Maidenhair is a herbaceous plant better known as a perennial indoor fern. The leaves are pinnate, fan-shaped, of various shapes and sizes, depending on the species. But a common characteristic is water repellency. Water droplets flowing down the leaves are not absorbed. On the reverse side there are sori (spore-bearing zones).

Types and varieties

- the most common type. Previously, it was used in medicine: a decoction of the roots helped with hair loss in women, stimulating their abundant growth and making them strong; as an antidote for snakebites, and for the treatment of liver diseases. The leaves have a double pinnation, oblong-oval shape. The length of each stem is 25-40 cm, and the width is about 10 cm. The petiole is thin, dark and shiny, up to 15 cm long.

The most popular varieties:

• - fern 35 cm high;

• Variety adiantum Imbricatum - mini, no more than 15 cm in height;

• - up to 12 cm high and 15-20 cm wide, it tolerates the sun better than other ferns;

• Variety adiantum Japonikum - the height of this variety is about 45 cm, the diameter of the bush is about 30 cm. When it is still young, the shoots have a copper-pink hue, which gradually turns green.

- decorative look. The leaves are three times and four times pinnate, long (up to 60 cm) and wide (up to 45 cm), have an oval shape. The length of the petiole is 30-50 cm, with a rough surface.

- has an external resemblance to the beautiful maidenhair, differs in the C-shaped shape of the sori located in the notches along the edge of the segments.

Or fine-haired the leaves of this fern have a dissected shape, jagged edges, a rough surface on both sides. The size of the leaves is 15-20 cm in length. The petiole is brown, 20-35 cm. The sporangia are densely located.

Or pink has long (about 70 cm) and wide (40-50 cm) leaves, which are three times pinnate.

The foliage is pinnate (some are double-pinnate) up to 40 cm. This fern has a thin petiole 10-20 cm high. Reniform sporangia are located along the upper edge.

The foliage is triangular, triple pinnate, 30-45 cm long and 20-25 cm wide. Sporangia are semicircular in shape, located in the depressions of the segments.

Maidenhair home care

Like other ferns, maidenhair loves shade. Direct sunlight kills this plant, the leaves turn yellow and dry. This does not mean at all that it should be placed in a dark place, where it can lose its decorative beauty.

Everything is much simpler, a north or east window will do. You can also place it at some distance from the window, for example, on a stand. It should be noted that rearranging the fern from place to place will also hurt.

The comfortable temperature ranges from 15-20 ° C. Considering that the plant prefers coolness at night (about 15 ° C), and during the day it can be increased (up to 20 ° C). A sharp increase or decrease in temperatures can lead to diseases and death of the plant.

Watering the maidenhair

In winter, the maidenhair has a dormant period. At this time, watering is reduced to once a week, and during the period of active growth and in summer, during the heat, watering is carried out 2-3 times a week, using only settled, soft water.

Excessive moisture leads to decay of the root system. In addition, you should ensure regular humidification of the air with the same water, but from a spray bottle. In the cold season, spraying is best minimized to avoid mold growth.

Top dressing of the adiantum

Fertilizers are applied as a top dressing during the period of active growth, to ensure shine and bright, saturated color of the leaves, as well as to strengthen the plant itself. Organic fertilizers work best.

Maidenhair transplant

The transplant is carried out only as needed, while choosing a pot slightly wider (not higher) than the previous one. The substrate is selected in the proportion: peat, humus, leafy earth and sand (1: 1: 1: 1). After all this is thoroughly mixed, some more bark and charcoal (sometimes moss) are added. The soil should be loose.

Propagation of maidenhair seeds

Seed reproduction is carried out in early March or August, just at this time the spores ripen. For this, the fern leaf is cut off and the seeds are scraped off (you can store it for years). Sow them into prepared boxes with soil.

This method is considered laborious, since greenhouses are considered ideal conditions. Sowing boxes must be warmed up (up to 20 ° C), moistened and covered with glass. It is necessary to remove the glass for ventilation every day.

After about a month, young growth will begin to appear, this is a sign that the glass can be removed and the boxes can be moved to a well-lit place. When the cobs grow a little, they are thinned out, leaving the strongest ones, which are then transplanted each into a separate pot. In this way, the strongest and most hardy specimens are obtained.

Maidenhair reproduction by dividing the bush

Dividing the bush must be done carefully, without damaging the plant, as it is very delicate and fragile. For a transplant, you will need a shoot with a rhizome and at least two buds. The breeding period is the same as for the seed method.

