period. October-February.
Transfer. On average, the maidenhair is transplanted 1 time in 2 or 3 years.
reproduction. Spores and division of the rhizome.
Harmful insects. Scale insects, mealybugs, aphids and spider mites.
Diseases. If you take care of the fern incorrectly, then it will lose its decorative effect.
Properties. Fern has healing properties which are widely used in Chinese folk medicine and in Western Europe.

Adiantum fern is a perennial herbaceous plant, its rhizome is thin and creeping, it is covered with dull brown or black scales. Leaf plates can be alternate or opposite, they have dark glossy petioles, which reach a length of about 25 centimeters. The petioles are covered with scales at the base. The smooth and wide strongly dissected foliage is painted in green or in a gray color. Its segments are fan-shaped, they have an obovate, wedge-shaped and trapezoid shape. On the wrong side of the segments along the veins are sori with sporangia of an oblong, round or linear shape. Most often, the maidenhair is grown in the garden, and at home, the maidenhair, called "Venus hair", is most often cultivated, as well as the transparent maidenhair, Ruddy, tender, etc.

Adiantum care at home

illumination

When grown at home, the maidenhair reacts extremely negatively to the direct rays of the sun. It grows well in partial shade, in this regard, window sills of northern and eastern orientation are excellent for it. The fact is that due to excessively bright light, the lacy greenish foliage begins to die off.

Air humidity and temperature

Room adiantum needs clean and fresh air, but it needs to be protected from drafts, and it also does not like dust. Therefore, the room where the flower stands should be systematically ventilated, and wet cleaning should also be regular. In the kitchen for a fern, the air is very heavy, which can destroy it, and tobacco smoke can also harm it.

Make sure that in the warm season the temperature in the room is not higher than 22 degrees, as the heat is detrimental to this plant. And in winter, it is recommended to move it to a cool place (about 15 degrees), located away from heaters. Try to turn and rearrange the container with the flower as little as possible, as it reacts extremely negatively to this.

Adiantum needs high humidity. To do this, on hot days, even in summer, even in winter, it should be moistened with warm water from a spray bottle. However, when the room is too cold, it is better not to moisten the bush, because in this case this procedure can harm it.

Fern top dressing is carried out only in April-September. To do this, use a liquid fertilizer for decorative foliage indoor plants half the dose recommended by the manufacturer (see instructions). Fertilizers are applied to the substrate at intervals of 1 time in 20 days. In winter, the plant is not fed.

pruning

In order for the maidenhair to always be attractive, it will need regular pruning, which is carried out in the spring. To do this, remove very old, sluggish and yellowing leaves. If pruning is carried out in a timely manner, then the bush will spend the saved forces on the formation of new wai. When the bush is cut, it is moistened with a sprayer and watered.

Such a fern must be systematically watered in a timely manner. In no case do not allow the earthen clod to dry out in a pot, as this can cause the foliage to dry out and die. If water stagnates in the substrate, then rot may appear on the roots. To prevent uneven watering, bottom watering is used for ferns. To do this, the container with the bush is immersed in water, which should fill the basin, it should be well-settled and room temperature. You need to pull out the pot only after the surface of the earth mixture in the container with the flower begins to shine from the water. Then the plant is transferred to the sink and wait until the excess liquid drains, and only after that it is transferred to a permanent place. In winter, the frequency of watering should be reduced, but the substrate will need to be moistened in the same way. On average, in summer it is necessary to moisten the soil twice in 7 days, and in the cold season - once a week.

Adiantum transplant

Such a fern is characterized by very slow growth, and also by the fact that it prefers to grow in a tight container. In this regard, it is transplanted only when roots appear from the drainage holes. On average, transplantation is carried out 1 time in 2 or 3 years in the spring. If the bush is old, then instead of transplanting, it is changed every year in a pot upper layer soil mixtures with a thickness of 50 to 70 mm.

The fern has a very powerful root system, therefore, for its cultivation, it is recommended to choose a wide pot made of wood or ceramics (unglazed from the inside), there should be large drainage holes at the bottom. A good drainage layer must be made at the bottom of the container. A suitable substrate should be loose and acidic, as well as saturated with humus, the composition may be as follows: 1 part leafy soil and 2 parts peat. The drainage layer is covered with a thin layer of soil mixture, after which the plant is carefully transferred into the pot. Carefully fill all the voids with a new soil mixture, while it is not necessary to compact it strongly, since the roots should be in a loose substrate.

Reproduction methods

IN room conditions maidenhair can be propagated by dividing the rhizome. During the spring transplant, an adult overgrown bush is pulled out of the pot. It is divided into several parts, using a very sharp tool for this. In delenki, the places of cuts are sprinkled with coal powder, after which they are planted in individual pots. Before dividing a bush, inspect it. If it has few growth points, then the plant is not suitable for division, since as a result of this procedure it may die.

Planted delenki take root quite long time and only then start growing. Before cutting the rhizome into pieces, wait until the clod of earth in the pot dries well. And when planting delenki in separate pots, make sure that the root neck is not too deep into the substrate, otherwise rot may appear on the shoots

You can also propagate the maidenhair at room conditions with spores. To do this, take a low container and fill it with a soil mixture consisting of sand, peat and leafy soil (1: 2: 1). Compact the substrate and spill it with freshly boiled water. When it becomes cool, evenly distribute the spores on its surface, cover the crops with a film (glass) on top and transfer them to a warm and dark place. Before sowing, spores for disinfection are moistened from a sprayer with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In order for the seedlings to appear as quickly as possible, the crops will need bottom heating up to 21 degrees. The first shoots may appear both after 1 week and after 3 months. When this happens, the shelter is removed from the container, and the crops are moved to a well-lit place, protected from direct sunlight. The grown plants dive into a larger container, keeping a distance of 25 mm between them. But it is better to immediately plant them in 2-3 pieces in individual containers filled with peat soil.

Pests

The foliage of the maidenhair contains substances that repel pests. But today, some insects are able to quickly adapt to various poisons, even very strong ones. In this regard, scale insects, aphids, mealybugs and spider mites can settle on the plant.

If scale insects are found on the bush, then they must be removed from it with a brush or a cotton swab moistened with alcohol. They fight against aphids by treating the plant with a solution of soap, which must be washed off the foliage. And if the aphid still remains, then the treatment is carried out using a solution of Intavir, Derris, Antitlin, Aktellik, Decis, Biotlin or Fitoverm for this. To get rid of the mealybug, the bush must be sprayed with a special insecticidal preparation, for example: Confidant, Antitlin, Aktara, Biotlin, Confidor, Fitoverm or Mospilan. If spider mites are found, then treatment with Fitoverm or Aktellik will be required.

Diseases

Adiantum is very resistant to diseases, but if it is not properly cared for, this can negatively affect its decorative effect. For example, due to poor watering or when gas is burned near a plant, its foliage begins to dry out and turn brown at the edges. Flying leaves indicates that the air in the room is excessively dry. In this regard, it is necessary to moisten and water the bush regularly and in a timely manner.

If the leaves of the bush become faded, this means that the place where it stands is lit too intensely. Therefore, move the pot to a darker place. If the foliage of the maidenhair twists, but does not dry out, then this is a sign that the room has excessively high humidity and too low air temperature.