The healing properties of the maidenhair

Maidenhair leaves are a real storehouse of useful substances, among them: triterpenoids, flavonoids, lipids, steroids, phenolcarboxylic acids and their derivatives, as well as essential oil. The leaves are used to prepare medicinal powders, infusions, syrups, which have long been widely used in Western Europe.

Water extracts have antibacterial properties, infusions and syrups are used as expectorant and antipyretic agents. Preparations made on the basis of maidenhair are used in the treatment of respiratory diseases, diseases of the liver, spleen and bladder.

Leaf juice is used to detoxify the bite of a rabid animal and is also used to treat malignant ulcers. The most famous is perhaps a decoction for rinsing hair, which can be used to reduce the appearance of dandruff. If you prepare an alcoholic infusion, then you can treat psoriasis.

Signs and superstitions

Many people believe that the appearance of a plant in the house can both improve the atmosphere and worsen it. As for the fern, there are several theories.

• It is believed that with the appearance of the fern, the overall atmosphere in the room changes, softens and balances. For example, if there are periodic quarrels in the house because of the hot-tempered, aggressive nature of one of the inhabitants (and that and all), then with the appearance of the fern, the person becomes softer, begins to calm down. So if you want peace and prosperity, get a fern.
• The fern is also called the flower of the "golden mean", it kind of balances the internal and external components, helps to open up, to find your inner potential.
• One of the signs is fortune. They say that this plant helps "catch luck by the tail". In addition, it protects the owner from unnecessary and impulsive spending.
• Another superstition is that the maidenhair drives away evil spirits, protecting the house from evil spirits.
• There are also negative reviews. According to some signs, the appearance of a fern promises disease. This can be explained for two reasons. Firstly, any fern can cause allergies due to the presence of spores on the underside of the leaf. Secondly, there may be recurrent headaches, for example in the morning. The fact is that at night the plant actively absorbs oxygen and emits carbon dioxide, and the head hurts from a lack of oxygen.
• Some believe that the fern is a kind of "energy vampire" by consuming your energy. In this case, it can be placed near a working TV. This is a kind of unfavorable place, where he can absorb many waves and energy.

In any case, this is just a plant, and to believe or not, in this or that superstition is the business of every person. After all, in the end, whatever the plant believes in, the plant will be.

The streaming shoots of the Venus hair maidenhair fern adorn not only greenhouses, but also ordinary dwellings. This beautiful plant is quite whimsical and needs proper care. Read about how to properly grow this fern below.

Botanical description of the plant

Maidenhair Venus hair is a perennial decorative leafy fern. It grows up to 0.6 m. It consists of four important parts: rhizomes, petioles, fronds and soruses.

Did you know? Venus hair is included in the Red Data Books of Dagestan, Krasnodar Territory, Ukraine, Armenia and Kazakhstan.

The fern's rhizome is creeping, covered with dark scales. Petioles are dark brown and thin, with a glossy sheen. Their length reaches 10–25 cm. The fronds are leaf-like parts of ferns. At the Maidenhair, they grow up to 0.4 m. The leaf plates are pinnate. Color - light green. Soruses are groups of spores that the plant reproduces with. They are on the back of the frond. The color of the spores is dark.

Can I keep in the house: signs and superstitions

There are legends among the people about the mystical properties of ferns. Hair Venus is no exception.

Folk omens indicate that the plant has the following properties:

• helps to choose the right way to resolve the issue;
• calms all household members;
• relieves the house of a conflicting aura;
• attracts money;
• endows the owner with good luck.

Conditions for successful growing at home

Microclimate plays a major role in the cultivation of ferns. Under unsuitable conditions, the venereal of the hair becomes vulnerable and fades quickly.

Seat selection

When choosing a place for a flowerpot with a plant, consider two factors:

• light diffused light and partial shade are the best options for the Maidenhair;
• drafts kill the fern.

For venereal hair, location in the following places is suitable:

• window sill on the north side;
• greenhouse (in this case, placement under the shelves is possible);
• stand near the window.

Important! If possible, do not move the fern pot or do it as little as possible. Maidenhair does not tolerate a change of location.

Air temperature and humidity

The optimum air temperature for Adiantum is +16 ... + 21 ° С.

Depending on the season, the regime can be adjusted:

• in winter, thermometer readings can drop to + 10 ° С, however, a temperature of at least + 15 ° С is desirable;
• in summer, an increase up to + 24 ° С is possible, but higher values ​​are not recommended.

The humidity in the room with the fern should be at least 60%. Humidity levels can drop during the summer heat and during the winter heating season. If the reason for the drop in humidity is high temperature, spray the frond with warm water. At low temperatures, it is often not worth moisturizing the plant - mold may appear.

Video: Planting Venus Hair

Care is an essential part of growing houseplants. This also applies to the Maidenhair. Watering, feeding, pruning and replanting are especially important.

Watering

Watering for the Maidenhair plays a significant role. When doing this, pay attention to 3 factors: the type of water, the type of watering and the frequency of humidification.

Botanists give the following recommendations regarding water for irrigation of venus hair:

• temperature within +16 ... + 18 ° С;
• it is advisable to defend the water;
• the plant is better affected by soft water.

You can water the Maidenhair in one of two types:

• immersing the pot in water until the soil is saturated;
• irrigation of the soil.

The main factor is the drying out of the soil. The soil should be watered, which has dried out from above by 2 cm.

The season also matters:

Top dressing

Consider the season before fertilizing:

• during the dormant period in autumn and winter, feeding is not needed;
• during the growing season in spring and summer, the frequency of fertilization is every 2–3 weeks.

Maidenhair does not tolerate salt and lime, so avoid mineral products. The plant will better accept organic preparations. They should be introduced in liquid form.

Important! It is better to reduce the dosage of the agent suggested by the manufacturer by 2 times.

Pruning

The plant does not need pruning as a regular procedure. You need to cut off old, dried or damaged parts. To make the adiantum recover faster, spray the cuts from the spray bottle.

Transfer

In order not to harm the fern when transplanting, pay attention to the following factors:

1. Frequent venereal hair transplants are not needed. However, if the shrub is growing quickly, it can be replanted every year.
2. Best of all, Maidenhair will accept moving to a new container between March and May.
3. The root system of a plant does not need a lot of space. Choose a pot slightly larger than the previous one for transplanting.
4. Optimal substrate for Maidenhair: acidic, humus-rich, loose.

Video: Maidenhair transplant

You can prepare the soil mixture yourself.

To do this, mix:

• sheet soil (part 1);
• peat (1 part);
• humus (part 1);
• sand (1 part);
• charcoal (3-5 pieces);
• bark (3-5 pieces);
• moss, divided into small fractions (3-5 pieces).

Reproduction at home

The maidenhair venus of hair reproduces in two ways: by dividing the bush and by spores.

By dividing the bush

Division of the bush - vegetative propagation, which consists in the separation and transplantation of a part of the rhizome. It is held in the spring. It is important that the plant has at least 2 normal growth points.

To transplant in this way you will need:

• pots;
• suitable substrate;
• crushed coal.

The division procedure is as follows:

1. Fill the pots with the substrate.
2. Divide the fern bush into several pieces with your hands.
3. Cut the rhizome with a knife into the required number of pieces.
4. Process the slices with crushed charcoal.
5. Transplant parts of the bush into different pots.

The bush does not take root immediately. You will have to wait a little before the shoot takes root.

Disputes

Reproduction by spores is more time consuming than vegetative, but at the same time more reliable. It is carried out, like the division of the bush, in the spring.

Of the tools you will need:

• paper;
• box;
• peat substrate;
• potassium permanganate solution;
• boiling water;
• glass (slightly longer than the planting box).

Did you know?Maidenhair is used in medicine to treat nicotine, alcohol and caffeine addiction.

The breeding order is as follows:

1. Cut off the frond with a knife.
2. Remove the spores from them and put them on paper.
3. Treat the spores with a potassium permanganate solution.
4. Fill the box with substrate.
5. Pour boiling water over the soil.
6. When the substrate has cooled and the spores are dry, spread the seed over the soil mixture.
7. Cover the drawer with glass and place in a warm place protected from bright light.
8. Spray the soil with a spray bottle for 3–5 weeks until sprouting as it dries.
9. When the seedlings are germinated, remove the glass and place the box closer to the light source.
10. Continue the previous care of the seedlings.
11. Dive the grown seedlings into small pots.

Possible growing difficulties

Diseases usually do not affect the bush, however, improper care negatively affects its condition. All of the following problems are solved by the correction of care:

However, with inadequate care, the likelihood of pests increases.

It will not be difficult to grow Adiantum Venus hair at home if you first study the recommendations for caring for it. With a caring owner, this type of fern will grow for a long time and without problems.

The maidenhair resembles Brabant lace, dyed in a rich grassy color. Its black petioles are so thin and shiny that the plant is popularly called hair venus. This pampered inhabitant of carbonate rocks, sprayed with waterfalls, requires careful care. It is not easy even for an experienced florist to grow a curly miracle at home. The proposed article and accompanying photos will help create the best conditions for the handsome man.