Shoots dry up, the tips of the leaves dry- low humidity, hot.
Pale, wilted leaves― overflow of the soil at the lowered temperature. Root rot may appear.
In the case when in winter at an elevated temperature in the room all leaves dried up, the maidenhair should be moved to a cool room (18–20 degrees) and systematically moisten the ground. New leaves may form if the roots survive.
The leaves turn pale, turn yellow and dry- They are exposed to direct sunlight.
Foliage is turning yellow- too little watering or the flower needs top dressing.

Properties of the maidenhair

The composition of the foliage of the maidenhair includes triterpenoids, flavonoids, lipids, steroids, phenolcarboxylic acids and their derivatives, as well as essential oil. On the territory of Western Europe, infusions, medicinal powders and syrups, preparation from leaf plates of such a plant are widely used. Syrups and infusions are used as an antipyretic and expectorant agent, and the aqueous extract has antimicrobial properties.

Means made on the basis of adiantum are used for diseases of the liver, respiratory tract, Bladder and spleen. The juice obtained from the foliage is used to make compresses and lotions from the bites of rabid animals for detoxification, and also in the treatment of malignant ulcers. In Chinese medicine, a decoction is prepared from the foliage of the maidenhair, which helps in the treatment of alcohol addiction.

Types of adiantum with photos and names

Adiantum "venus hair" (Adiantum capillus-veneris)

Under natural conditions, the species can be found in the mountains of the Crimea and the Caucasus, and also in Central Asia. It prefers to grow on limestone wet rocks near water sources. Its thin rhizomes are painted black. The species got its name due to the fact that delicate and light fan-shaped leaf plates of a greenish color grow on long petioles (about 25 centimeters). As a rule, the species is cultivated at home.

Adiantum stop (Adiantum pedatum)

This species is one of the most beautiful ferns. An openwork plant, distinguished by its elegance, can be found in the deciduous forests of North America and East Asia. The height of the bush is about 0.6 m. Its foliage is glossy, one-sided, flat, greenish in color, it is pinnately dissected and incised along the edge. Leaf plates are located on thin glossy petioles horizontally. The species has a very high frost resistance, it is able to withstand temperatures down to minus 35 degrees. The most popular varieties:

Compactum- bush height about 0.35 m;
Imbricatum- such a dwarf variety reaches a height of only about 15 centimeters;
Aleutikum- this variety has a height of only about 10–12 centimeters, but it can reach a width of 15 to 20 centimeters, most often it is grown in a pot, since it tolerates bright sunlight better than other ferns;
Japonicum- a young bush has shoots of a copper-pink hue, but over time they turn into green color, the height of the bush is up to 0.45 m, and in diameter it reaches about 0.3 m.

Adiantum gentle (Adiantum tenerum)

Under natural conditions, the species can be found in the tropical regions of America and in the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The creeping rhizome of the bush is quite short. Three-pinnate leaf plates at the base have a wedge-shaped shape, and along the upper edge they are broadly serrated. The foliage has a width of about half a meter, and a length of up to 0.7 m, it grows on long petioles (about 0.3 m). The best varieties:

Farlanes― the foliage at a bush is very effectively twisted;
Scutum Roseum- young foliage in height can reach 0.3 m, it has a changeable color from green to pinkish.

Adiantum small-haired (Adiantum hispidulum)

In nature, the species prefers to grow along the snow line of the African mountains, and it is also found in Australia, Madagascar, India and New Zealand. The rhizome of the bush is creeping, the shape of the leaves is palmately dissected, they are covered with small bristles, and their length varies from 15 to 25 centimeters. Foliage is located on petioles about 0.35 m long. Diamond-shaped leaves of the second order are about 5 mm wide and up to 20 mm long, both of their surfaces are covered with small bristles. In indoor conditions, the view looks very impressive.

Adiantum Ruddy (Adiantum raddianum)

Or wedge-shaped (Adiantum cuneatum). This epiphyte is native to subtropical Brazilian forests. The length of gracefully curved leaf plates is about 0.45 m, and their width is up to 0.25 m. The foliage is dissected into numerous rich green leaves, which are located on glossy black petioles. Popular varieties:

Grasillium and Micropinnulum- these varieties have finely dissected foliage and are highly demanding on high humidity, so they are recommended to be cultivated in florariums;
Fritz Loot and Festum- these varieties are more resistant to adverse conditions, and therefore they can be cultivated at home.

Adiantum tailed (Adiantum caudatum)

The species is grown as an ampelous plant, since its foliage reaches a length of about 0.6 m. Leaf petioles have a brown color, and offspring are located on the tops of the leaves. This type reacts extremely negatively to drying out a clod of earth in a pot.

Beautiful maidenhair (Adiantum formosum)

The height of the bush of this species is about 100 cm, its rhizome is very fragile. Multi-pinnate leaves are located on petioles of a black-violet hue. The dark green segments of the leaf blades are triangular-obovate in shape.

Adiantum charming (Adiantum venustum)

In nature, the species can be found in Kashmir and Nepal. Narrow greenish leaf plates are about 20 centimeters long, and they are located on purple-black petioles. The segments of the foliage are slightly pointed. If the bush is exposed low temperatures, then its foliage will turn pale Brown color.

Adiantum wedge-shaped (Adiantum cuneatum)

The species is similar to the beautiful maidenhair, but its sori are shaped like a horseshoe. He comes from the South of Brazil.

Adiantum transparent (Adiantum diaphanum)

The height of the bush varies from 0.25 to 0.4 m. Pinnate leaf plates at the base are double-pinnate. The length of wai is about 20 centimeters, and the width is up to 3 centimeters, they are located on thin long (about 20 centimeters) petioles. The greenish segments of the leaf blades are bare and broadly oval in shape.

Adiantum Fragrans (Adiantum Fragrans)

This species is very popular with flower growers. Under natural conditions, it is found in southern Asia and the South American Andes, where it forms dense bushes. This tender fern is characterized by rapid growth, it reaches a height of about half a meter. The length of the greenish oval-shaped leaf plates is about 30 mm, and the width is up to 15 mm, they are located on very long petioles (from 10 to 15 centimeters).

Signs associated with the maidenhair

If a person is in the same room with an adiantum, then he feels his incredible freshness. In addition, the fern helps to reduce the level of nervousness in the atmosphere, and it is also able to inspire complacency.

Adiantum venus hair, translated from Latin - Adiantum capillus-veneris, this plant is also called a female fern or adian leaf. It grows in all tropical regions, and belongs to the type of ferns, the Pteris family.

This plant does not bloom, its leaves are beautiful, openwork and delicate, from fifteen to thirty-five centimeters long, they are fan-shaped, slightly jagged, light green in color, and the stems are thin with a blackish tinge. The rhizome of the female creeping fern is dark brown.

Adiantum is quite - still capricious, due to dry air in the room or insufficient watering, problems are possible with it, so it feels better in wet rooms. Venus hair shows its decorative properties throughout the year, and from October to April it has a dormant period.

Under natural conditions, the female fern will grow in rock crevices, in forests, along river banks, near waterfalls. In the wild, it is found in the Caucasus and in the regions of the Crimea. He has big success and in indoor floriculture, where several of its types are distinguished, for example, the maidenhair is beautiful and finely pubescent.

Adiantum is one of the favorite indoor plants, as its leaves are pinnate, and, one might say, graceful. Its second name is venus hair, the plant owes its thin, shiny petioles, which are usually associated with female curls.

And the openwork foliage resembles curls. In European countries, it is called "girl's hair." I must say that its leaves are not wetted with water, and the droplets formed quietly flow down from their surface.