Karl Linnaeus gave this decorative fern the name "waterproof". To understand the train of thought of the great taxonomist, it is enough to sprinkle water on the plant and see how the drops flow down from the leaves, leaving no traces. At the same time, in the wild, the maidenhair settles exclusively near water: mountain streams, springs fed by underground sources of small lakes.

In indoor conditions, the maidenhair is very finicky and requires vigilant attention and observance of measures in everything. He absolutely does not tolerate:

• drafts;
• bright sun;
• serious temperature changes;
• tobacco smoke and cooking fumes;

• dry conditioned air;
• neighborhood with heating appliances.

If all the conditions are met, and the fern still withers, it is possible that it was overfed, transplanted at the wrong time, the leaves were not washed from dust, the soil was overdried or overfilled with water.

Advice. Plants brought from the store can quickly dry out all the leaves. Don't rush to throw it away. Keep the soil slightly damp, spray the air over the pot - the fern will get out of stress and release new leaves that are better adapted to the microclimate of your particular room.

How to create the perfect corner for the maidenhair

In nature, any fern prefers to live under the canopy of the forest, so in the house you need to choose a place for it that is in partial shade. It will perfectly fit on a shelf a meter or a half from the window, in a hanging or floor planter - just not on the windowsill. The room should be ventilated and cool, with an air temperature slightly above 20 degrees.

The maidenhair loves to be immediately put in a permanent place and no longer moved. He is most capricious in relation to humidity. It's good if they use a humidifier in the house or keep an open aquarium, if not, then a hand sprayer is used two or three times a day.

The pot for the maidenhair is selected low, since all ferns have a shallow fibrous root system, which is difficult to master a large amount of land. Clay is preferred as a material: its micropores allow the soil to breathe and suffer less from stagnant water.

The soil needs to be loose but capable of holding water, so you can add a handful of perlite or vermiculite to your regular indoor flower mix. A drainage layer of 2-3 cm is required and several holes at the bottom of the pot to drain excess water. The surface of the soil can be sprinkled with fine expanded clay so that it does not dry out too quickly.

Attention! The plant should not come under direct airflow during ventilation, as well as in the cat's reach.

How to care for maidenhair

The beauty and freshness of hair venus depends to a large extent on the watering regime. In summer, it is watered more abundantly, making sure that the topsoil always remains moist, but not wet. Excess water poured onto the pan is removed 15 minutes after watering. Many flower growers practice periodic full immersion of the pot in water to radically wet the soil.

Starting in October, watering is reduced to once a week, making sure that the soil does not dry out. If it is too cold in the house, spraying is temporarily suspended, but after turning on the heating they must be resumed.

The maidenhair is fed 1-2 times a month with a complex fertilizer for decorative deciduous plants, reducing the dose recommended on the label by half. During the dormant period, dressings are not performed.

Hair venus is rarely transplanted, if only its roots appear through the drainage holes. The best way is to transfer the plant - gently moving the plant into a larger pot without damaging the root system. To maintain decorativeness, withered and dried leaves are cut out as close to the ground as possible.

Reproduction of maidenhair

Contrary to popular myth, maidenhair, like other ferns, never blooms in its life. It is propagated by spores (less often) or by dividing the rhizome.

It will take a long time to wait for young plants from spores. Spores are collected from the underside of the leaf, when it is covered with small black growths along the edge - sori. For sowing, you need a shallow container with drained, well-moistened soil.

Spores are scattered on the surface without sealing, covered with glass and placed in a shaded place. In the next two months, under the glass, they will germinate and turn into outgrowths, then the sacrament of fertilization, after which it will be possible to see thin seedlings. You can plant them when they reach the size of a tomato seedling, which it is at the time of the pick.

Attention! Even a single drying out of the soil in the nursery will destroy all spores, without exception.

It is much faster to get young specimens by carefully cutting a large, well-developed rhizome. The sections are immediately sprinkled with crushed charcoal for antiseptics, the cuttings are planted in pots of suitable size, closing up no deeper than the mother plant was sitting.

The combination of delicate greenery and shiny thin maidenhair stalks is appropriate in any interior, from a bedroom to a conference room. Create a humid mountainside microclimate for it, and the fern will adorn your home or office with its carved leaves all year round.

How to plant venus hair: video

Plant photos

(Adiantum cappillus-veneris)- is a plant from the fern family. Has a creeping root system with scales no more than 1 - 2 mm in length. Openwork leaves have soft segments, wedge-shaped or fan-shaped. The stalk is smooth, colored black. Sori are located along the edge of the leaves, have a transverse-oblong shape. In appearance, the maidenhair plant resembles female curls, and the goddess Venus has always been the personification of femininity and beauty.

The motherland of the maidenhair Venus Volos is the forests of South Africa, Eurasia and Brazil; it is found in the wild in the Crimea and the Caucasus. The plant does not bloom, it grows to a height of 30 - 40 cm. The life span of the maidenhair is quite long if it receives a sufficient amount of moisture.

	High growth rate. In one season, the plant doubles in growth.
	It blooms in summer, with high humidity it can bloom in winter
	Maidenhair Venus hair does not bloom
	Perennial

Useful properties of maidenhair

Maidenhair effectively humidifies the air. Scientists have proven that the volatile elements released by this plant prevent the growth and reproduction of colonies of fungi that are harmful to the human body.

Maidenhair saturates the airspace with biologically active substances that improve the living environment and have a beneficial effect on health. Due to the function of purifying the air, the plant improves mood, increases work capacity and stress resistance, and normalizes sleep.

Hair Venus should not be placed next to holly or thorny plants, since the flower will lose its main useful ability - the enhancement of female energy.

The best place for the maidenhair is the girl's bedroom, where it brings peace and harmony. Energy vibrations depart from the center of the plant in all directions, aimed at eliminating a variety of negative factors: fear, anxiety, self-doubt.

Features of home care

Maidenhair at home is unpretentious in care. It is important to provide the plant with conditions that are optimal for normal development and growth:

Temperature	In the warm season: + 20º - + 25º, in the cold: + 18º - + 20º.
Air humidity	It must be high, drainage is used, ventilation of the room.
Lighting	Penumbra or shade, ideally a window facing west or north.
Watering	In the summer - 3, and in the winter - 1 time per week.
Priming	Weakly alkaline or neutral substrate. Peat in its pure form is not suitable.
Top dressing and fertilization	Liquid fertilizers (mineral fertilizers alternate with organic ones) are applied once every 2 weeks.
Transfer	Young plants - annually, old - as the flowerpot is filled.
Reproduction	Dividing from the root or from the bush, in June. Spore reproduction is possible.
Growing features	Rearrangement negatively affects the state of the flower.

Among all the varieties of maidenhair, it is Venus of the hair that is most capricious in relation to the air temperature. The ideal place to install the pot is the window sills near the balcony door.

Caring for the Maidenhair Venus hair at home. In detail

In order for the plant to grow normally and please the eye, it is necessary to exactly follow the recommendations of specialists.

Flowering maidenhair

Maidenhair like all ferns, it does not bloom, reproduction is due to spores.

Temperature regime

Ideal values ​​for a plant: +16 - + 20 ° C, in winter they should not fall below + 10 ° C. At lower temperatures, the leaves die off. The most severe damage to the home maidenhair is caused by low temperature in combination with moist soil. This can lead to decay of the rhizome.

Often, the maidenhair Venus of hair at home is found in a hotter climate, therefore it is important to provide full air humidification by any means: containers with water next to the pot, special humidifiers, wet cloth on batteries.

It is forbidden to place the maidenhair near the radiator. Drafts, tobacco smoke, products that arise after gas combustion in the kitchen are harmful to the fern.

Watering the maidenhair

The flower needs regular moistening of the soil and does not tolerate its complete drying out. With a lack of water, the foliage turns yellow rapidly. The best way out of this situation is to completely remove the leaves.

The soil should always be moist, but without liquid stagnation. Frequent watering is necessary for the indoor maidenhair in the heat. With the onset of cold weather, the soil is moistened no more than 1 time per week.

Spraying

The plant is sensitive to air humidity, which should not fall below 50%. Home maidenhair Venus hair adapts well to life in room conditions and does not need regular spraying when the humidity in the room is 20%. If this figure is lower, frequent spraying will be required, it is better to put the pot on a pallet with moistened pebbles.

Lighting

The plant tolerates shade and partial shade well. Cultivated successfully in the back of a room with west-facing windows. East and north windows are suitable for placing the pot. In the first case, you will have to protect the fern from bright sunlight.

If the maidenhair experiences an excess of light, this is signaled by the loss of brightness of the leaves, and then their yellowing and drying.

Pot for maidenhair

A suitable flowerpot for the maidenhair should not be high, since the root system of the flower is shallow. The rhizome cannot master large areas of soil. Fern prefers tight pots.

Priming

The soil should be loose, capable of free passage of air. A good option would be to combine the same parts of peat, leaf, turf and sand. Hair Venus is one of the few ferns that prefer slightly alkaline or neutral soil. Peat acidifies the soil, so it is better not to use it. If it is still used, a lowering of the acidity with dolomite flour will be required.