Required growing conditions

Location. Under direct sunlight, the leaves of the maidenhair burn or turn yellow. Adiantum should be protected from direct sun rays. A north-facing window is ideal. Fragile maidenhair fronds should not be exposed to direct sunlight and under water. The best place for the maidenhair, not on the windowsill (the window sill is only on the north window), but directly near the window, behind the tulle curtain.

Temperature. The temperature during the active growth of the maidenhair should be no more than 20 ° C, during the dormant period - 10 ° C.

substrate. The earthen mixture of adintums is prepared as follows: peat mixture or peat, heather land, greenhouse land and river sand, mixed in equal parts.

Air humidity. Adiantums need moist air, about 60%. In dry air, plants can even die. Adiantum Ruddy is best suited for growing in a florarium. Other types of adiantum are best placed on a wide pallet covered with expanded clay or gravel. They also water the earth in a cache-pot, and pour water into the pan. If there is a central heating battery nearby, then it should always be hung with a damp towel or sheet, so you can increase the humidity in the room, which will be very useful for the maidenhair. It will be useful for the maidenhair and a temporary stay in the shower after you have washed there and saturated the room with wet steam.

Watering. Adiantums are watered from October to March once a week, in summer three times a week. Polivadiantum should be regular, but in no case excessive. Watering can also be done by lowering the pot with adiantum into a container of water - the roots should never dry out. Water for irrigation should be well settled, at room temperature and not hard.

Transfer. Annual transplantation of the maidenhair in the spring. Does not tolerate transplanting into an oversized pot. Lightly compact the substrate, ensure good drainage for the adiantum. In autumn, try to carefully clean the central part of the plant from dying leaves.

Proper Care

Potted varieties of ferns are kept in partial shade, as tender leaves wither under the direct rays of the sun. The ideal temperature for the plant is 15-20°C, if the temperature rises, the plant suffers, the leaves become dry, pale and brittle. The fern is planted or transplanted at the end of March in a mixture consisting of two parts of peat, one part of leaf humus, one sand and two pieces charcoal, a little fertilizer containing calcium is added.

After winter, branches with leaves may turn brown, they need to be cut at the very base and water the plant moderately so that it has new branches with leaves, while minimum temperature should be approximately 15°C. In spring and summer, water thoroughly so that the soil is always moist, but not wet. In addition, every two weeks you need to feed with liquid fertilizer.

In autumn and winter, the maidenhair is watered little, because if it is cold, the roots will rot. Life in the plant will freeze and it may even die if the temperature is below 7 ° C and it is blown with cold air.

Transfer

Annual transplantation of the maidenhair in the spring. Does not tolerate transplanting into an oversized pot. Lightly compact the substrate, ensure good drainage for the adiantum. In autumn, try to carefully clean the central part of the plant from dying leaves.

reproduction

Older plants can be divided early in the summer, but this is not always a good thing, as it often takes a long time for these plots to grow. It is better to grow young plants from spores that are on the underside of the leaves. Sow them in early spring, and, if possible, provide heating from below. A simple greenhouse will give excellent results.

Varieties and varieties

Gentle maidenhair - Adiantum tenerum Swartz. Comes from Western India, Mexico, Venezuela. A good indoor plant with graceful medium-sized (up to 35 cm) fronds beautiful drawing. Young maidenhair fronds are of a delicate, slightly pinkish hue, the old ones are bright green, the segments are fan-shaped, rather large. The culture is the same as that of the maidenhair "Venus hair". Recommended for small living spaces, for cutting when arranging bouquets, for winter gardens.

Adiantum gentle Farley form - Adiantum tenerum var. Farleyense Andre. A very beautiful representative of the flora of the Barbados Islands, with delicate, low (up to 25 cm), bright green fronds, the wide slices of which are repeatedly intricately cut. Young, not yet fully developed maidenhair fronds are slightly pinkish. This species is more whimsical than the previous ones and requires careful attention. The plant does not tolerate drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. Optimum temperature for him 20-22 °. He likes uniform watering, which intensifies in the summer, intense, uniform lighting, direct sunlight is undesirable. It is recommended for amateur collections and cultivation in small-sized residential premises, as well as when creating winter gardens.

Adiantum four-leafed - Adiantum tetraphyllum Willd. Very beautiful view. It grows in semi-dry mountain thickets of southern Brazil. graceful herbaceous plant with a creeping rhizome, located almost above the ground. Vayi on long petioles (up to 40 cm), their segments are olive-dark green, trapezoidal in shape, slightly asymmetrical, compactly located. Grows slower than maidenhair "Venus hair". In culture, it is similar to the previous species. Recommended for phytodesign of rooms.

Diseases and pests

A spider mite can be harmful if the air is too dry - cobwebs appear on the stems, the leaves become lethargic, turn yellow and fall off. From the plant you need to remove the cobwebs, carefully wash under a weak warm shower, increase humidity around it.

Aphids damage the leaves from the underside, the tops of the shoots - the damaged parts become discolored, the leaves curl, turn yellow and fall off, the plant is sprayed with derris, fitoverm, decis, actellik, inta-vir, after drying, you need to rinse the foliage in clean warm water.

Adiantum, in a different way venus hair - an exquisitely beautiful fern. Representatives of this family admire their attractiveness. This flower surpasses its own kind in that it is equated with the curly curls of the goddess of love. Loose green hair, fastened on dark legs and gracefully sways at the slightest breath of breeze.

It is necessary to care for the maidenhair diligently, as for the hair. It, like curls, is washed, fed, and cut. It does not need good lighting to feel good, which distinguishes it from other house colors. With proper care, the fern will delight with lush greenery for a long time, and will be able to decorate any corner of your apartment.

Adiantum - the most elegant fern

Adiantum is a specimen of a multiple fern species. In natural conditions, it can be encountered in the most hidden corners of the tropical and subtropical montane forest. Venus hair has also conquered a moderately soft habitat. And it can also endure a slight cold, but in frosty time the part that is above the ground dies off.

Representatives of this species can be found:

on the Crimean peninsula,
in the north of the Caucasus,
in the mountains of Africa
near mediterranean sea,
on the American continent
in European countries.

The flower is very fond of the mountainous landscape and shady, as well as wet places. The fern does not need a lot of land, it can grow even on rocky ground. It grows near waterfalls near the banks of the river, in rock crevices.

About two hundred years ago, the maidenhair settled in people's houses. Flower growers did not stand aside from the beauty of its leaves (their names are vayami). But there is another problem, because the flower is very responsive to air quality, he could not adapt in houses with stove heating.

For this reason, the cultivation of this flower could be afforded by rich people who have greenhouses and winter gardens. Soon central heating appeared and the air in the apartments improved significantly, and therefore maidenhair could afford to grow all lovers of this species. But there was new problem- this is an excessively dry atmosphere in heated apartments, which is harmful to the fern. At the moment there are different ways for air humidification.

Today, maidenhair lovers will be able to breed this rare species of fern without any problems. Since moist air, on the advice of medicine, is useful not only for flowers, but also for humans.

The name maidenhair came from the Greek word adiant, translated (not to moisten). There is an invisible film on the surface of the leaves of this flower, so drops of water, flowing down from them, are not absorbed.

Features of Adiantum

Adiantum is the most exquisite indoor flower. The second name of the plant is Venus hair, it is characteristic only for this variety. There are other species, no less attractive, but little known.