The use of drainage is a prerequisite for keeping the maidenhair.

Top dressing and fertilization of the maidenhair

Liquid fertilizers are added to the pot 1 time in 14 days. It is necessary to alternate organic and mineral fertilizing.

Caring for maidenhair Venus hair at home involves periodic washing under the shower, the soil is previously covered with a film.

Maidenhair transplant

The fern is transplanted if necessary, always in the spring. For young plants, the procedure is repeated every 2 years, then only with strong growth, when the flowerpot becomes too tight. It is not recommended to disturb the plant often.

When transplanting, you should act very carefully so as not to damage the fragile rhizome. Rotten roots are removed.

Pruning

Only very old or damaged leaves and twigs are subject to the procedure. If the fern is dry, all fronds are cut off. The remaining stem is sprayed with water twice a day. After a while, young twigs appear.

Dormant period

This stage lasts from October to March. At this time, the flower of the maidenhair Venus hair in room conditions is watered once a week, but it is important to monitor the degree of moisture in the soil.

If on vacation

Before the trip, the plant is watered abundantly, a pallet with moistened expanded clay is installed under the pot. The pot is placed on the floor. In the summer heat, the fern is able to live without watering for no more than a week. For this reason, it is better to ask relatives or neighbors to look after the plant.

Reproduction of the maidenhair by dividing the bush

Splitting a bush when replanting is the easiest way to reproduce a fern. The plant is neatly separated: first the foliage, then the roots. The latter are very fragile, so you need to act slowly. When planting, the root collar is not deepened in order to avoid rotting.

Reproduction by spores

Like all ferns, maidenhair is able to reproduce with the help of spores, but this process is rather long and complex. Spores form on the underside of the leaves of mature plants. They are collected in paper bags and dried a little. After that, the spores are spread in a thin layer on the surface of the peat, which is placed in a shallow container.

The pot is placed in the shade, covered with glass, the surface of the soil is constantly sprayed with water. A month later, moss will appear on the ground, which indicates an intermediate stage in the development of the fern. At this time, the formation of male and female germ cells occurs. After their fusion, young plants appear. When their height reaches 4 cm, they are transplanted into separate pots. Young maidenhair is placed under glass.

Although this method of reproduction is considered the most difficult, plants grown from spores will be the strongest and most resistant to external factors.

Diseases and pests

The appearance of maidenhair Venus hair can be affected due to the following problems:

Maidenhair Venus hair is an attractive houseplant that resembles curled locks. Airy bushes with openwork leaves do not require complex care, the main condition is to maintain optimal moisture and temperature. It is successfully grown at home even by novice growers.

- one of the most mysterious and oldest plants on Earth. Their age is more than 350 million years, and the legends associated with them are still passed down from generation to generation. In the cultures of many countries, there are legends about the mythical fern flower. So, in Russia they believed that he would bestow the person who found him with all the treasures of the world, and in Latvian mythology, lovers are looking for this flower in order to find eternal happiness.

And it is still believed that these plants fill the house with positive energy, so adiantums are always popular with flower growers. In their kind there are about 200 varieties... To make it easier to make a choice, we will consider the characteristics of the most interesting varieties, as well as the rules for caring for them using the example of one of the most decorative types - Maidenhair Venus hair.

The most popular varieties of the Maidenhair

The most common among florists are the following varieties:

1. Adiantum Venus hair (Adiantum capillus-veneris)... The most popular type of home fern. It is also widespread in the wild - in the Transcaucasus, on the Crimean peninsula, in North Africa and the Mediterranean countries. In southern climates, it is grown by gardeners in the open field. This variety is a plant about 50 cm in height, with feathery leaves, the length of which reaches 25 cm.The light green leaf segments are up to 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. hairy petioles of dark brown color, it is thanks to them that the plant got its beautiful name.
2. Adiantum Pedatum Imbricatum As you can see from the photo, this variety differs in shape from most ferns. This is an unusual openwork plant about 40 cm tall. Its leaves are flat, rounded, fan-shaped on shiny black petioles. In general, the bush has a spherical shape. We love it by flower growers not only for its high decorative effect, but also for its resistance to frost. Due to its frost resistance, Adiantum stopoid is successfully grown in the gardens of the central and southern regions of Russia.

   

3. Adiantum Fragrans... Plant up to 50 cm in height. Grows rapidly, forming dense bushes with many leaves. The leaves themselves are oval, 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, located on low petioles up to 15 cm high. The plant is very delicate, with a pleasant light green hue. In natural conditions, it grows in the Andes of South America and South Asian forests.