From typical fern with a rosette of elongated hanging an arch of leaves, the flower has a difference in the form of dark cuttings in a shape similar to a spiral. Just because of the cuttings, plants are compared with curls. Why is Venus's hair only? Since this deity is the very personification of love and splendor, emerging from the depths of the sea.

Only she can wear such exquisite hair. Because curls-shanks covered with wavy petals very reminiscent of curly hair. Along the edge of each petal is a sorus, this is a pocket in which fern seeds ripen.

There are some beliefs about how Adiantum appeared. An attractive, young girl fell off a cliff. It was in that place that a waterfall formed, and the curls became like ferns. The next fable says that when Venus cut her hair, she dropped one curl, which got its name.

Appearance and important features of the plant:

Adiantum is not a very tall fern, since its leaves do not reach a length of more than 40–60 centimeters.
The fern is growing fast, for the spring-summer period, can double, consider this ability when choosing permanent place growing a plant.
Adiantum is a capricious flower and does not welcome moving from one place to another. If the venereal hair is subject to a stressful condition, then this is reflected in its vegetation, which loses its splendor and may dry out. We advise you to immediately choose a suitable place for him.

Healers of ancient centuries noted the similarity of fern leaves with curls and therefore advise this plant for medicinal purposes for hair follicles. And the peoples of China use an infusion of leaves to treat alcohol and tobacco addiction. Venus hair will push you to a healthy lifestyle. Since it is overly susceptible to polluted oxygen. Does not tolerate tobacco or any other smoke.

The pampered vegetation of the fern will cause trouble for the florist. It is enough just to provide this flower habitual living conditions, and he will delight you with his lush green willow. A flower will decorate any corner of your home, at a time when other flowers do not want to live there.

The flower does not need additional lighting in winter, as it loves shady places. Venus hair is perfect for growing on a stand, hanging, on a windowsill.

Adiantum care at home

How to care for maidenhair

Home flower maidenhair cannot stand scorching sunlight. When choosing a shady place, keep in mind that you need to place it near north or east windows, since from excessively dazzling lighting, the delicate patterned leaves of the fern die off.

Venus hair in the apartment loves fresh air, but he can’t stand weathering, and dust, in connection with this you will need to frequently perform wet cleaning in the room, where this one resides home flower and freshen the air in the room. Smoking near the plant is prohibited, as well as carbon monoxide from the kitchen is able to ruin a flower.

Dry air is bad for ferns:

The plant does not like it when its habitat is changed, so try not to move the maidenhair pot. Sprinkle ferns with warm water every day, especially during the hot season. In the cool period, it is not recommended to spray the plant, as this will harm it.

We advise you to feed the fern from April to September. For this suitable liquid fertilizer for indoor or deciduous-decorative vegetation. Apply half of the amount indicated on the package, once every three weeks. IN winter period no need to feed.

Watering the maidenhair

Proper care of the plant will help the constant moistening of the earth, as its drying will lead to drying and death of the foliage. Important do not overdo it with watering because the root system of the flower will rot.

In order to prevent poor-quality moistening, it is necessary to lower the flower pot into a container with settled water at room temperature. Peas should be in the water until the top layer of earth in the pot sparkles from the water. Then put the flower in the sink so that unnecessary water leaves and return to its place. In winter, you do not need to water the plant abundantly, but the rule of moisture remains the same. It is recommended to moisturize once a week in winter and twice a week in summer.

Adiantum transplant

The flower prefers a spacious pot. Since it grows at a slow pace, it is necessary to repot once every two or three years in the spring, when the roots of the flower begin to peek out of the drainage holes in the pot. For an obsolete flower, it is necessary to annually change the surface layer of soil five or seven centimeters thick.

The fern has massive roots, so it needs spacious pot made of wood or ceramic, unglazed in the inner part with rather large drainage holes. To transplant a plant, a massive layer of drainage base is laid out on the bottom of the pot.

Land for adiantum needs loosened, sour and fertilized with humus. For this, peat with hardwood in a ratio of two to one is suitable. To do this, sprinkle a small amount of substrate on the drainage layer and put the flower in a new pot and gradually add earth so that there is no empty space in the pot. But at the same time, do not press the soil, as the flower loves loose soil.

Pests and diseases of the maidenhair

The foliage of the plant contains harmful substances for insects, but despite this, harmful insects that are very resistant to poison harm the plant. For example: aphids, spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs.

In order to remove the scab from the affected leaves, use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. To cure aphids, a fern is necessary spray with soapy water and then rinse it off with clean water. A forced measure is to treat it with a solution of Decis or Biotlin, Derris, Fitoverm, as well as Antitlin, Intavir, Aktellik.

Antitlina and Fitoverm are suitable for mealybug control together with insecticides such as Confidor, Aktara or Confident, Mospilan. From spider mites, Fitoverm and Actellik are used.

Often the fern dry at the edges of the leaves turning brown. This is a problem of improper wetting or spitting out gas near the flower.

The problem of twisted but not dried maidenhair leaves lies in the extremely low air temperature, but at the same time increased humidity. If the leaves turn pale, this indicates that the plant must be moved to a darker place O. When the leaves of a flower fall off, this is a problem of low air humidity, so systematically moisten the fern.

Properties of the maidenhair

The composition of fern leaves includes triterpenoids, lipids, essential oil, steroids, phenylcarboxylic acid. The foliage of the plant serves for medicinal purposes, medicinal powders, syrup, and infusions are made from it, which are actively used by residents in western Europe.

An aqueous extract from the plant is widely used as it has antimicrobial properties. A syrup and infusions are used as an antipyretic and expectorant. It is used for diseases of the liver, spleen, and bladder, as well as for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Leaf juice from the maidenhair is used in the form of lotions and compresses for the treatment of malignant ulcers and bites of rabid animals. For the treatment of alcoholism in Chinese medicine use the juice from the plant. The juice is also used as a hair rinse to get rid of dandruff. To do this, we advise you to dilute fern juice with water and rinse your hair with this solution. Alcohol infusion is used to treat psoriasis.

Venus hair fern, home care for which can bring its owner a lot of positive emotions, will delight the owner with its exceptional decorativeness and beauty.

Cultivating Venus hair at home is a pleasure, as the plant is moderately capricious and elegant, and caring for it is not difficult. An interesting legend is hidden behind such an amazing name of the fern. The appearance of the plant remotely resembles girl's hair, and according to legend, the maidenhair (another name for the fern) was revealed to the world after the hair of Venus was thrown to the ground. Adiantum in the language of flowers means all-encompassing love, and there is a claim that it gives women happiness and mutual feelings. But if the flower does not want to grow at home and is "naughty", then the couple should check their feelings. The delicate openwork crown of the fern is light and weightless. Looking at the falling cascades of leaves of a soft grassy color, sometimes you get the feeling that they are floating in the air, since the petioles are very thin and inconspicuous.

The name adiantum (from lat. Adiantum Capillus veneris) is fraught with etymological meaning. The word translates as unwettable. The surface of the sheet is water-repellent and is designed in such a way that it does not absorb moisture, and water easily rolls off the thinnest sheet plate. The number of a number of populations of the plant is steadily declining, but despite this fact, nothing seriously threatens the Venus hair in the natural environment. Its natural habitats are rocks, shady gorges, waterfalls, rocky shores of the subtropics, tropical latitudes and places with a temperate climate. Plant species are found both in the European strip and in the central southern regions. Transcaucasia, Crimea, Asia - places where you can see beautiful groups of maidenhair.