   

4. Adiantum Raddianum... This variety has creeping leaves that stand out in wedge-shaped segments with rounded edges. The size of the leaf lobes does not exceed 1 cm, and the leaves themselves are large enough, can reach 45 cm in length. Ruddy's petioles are thin, have a brown tint. Maidenhair Ruddy has several subspecies, differing in the shape and shade of the foliage. In nature, Ruddy grows only in South America.

   

5. Kidney maidenhair (Adiantum Reniforme)... Looking at this plant with horseshoe-shaped leaves on long petioles, it is hard to believe that this is also a species of fern. A small graceful plant from 5 to 30 cm in height grows wild in the Canary Islands. There are two subspecies of the reniform Maidenhair - Reniforme and P The first has leaves up to 7 cm in diameter, located on 20-cm petioles. The second subspecies is more compact, it is 2 times smaller than the first.

   

6. Large-leaved adiantum (Adiantum Macrophyllum) As the name suggests, this species has larger foliage. Moreover, not the leaves themselves, the length of which is 30 cm standard for a fern, have a large size, but their shares. They have a triangular or oval-triangular shape, and can reach 10 cm in length. This variety stands out for its unusual raspberry-pink color, which is inherent in the plant at a young age.

   

7. Small-haired maidenhair (Adiantum Hispidulum)... This fern has a creeping rhizome and dissected leaves reaching 25 cm. The leaf lobes are diamond-shaped, 0.5 cm wide and up to 2 cm long. Strong petioles grow up to 35 cm. This decorative variety takes root well in an apartment. And in the wild, this adiantum can be found in Madagascar, India and North Africa.

   

There are enough varieties of Maidenhair to choose the right plant for any interior. And caring for them is not particularly difficult, so even a novice florist can breed them. Consider the basic rules of planting and care for this plant using the example of the Maidenhair Venus hair, which is especially revered by lovers of indoor ferns.

Rules for growing Adiantum Venus hair at home

In nature, Adiantum is most often found among stony placers, growing in the ground, which is clogged between the ledges in the rocks. Such plants are called lithophytes, and in order for them to grow well at home, they need to provide the most familiar conditions - a similar soil composition and a suitable pot.

The container for the Venus hair should be shallow, because the fern has a shallow root system. For him, the width of the pot will be more important. Good drainage will also be a prerequisite, which must be placed at the bottom of the container. Pour soil on top. It should have a slightly acidic reaction, absorb moisture well, but not hold it for a long time.

Tip: To keep the substrate nutritious and light enough, add a mixture of humus, perlite, peat bog and sand to it. It will also be useful to add bark and charcoal to the soil.

During the planting process, place the plant in such a way that the root collar remains above the substrate, because it will begin to rot under the ground.

Important find the right place for the plant... Hair Venus develops best in partial shade. The plant will grow well on a windowsill that faces east or northwest. If in summer direct sunlight falls on the Maidenhair, it is better to remove it from the window, or cover it with a translucent screen. From intense sun exposure, the plant can fade and even wilt. But you shouldn't put him in full shade either, he will survive there, but he will not be able to boast of emerald greenery. Venus hair will not grow well even in the presence of drafts and smoke from cigarettes.

Fern care includes the following activities:

1. Watering. Maidenhair does not tolerate both dry soil and excessively moist soil. Therefore, watering should be regular and moderate. The chlorine content in the water will be detrimental for it; for irrigation, use only settled or filtered water. The intensity of watering differs by seasons - in late spring and summer, the plant is watered more often and more abundantly, at this time new leaves are formed, and in the cold period, watering once a week will be enough.
2. Top dressing. They can be carried out only during the active growth of the plant, that is, from May to September. To do this, once every 3 weeks, you need to use liquid fertilizers. Only the dosage indicated in the instructions must be halved, because for Maidenhair a large amount of fertilizers will do more harm than good.
3. Maintaining the temperature within acceptable limits. During growth it is 20-25 degrees, and during hibernation - 15 degrees. In such conditions, the fern will not disturb you with yellowed leaves or the appearance of dark spots on them. If signs of wilting or hypothermia have already appeared, it is necessary to timely prune the damaged leaves, and create suitable conditions for the Maidenhair.
4. Maintaining the required humidity level. If the leaves of Venus's hair began to dry out, you need to make the air in the room more humid. You can use both household humidifiers and improvised means, such as a container of water or a wet towel on batteries. Frequent spraying of the leaves with water also helps.