Description of the plant Adiantum

Fern Venus hair is distinguished by the refinement of forms, elegance, slender petioles and leaves. The extreme decorativeness of the maidenhair allows it to take a special place in any space and interior. Fragile, delicate fern fronds of a delicate herbal shade attract the eye, and the flower itself is valued for its uniqueness and decorative qualities.

Fern Adiantum is a perennial plant belonging to the Pterisov family, or Adiantum. Outwardly, it can be attributed to medium-sized species, although both mini- and maxi-forms are found in nature. The fronds of the plants are long-leaved, twice, thrice pinnately dissected. The petiole of the maidenhair is black-brown, shiny and thin, resembling a wire thread. The leaves are 15-30 cm long, and their shape is fan-like. The flower has a creeping scaly rhizome.

Features of care

Adiantum, home care for which even a novice amateur grower can master, is recognized as the most beautiful fern among its relatives. These are capricious plants, they require increased attention. Often appearance plants depends on the choice of location. Adiantums are located near aquariums, on the lower shelves or northern windows. Venus hair grows well without the introduction of organic substances. Proper soil mixture, water regime and humidity will provide the plant with favorable conditions. At good care the flower easily doubles its size in a season. The plant is odorless.

Adiantums cannot stand frosts, drafts, scorching sun rays and waterlogging of the soil. In the latter case, the plant is affected by fungal diseases such as gray rot. It does not need to form a crown. Trimming is not specifically required. It is needed only if the fern has damaged petioles, dried or old leaves.

Tobacco smoke and gas combustion products adversely affect plant health. The dormant period of the maidenhair is present and enclosed in the framework of October-April. The plant does not bloom, but is distinguished by a rare openwork ornamental frond. Venus hair is valued because of its amazing elegance and beauty due to the thinnest leaves, their shape and growth of fronds, and not as a flowering species.

Light and temperature conditions

Lighting for adiantum should not exceed 500-700 lux. The light is soft and diffused. Excess of it is harmful to the flower. Venus hair does not tolerate direct sunlight. Like most ferns, it loves moisture and shade. Under the sun, the appearance of the plant deteriorates, and this is manifested in the blanching of the leaves and the lifelessness of the fronds. The plant does not like it if its location is changed frequently.

Adiantum grows well at moderate temperatures: +15 ... - +16 ºС in the cold season and +18 ... - +20 ºС on summer days. The higher the air temperature, the more moisture the flower needs. At higher temperatures, the maidenhair will be prone to drying out the leaves. In this case, the fronds will turn pale and become fragile. At low temperatures, Venus hair will go into a dormant period, and may even die. Not less than important point when growing a flower at home is the absence of drafts. Sensitive leaves of the plant require high humidity in combination with dry soil.

Regular watering is a prerequisite for growing ferns. It must be watered often, but to a moderate degree, which means that the earthen clod should not be swamped. Dry roots are the other extreme. Water for irrigation should be settled, without the content of calcareous formations.

The optimum air humidity for adiantum should be at least 60%. Fresh air for a flower is extremely important. In a stuffy, rarely ventilated room, the plant will be uncomfortable. Spraying the plant is mandatory in the summer months, with soft, settled or rain water. A shower for a flower with a spray bottle is best done in the morning and late hours. In addition, spraying will block the formation of dust on thin leaves. Plants should not be placed near heating appliances and batteries. It is desirable to put adiantums on a pallet with small pebbles, in which there is always a little water. The degree of spraying must be controlled based on the air temperature. If the room is cool, then water procedures need to be reduced.

Types and varieties of maidenhair

Among the popular varieties of the plant, maidenhair Fragrans can be noted. The fern is famous for its growth rate and small-leaved openwork crown. The Fragrans variety reaches a height of 50 cm and is an excellent option for landscaping summer terraces, greenhouses and shady rooms.

There are many species and varieties of plants, and they all differ in size, shape and intensity of leaf color, as well as conditions for keeping. Of the most common in room culture, adiantums can be noted: finely pubescent, stop-shaped, beautiful, reniform, Ruddy, etc.

Reproduction and plant nutrition

Indoor types of Venus hair are planted in small bowls or containers with a drainage system. The substrate is prepared on the basis of leafy humus. The soil for growing can consist of peat, leaf humus, sand and pieces of coal wood (2: 1: 1: 1). The fern mixture should be slightly acidic. It is better to choose breathable containers for adiantum, such as clay pots.

The plant is propagated vegetatively by dividing the bush or rhizome in the spring months. Much harder to grow with spores. In humid conditions, the gametophyte is born from spores - a miniature plant on which gamete cells are located.

The plant tolerates transplanting well, and the best time for this will be in the spring, when the roots will be visible from the drainage hole. Venus hair is transplanted annually into forest, deciduous soil, fertilized with peat. In too large a container, it will not take root, but in a cramped pot it can grow and please the eye with its openwork foliage for a very long time. Only with obvious tightness, when the maidenhair stops its growth and the roots entwine the entire earthen lump, a transplant is needed. The soil should be loose and well breathable, as stagnant water is unacceptable for hair veneers.

Venus hair is fed during the period of active growth 1 time in 30 days in the spring and summer months with a solution of mineral fertilizers in a half dose. Adiantums do not respond well to high doses of fertilizer.

Pests and diseases

Sometimes on the leaves you can see fern aphids or scale insects, as well as nematodes and worms. If you start the disease, the plant can quickly die. Therefore, you need to carefully and regularly inspect the flower.

The spider mite appears in the foliage of the maidenhair, if the air in the room is very dry. Restoring the moisture regime will bring the plant back to life.

Aphids often settle on the underside of the leaf, and getting rid of it is not always easy. Deris, Fitoverm, Aktellik, etc. are often used. After drying, the vai must be placed under light warm shower and remove the chemical solution with water.

If the tips of the fronds dry out, then this may indicate low humidity. Leaf curl is the first sign of supercooling of the maidenhair or waterlogging of the soil. Too pale leaf color is a signal to shade the plant.

Whiteflies that infect the maidenhair are easily destroyed with a pyrethrum-based insecticide solution.

Under conditions of artificial cultivation, Venus hair, with proper and careful care, will delight with a lush crown and rapid development. The plant adapts well to the room atmosphere.

Maidenhair- a plant of extraordinary beauty, which is endowed with a grace not characteristic of other ferns.

But in order for the flower to please you and your loved ones, you will have to take care of it, and the maidenhair is quite whimsical.

If you are a little familiar with some types of ferns, then you will agree that the maidenhair is the most delicate and graceful plant of the entire range of ferns. Proof of this is the fact that this plant is often used by florists.

Although, it is certainly better to use the fern as a houseplant in pots, and not as a decoration in bouquets. The fact is that cut stems fade very quickly: much faster than other components of the bouquet.

Patterned foliage looks very impressive, and its juicy bright green color will give your room freshness and summer mood even on the coldest winter day.

Adiantum is perennial fern. In height, it can reach 60 cm, and sometimes even higher. The root is creeping and sprawling. Petioles usually average 13 cm. They have a glossy surface.

The lush green crown (fern photo below) will delight the eye if you properly care for the plant. Care at home for the maidenhair requires diligence: you need to water, moisten, spray, nourish and cut the fern.

Humidity and temperature

Many plants do not pay attention to such a factor as air humidity, but this does not apply to adiantum. If you do not follow certain tips, then you will never be able to achieve the effect of lush leaves and achieve a bright green color - and these are the main advantages of the fern.

Humidity should be high: not less than 60%, and it is better that this value reaches 70%. There are many ways to achieve this effect. For some, the house is quite damp, while for others, on the contrary, the air is too dry, and if you belong to the second category, then you can spray the plant yourself.

High humidity must be maintained at any time of the year.

Home care for the maidenhair includes one more important factor: lighting should be moderate, ideally diffused.

It is important to ensure that venus hair the hot sun did not fall - bright rays are fatal to him. It is better to choose a north or east window to place a flower pot.

If you still want the adiantum to stand exactly in the room on the south or west side, then in this case you should at least place it not at the window, but more deep into the room. Move him away from outer wall at least three meters.

In spring, a small amount of sun is allowed in the morning and evening; on a hot day, it is better to put the pot in partial shade.

In winter, additional lighting for the fern is not required.

The soil for this plant is suitable only for certain, with a special composition. First you need to know what the pot of the fern should be spacious, because it has a spreading root system.

Create an earth mixture from the following components: leaf earth, peat. The best ratio for such components is one to one.

This is the most best option for the given plant species. It is desirable, but not necessary, to add sand, calcium-containing fertilizer, as well as crushed coal, which was formed by burning wood, to the ground.

During care, always make sure that the soil at the very root is loose, it must have high water carrying capacity.

Planting maidenhair

The plant reproduces in two ways: dividing the bush and spores. You can choose for yourself, we will only talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each in order to facilitate your choice.

By dividing the bush

This option is better suited for the reproduction of those ferns that are old enough, even so much that they have already lost their aesthetic qualities.

Carry out the procedure in the spring. It is necessary to get the fern out of the pot carefully, along with the root. Next, the root is cleared of the earth that remains on it, be careful not to tear off small roots.

Prepare a sharpened knife, it is important that it is sterile. Carefully divide the rhizome into 2 or more parts so that each part has one (preferably more) healthy leaf.

Sterilize the ground in advance, take some kind of container or pot, pour some substrate there. In these containers put the separated parts of the fern.

Don't worry if the growth process takes too long, this is normal for the fern.

The venus hair flower can also reproduce in another way - by spores. This option also has many complications. The room temperature should be about 22 degrees above zero.

Prepare the soil as described above, be sure to add sand. Next, you need to find the largest and healthiest leaf. At the bottom of it there will be small brown spots - these are the spores.

This leaf must be separated from the plant, and all spores must be collected from it.

Cover the containers with cling film or some kind of glass to create a greenhouse effect. The room should be warm and dark enough, but when the first shoots appear, open the plants and transfer them to the light.

When the sprouts have finally grown a little and become stronger, select the strongest of them and arrange the seedlings. Between each should be a distance of at least 3 cm.

Plant care at home

Of great importance in home care for venereal hair is watering and fertilizing. If the leaves of the maidenhair dry, it means that you did not carry out these procedures carefully enough.

Water should not be too cold and not hot, it is better to take liquid at room temperature.

Adjusting the temperature yourself is difficult, so to achieve this effect, hold a watering can with water for about an hour indoors. In addition, during this time she will have time to settle.

Very good option will also be the use of rainwater, which will definitely not have any harmful substances.

You don't have to assume that this is tropical Plant, then it needs excessive watering. This is not the case, however, and do not allow the earth to be too dry. If you overdo it, you risk killing the entire above-ground part of the plant, and if you don't water enough, you can ruin the underground part.

Venus hair is a flower that needs periodic feeding. Most often fertilize the soil with a flower concentrate.

As you know, it lasts in the plant in spring and summer. Carry out the procedure approximately 1 time in 20-30 days.

Transplantation, as well as the reproduction of the bush, division or spores, takes place exclusively in the spring. Gardeners note that the best result is achieved if do it annually. If you do not have enough time or desire, then transplanting is allowed only when you understand that the fern in the pot has become cramped.

The rules are exactly the same as for fern propagation:

Sterilize the earth.
Remove the plant from its previous habitat.
Carefully clean the root from the ground.
Place in a new pot.
Moisten the soil immediately and fertilize.

Pests, diseases and other difficulties

Home care for Venus hair is not limited to watering and fertilizing, it is important to ensure that the plant does not get sick. Although you should not worry about this (the fern is very rarely attacked by pests), you still need to be aware of the possible dangers.

If you notice that the leaves begin to turn yellow closer to the beginning, and then turn brown along the length, then these are signs that the plant is sick due to drafts, lack of watering, or due to insufficiently humidified air.

In this case, you need to take the following measures: close the windows near the flower or take the pot away from them, monitor the moderation of watering and remove the flower away from the batteries.

If the leaves are almost completely yellow and only slightly brown towards the end, then dry air is to blame. Under such conditions, the flower will not produce new shoots.

Surprisingly, if you find a blanching leaf, then this will mean that it is time to remove the flower away from the light.

To speed up the growth of a too slow fern, increase the dose of fertilizer.

When the root system begins to rot, the first call to this process will be the lethargy of the leaves, while the soil will still remain wet. In order not to aggravate the problem, you need to dry the soil and no longer allow uneven watering.

But if the root has already begun to rot and the process is irreversible, then you will have to remove the damaged areas and transplant the flower to a new place.

When you begin to notice that the tips of the leaves begin to curl up, then it's time to create more comfortable living conditions for the maidenhair - it's cold.

Due to too salty soil, the leaves may become covered with brown spots. In that case, you can simply replace the land with another.

One of the possible pests that can attack the plant is thrips. You will notice that they have appeared when you find that the leaves turn bronze. Alas, it is impossible to cure the fern. Destroy the plant otherwise the virus that thrips carry will go further.

As you can see, caring for a delicate and graceful fern requires some effort. But you must admit that they are all worth enjoying the beautiful flowering of the maidenhair.

Such kind as Maidenhair(Adiantum) includes more than two hundred species of plants. They belong to the petris family. However, there are cases when these plants belong to a separate family called adiant.

In its homeland, this small and very beautiful fern prefers to grow in cracks in limestone rocks, near various water bodies located in the subtropics. So, you can meet this plant in the wild in southern Africa, in the subtropical zone of Europe, in China, in North America, in the mountains of Asia, and also in India.

This plant is the most beautiful indoor fern. The pinnate leaves (fronds) of this flower are fan-shaped and slightly asymmetrical. Almost every type of adiantum has its own structure of small leaves, and they also differ in the degree of their branching and the size of the leaves themselves. The surface of the foliage of the maidenhair has water-repellent properties. So, if a drop of water gets on the sheet, then it simply flows down without being absorbed into it. Below the leaves are brownish spots (sori), which are spore-bearing zones.

At home, most often grown Adiantum venus hair(Adiantum capillus veneris). The lobules of its leaves have rounded-toothed edges. This type of fern, or rather, its roots, was often used to prepare decoctions that stop hair loss in women and make them thicker. They were also treated for various liver diseases and prepared an antidote for bites. poisonous snakes. This plant is only seemingly so fragile, in fact it is able to withstand a sharp drop in temperature, as well as too low humidity. However, if the adiantum is placed in a cold and very dry place for a long time, then this will lead to its inevitable death.