Observing all the rules for caring for the Maidenhair, you can easily grow a beautiful, voluminous plant. And then you can learn how to reproduce the fern yourself.

Reproduction methods of Adiantum Venus hair

There are two ways to multiply Venus hair at home:

• Dividing the plant during transplantation.
• Reproduction using spores.

Maidenhair can normally grow in slightly cramped pots, but when the plant grows too large for the available capacity, it must be transplanted. The best time of the year for this will be spring, while the room should be warm enough, at least 15-20 degrees.

Hair Venus is difficult to tolerate transplants, therefore the composition of the soil for the transplanted plant is somewhat different from the soil for a young plant. It includes the following components:

In order to plant an adult Maidenhair, its root system must be carefully divided by hand. The soil in the pot should be slightly dry, this will reduce the likelihood of root damage.

The divided plant often does not take root, or loses its decorative effect. Therefore, in practice, the second method is more often used - reproduction by spores, which are located at the fern in the lower part of the leaves. Spores can be purchased, or you can collect them yourself from an existing plant.

Spores are sown in the ground in early spring. To do this, you need to get them out of the fern leaves using any sharp object. The container with crops must be stored in the dark at a temperature of 20-22 degrees, covered with glass on top. Remember to lift the glass for ventilation from time to time to prevent mold.

Seedlings appear in different ways - they may not show for 3 months, or they may rise in a month. After the sprouts appear, the glass is removed from the container and exposed to light. When young plants grow up, they can be planted in separate pots.

The more fern you have in the house, the more positive impact there will be from it, because this plant is famous for its positive energy.

Useful properties of fern

At first glance, it seems that Adiantum is very delicate and fragile, but this plant, in fact, has tremendous vitality and powerful positive energy. There is an atmosphere of love and understanding in the house where ferns are grown. It is believed that with the help of this plant you can restore peace where people are used to constantly quarreling. Fern has a calming effect on people with too violent energy. There is also a belief that the plant protects the house from evil spirits.

Even if you do not believe that plants can energetically interact with their owners, you can make your choice in favor of Maidenhair because of its safety for health. The plant is not poisonous, therefore it is suitable for placement in any room, including a nursery. And voluminous leaves will effectively purify the air in the room.

Attention: Breeding ferns is contraindicated only for people prone to allergic reactions, for them spores can become an allergen.

It has Maidenhair and wide application in medicine. In the works of ancient healers, you can find a description of the treatment for hair loss using fern decoctions. And in the regions of the Caucasus, they still produce herbal preparations that activate hair growth.

In pharmacology, Adiantum is used due to the following properties:

Thus, Maidenhair is not only a beautiful ornamental plant, but also extremely useful. It is worth having in the arsenal of every lover of indoor plants. And for flower growers who have encountered problems in growing it, we give a list of answers to the most common questions.

The most common questions about growing Maidenhair

Florists who have just started breeding ferns may have the following questions:

1. Why did the Maidenhair leaves darken and brown dots appear on them? This is a signal to check the acidity of the soil. To do this, you need to use a litmus test. The plant feels good only in slightly acidic soil, the acidity index of which is in the range from 5.5 to 6.5. If the normal acidity is disturbed, this indicates a large accumulation of salts. You can try to rinse the land with water, but a more painless way would be to transplant the plant into new soil.
2. Why do leaves dry? The delicate foliage of Venus hair can react by drying to various negative factors. This can also happen due to the air temperature unsuitable for the plant, or from cigarette smoke and a rarely ventilated room. Drafts or hot dry air rising from radiators can have a negative impact. In order for the leaves to stop drying, you need to try to eliminate all these factors.
3. What if all negative factors are eliminated, but the plant dries up anyway? Take a magnifying glass and examine the Maidenhair for harmful insects. Aphids or spider mites can grow on the fern. To get rid of them, the plant can be treated with a tobacco-soap solution. To prepare it, you need to purchase tobacco dust, which is a harmless and environmentally friendly product with insecticidal properties. Tobacco dust must be poured with water in a ratio of 1:10, boiled for 30 minutes and insisted for a day. After that, the broth must be filtered, diluted with water 1: 3, and add soap to it (20 g per 5 liters).
4. Why do the leaves turn yellow? The yellowness of the foliage indicates a lack of nitrogen in the soil. In this case, you can fertilize with nitrogen fertilizer.

The problems considered in the process of growing the Adiantum are most common. In general, the plant will not bother you too much. Ferns are very tenacious, and if the minimum conditions for the normal growth of indoor plants are met, they will literally grow on their own.

Video consultation

About planting adiantums in the video blog "Indoor flowers".