Growing this chic fern indoors is easy enough. You just need to remember the simple rules for caring for him.

Like most ferns, the maidenhair is very fond of shade. So, it is often used when compiling a green corner in an apartment. And that's all, because other plants that need bright sunlight are able to hide this fern from it, as well as provide it with the necessary air humidity. This flower is most often placed next to such decorative leafy plants as aglaonem and dieffenbachia. The small leaves of the maidenhair favorably emphasize the showiness and beauty of the variegated and large leaves of these plants.

Adiantum care at home

Lighting and location

This plant is shade-loving, and in no case should you allow the direct rays of the sun to fall on its leaves. Otherwise, they will get burned and turn yellow. However, it should not be placed in the darkest corner either, as it will quickly lose its decorative effect there. It is best to place this fern on the windowsill of a window located in the northern or eastern part of the room. And also it can be placed in the immediate vicinity of the window on a stand. Remember that the maidenhair reacts negatively to being moved from one place to another.

Temperature regime

He feels great at a temperature of 15-20 degrees. It is also recommended to ensure the difference between night and day temperatures. So, at night given plant coolness is needed, but it is better not to allow too low temperatures. Heat in the summer months, the maidenhair tolerates extremely poorly.

How to water

The dormant period of this plant lasts from October to March. During this period, it needs to be watered only once a week, but make sure that the soil does not dry out. In the summer, watering should be more frequent, or rather, 2 or 3 times a week. To do this, use settled and fairly soft water. If the ground is excessively wet, then rot can form on the roots.

Requires high humidity. To do this, it must be increased artificially or placed next to the fern next to other moisture-loving flowers. It is necessary to spray the foliage more often with warm and soft water.

It is necessary to feed the maidenhair systematically during the period of active growth. To do this, use a solution of organic or mineral fertilizer. In the period from September to February, feeding should be stopped. Since this plant reacts negatively to salts in the ground, it is worth limiting itself to organic fertilizers.

Transplant Features

Basically, the fern is transplanted only if necessary, but it is not forbidden to transplant it every year. Choose flower pot slightly more spacious than the previous one, and it should be wide enough. It is filled with breathable and loose earth. Make sure that the basal neck rises at least a little above the surface of the substrate.

Earthmixture

Loose soil enriched with humus is suitable for this plant, and it should also be slightly acidic. To create a suitable soil mix, it is necessary to mix leaf and humus soil, sand and peat in a ratio of 1:1:1:1. It is recommended to pour a little crushed moss, bark or crushed charcoal into the resulting mixture.

How to propagate

Adiantum can be propagated by spores or by dividing the bush. For vegetative propagation, you need to use a segment of a creeping root, on which there must be 2 buds. The division and transplantation of this plant is best done in the first weeks of spring, and even in early August, when the spores ripen. It is necessary to make the division carefully, since the adiantum is quite fragile.

With spores, the maidenhair most often breeds in winter gardens and greenhouses. Over time, small sprouts of this plant appear on the moist soil surface. Spore maturation occurs at the end of summer, and their germination persists for many years. Spores germinate, usually 3-5 weeks. You can grow plants in this way in a mini-greenhouse, if the surface of the substrate is always moistened. However, it is easier to propagate by dividing the bush.

Mealy bugs or whiteflies can settle. Remember that the maidenhair reacts negatively to chemical treatment.

Possible problems

Shoots dry up, the tips of the leaves dry- low humidity, hot.
Pale, wilted leaves― overflow of the soil at the lowered temperature. Root rot may appear.
In the case when in winter at an elevated temperature in the room all leaves dried up, the maidenhair should be moved to a cool room (18–20 degrees) and systematically moisten the ground. New leaves may form if the roots survive.
The leaves turn pale, turn yellow and dry- They are exposed to direct sunlight.
Foliage is turning yellow- too little watering or the flower needs top dressing.

Video review

Maidenhair venus hair is probably the finest and most delicate plant in texture of all the ferns. The beautiful fronds of this plant are widely used to create large wedding bouquets. At the same time, one should not forget about one feature: after cutting, its fronds fade quickly enough. Read about the features of growing this houseplant in the article.

Botanical description of the plant

Adiantum venus hair (Adiantum capillus veneris) - a species of ferns from the genus Adiantum ( Adiantum) of the Pterisaceae family ( Pteridaceae). In some classifications, it is included in the Adiant family ( Adiantaceae).

Perennial fern up to 60 cm tall with a short creeping rhizome covered with narrow, blackish scales. Petioles of wai maidenhair 10-15 (up to 25) cm long, black-brown, thin, glossy. Wai blades 20-40 cm long, light green, twice or thrice pinnately compound, broadly oblong in outline, not wetted by water.

Wai segments are 2.5-3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, very delicate and thin, on hair-like petioles, obovate in outline, with a wedge-shaped base and a fan-shaped-lobed apex. The sori of the maidenhair of the venus hair shine through the thin tissue of the frond segment, framing it with a dark dotted line.

The maidenhair venus hair sporonizes all summer - from late spring to early autumn. In Russia, in the wild, it is found only in the lower mountain belt. North Caucasus, outside our country, the maidenhair venus hair is widely distributed in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, in the mountains of the Crimea, Transcaucasia, Central Asia, Asia Minor, Africa, North and Central America.

It grows along the banks of mountain rivers and streams, in rock crevices, near seeping water, near waterfalls; prefers carbonate rocks. Adiantum hair venus is one of the most famous ornamental ferns. Widely cultivated in greenhouses, easy to grow indoors.

Features of growing maidenhair venus hair

Growth: Vigorous growing plants, easily doubling their size in a season.

Smell: absent.

Lighting: maidenhair venus hair does not like direct sunlight, feels comfortable on the windowsill of a north-facing window. In the greenhouse, where it is very hot, it grows well under the racks.

Temperature: Venus hair adiantums adapt well, most commercially available varieties grow well outdoors in the summer. You should not allow the temperature to drop below + 10 ° C if you want them to grow all year round. At temperatures above +20°C, high humidity must be ensured.

Watering maidenhair venus hair: It is necessary to maintain high humidity at all times, but do not allow water to stand in the pots. In summer, water twice a week, using rainwater if possible, in winter less often, once a week, but do not let the soil dry out. Note: There are a few deciduous varieties that lose their fronds in winter, but they are not usually sold as houseplants.

Feeding maidenhair venus hair: Add half the recommended amount of liquid fertilizer to the water every 14 days in summer.

Humidity: high. Place the pot on a saucer of damp pebbles, or place it in an outer container filled with damp peat or moss. In houses with central heating, spray the plant daily with settled water at room temperature.

Cleaning maidenhair venus hair: daily spraying keeps wai clean. Never use a cleaning agent.

Kokedama from maidenhair venus hair

Atmosphere: do not tolerate the smell of gas combustion products and cigar smoke.

Soil for maidenhair venus hair: Peat-based potting mix: Take equal parts fibrous peat, soddy soil and fine white sand, adding a little basic fertilizer.

Transfer: Prefer to grow in pots that are slightly cramped for them. Repot maidenhair veneer in the spring when the plants are too big for their pot. Do not compact the soil too hard.

Trimming maidenhair venus hair: remove only damaged or very old fronds. If, unfortunately, the plant has dried up, cut off all the fronds and spray what is left with water twice a day. New fronds will appear soon.

Low maintenance makes it easy to grow these plants indoors. But, pay attention, they do not like being carried from room to room. For active growth, they need to acclimatize in one place and stay there.

Adiantum venus hair (Adiantum capillus-veneris). © Hugo Sanchez Adiantum venerin hair (Adiantum capillus-veneris) Adiantum venerin hair (Adiantum capillus-veneris). © taibif

Care for the maidenhair venus hair

Potted varieties of ferns are kept in partial shade, as tender fronds wither under the direct rays of the sun. The ideal temperature for the plant is +15 .. +20°C, if the temperature rises, the plant suffers, the fronds become dry, pale and brittle.

The fern is planted or transplanted at the end of March, in a mixture of one part peat, one part leaf humus, one sand and two pieces of charcoal, a little fertilizer containing calcium is added.

After winter, branches with maidenhair fronds may turn brown, they must be cut at the very base and watered moderately so that the plant has new branches with leaves, while the minimum temperature should be approximately + 15 ° C.

In spring and summer, water thoroughly so that the soil is always moist, but not wet. In addition, every two weeks you need to feed with liquid fertilizer. In autumn and winter, the maidenhair venus hair is watered little, because if it is cold, the roots will rot. Life in the plant will freeze and it may even die if the temperature is below + 7 ° C or it is blown with cold air.

Reproduction of maidenhair venus hair

Older plants can be divided in early summer, but this is not always a good thing, as these divisions often take a long time to grow. It is better to grow young plants from the spores that are on the underside of the wai. Sow them in early spring, and, if possible, provide heating from below. A simple greenhouse will give excellent results.

maidenhair sapling venus hair

Diseases and pests of maidenhair venus hair

spider mite can be harmful if the air is too dry - cobwebs appear on the stems, fronds become lethargic, turn yellow and fall off. You need to remove the cobwebs from the plant, gently wash it under a weak warm shower, and increase the humidity around it.

Aphids they damage the fronds from the underside, the tops of the shoots - the damaged parts become discolored, the fronds curl, turn yellow and fall off, the plant is sprayed with derris, fitoverm, decis, actellik, inta-vir, after drying, you need to rinse the fronds in clean warm water.

Adiantum (Adiantum) is the most sophisticated of all ferns, grown at home. Among houseplants, it is best known as "Venus Hair".

Its small leaves (fronds), densely located to each other, attract with their beauty and grace. For the peculiar and very decorative leaves of the maidenhair, they are often used by florists in the manufacture of compositions. But do not forget that any fern fades very quickly after cutting.

In nature, these plants grow in tropical climates and temperate latitudes. It belongs to the family of centipedes, the number of species of which is more than 200.

An interesting fact is that the maidenhair got its name from the tree of the same name, which is an exact enlarged copy of this fern. Even the shape of the leaves and their arrangement on the stems are the same.

There are two most famous types:

Adiantum venus hair(Adiantum capillus-veneris L.) - with pinnate, finely dissected fronds on thin dark brown petioles, resembling hair, which is why the plant has such a name.
Adiantum stopiform(Adiantum pedatum L.) - widely cultivated as a garden ornamental plant.

The main factors in the care of the maidenhair.

The maidenhair plant, which is quite undemanding to care, feels great at home, although it does not like moving from room to room. When changing places, it begins to lose leaves. To obtain active growth, you need to provide all the conditions for acclimatization and not touch from the place where he liked it.

The maidenhair fern grows no more than 60 cm wide, and no higher than 40 cm. When choosing a place for it, it is taken into account that it can begin to grow actively and it can become cramped. Growth is active. Doubling in size in a season is quite normal due to proper care.

How to care for the maidenhair, compliance with all conditions of maintenance and home care ...

- Lighting and temperature.

Does not like bright lighting and sunlight. The most suitable flower for the north window and shaded corners of the rooms. It is not demanding on temperature, however, it should not be kept at less than 10 ° C. In summer, it grows well in outdoor conditions under the canopy of trees.

- Watering and humidity.

The pot must not be allowed to stand in water, although at the same time the plant must not be overdried. Constant moderate humidity, regular spraying, especially in dry rooms (central heating). Occasionally they wash in the shower, covering the surface of the soil with polyethylene - they let it dry, then put it in place.

Watering should be carried out with well-settled soft water, preferably melt or rain, if possible. In summer, it is enough to water 2-3 times a week, in winter once is enough, provided it is kept cool.

- Top dressing with fertilizers.

Top dressing of the maidenhair is carried out only in the summer (1 time in 2-3 weeks), using liquid mineral fertilizers for ferns. It is useful to alternate top dressing with organic.

- Soil and transplant.

Like all ferns, it prefers tight pots. In the spring, when the flowerpot becomes cramped, they are transplanted into a freer one, while not compacting the soil around the roots. Soil for adiantum can be prepared by yourself or you can buy a special one.

If you make your own mixture, then you need to use fibrous peat, soddy soil and fine sand in equal proportions. Do not forget to add a complex fertilizer for decorative leafy plants.

If the substrate is purchased, intended for ferns, then mineral fertilizers are taken into account in them. After transplantation, they begin to feed the plant after a month.

It is known that ferns never bloom - they reproduce by spores.

Damaged, old and dried leaves are carefully cut off during the care process.

Very picky about the purity of the air. Can't stand cigar smoke different kinds burning and so on.

How to propagate the maidenhair?

Adiantums are propagated by dividing the bush or rhizome during transplantation. Old specimens that begin to lose their appearance should be divided into several parts and placed in separate pots, choosing the appropriate size. When planting individual parts of the maidenhair, try not to deepen the root neck in order to avoid rotting.

The divided parts of plants sometimes die or do not begin to grow for too long, so the division should be done carefully, trying to injure the roots as little as possible.

The method of reproduction by spores is the most effective, although long and laborious.

In addition, spores are formed on the reverse sides of adult leaves, which are able to germinate and form new plants. They are carefully collected in a paper bag, slightly dried. Distribute in a thin layer strictly on the surface of the peat.

It is better to sow adiantum spores in early spring in a container greenhouse, providing heating from below (you can put it on a battery). Make sure that your crops do not dry out, gently moisten them as needed. Keep in a shaded and warm place, maintain a constant temperature of +21 +25 degrees.

Approximately in a month, an inconspicuous green moss will appear on top of the peat, which grows. This is an intermediate stage of fern development - small growths. It is on them that female and male cells are formed. Their fusion is possible only in a humid and warm environment, so peat is constantly kept moist. Then young seedlings are formed, which, after reaching 3-4 cm, are seated, culling the weak ones, into separate containers, retaining a lump of peat in which they grow.

Young plants grown in this way are particularly resistant to environment. At first, they should be grown under glass or polyethylene.

Problems and diseases caused by errors in caring for the plant.

To enjoy the magnificence of adiantums, you need to carefully look after them.

If the leaves of the maidenhair are wrinkled and turn brown at the edges, then watering the plant should be increased.
Dryness of the leaves can be caused due to the presence of various smells of burning, smoke.
If the leaves have fallen, then this indicates the critical dryness of the soil.
Cut off the withered stems, water and spray, new young shoots will appear.
If the fern has become pale, the leaves are thin and weak, it is necessary to feed and reduce the amount of sunlight received.
If the leaves are curled but not dried out, this indicates that it is too cold and humid. Do not water for a while and move to a warmer place.

With proper care, the maidenhair can grow in one place for decades. Only negligence can destroy a delicate, but unpretentious indoor flower.