Heartleaf Fern
Abstract: Other flowers, the little knowledge of Heartleaf Fern (Zexie Fern), the maintenance method of Heartleaf Fern (Zexie Fern). Corrections are welcome if there are any mistakes!
Scientific Name: Hemionitis arifolia
Family and Genus: Gymnogrammitis family, Zexie Fern genus
Alias: Zexie Fern
Heartleaf Fern usually grows 10-25 cm tall. The rhizome is erect, with light brown narrow lanceolate scales. Leaves are tufted, dimorphic, herbaceous, smooth on top, and pubescent with钻-shaped small scales underneath, with sparse red-brown jointed cilia on the leaf edge; sterile leaves have petioles 2-10 cm long, dense scales, and jointed hairs, with ovate or oblong leaves, deeply cordate base, and blunt apex; fertile leaves have petioles up to 20 cm long, with hastate or oblong-cordate leaves, oblique to the petiole, 4-6 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, apex obtuse or acuminate, entire margin. Leaf veins are reticulate, without included veins. Sori are born along the reticulate veins, without indusium, mature and covering the lower surface of the leaf.
Heartleaf Fern prefers shade, cannot tolerate direct strong light, enjoys scattered or reflected light, requires high humidity, and should not be too dry or too wet. It also requires high air humidity and has leathery leaves. It grows in dense forest wetlands, ravine crevices, or shrub thickets, up to 1000 meters above sea level. Distributed in the southern (T-W) and southern Yunnan (Menghai), especially common on Hainan Island; also found in other tropical Asian regions.
Cultivation要点: Requirements for light vary during different growth stages. In the early growth stage, i.e., sprouting stage, strong light should be prevented, and more shade is needed. During the dormant period, it should be placed in a well-lit area. Most ferns prefer filtered, indirect, or reflected scattered light. Insufficient light will cause the plant to grow weakly or wilt. High soil temperature and air humidity are required, especially in the seedling stage.
Daily watering and foliar spraying are needed during the growing period to maintain humidity. If the plant wilts due to lack of water, immediately immerse the pot in clean water and spray the above-ground part. Watering is best done in the morning, especially for varieties with finely divided leaves. Evening watering can cause water droplets to remain between the leaves, evaporate slowly, and easily cause leaf rot. Avoid stifling heat, and provide more ventilation in the summer. When ventilating, pay attention to water supply to keep the environment fresh and not dry. Avoid "through drafts" during the seedling stage.
Soil requirements: Rich in organic matter, loose and permeable, slightly acidic (pH 5.5 to 6.0) is most suitable. The substrate is generally prepared with peat soil, decomposed leaf mold, perlite, or coarse sand in a ratio of 2:1:1, or decomposed manure, coarse sand, or perlite in a ratio of 1:1. The roots are tender and not suitable for heavy fertilization.
When planting, a base fertilizer can be added to the substrate. During the growing period, liquid fertilizer can be applied, with a concentration not exceeding 1%, directly applied, and no more than once a week. Sufficient nitrogen promotes vigorous plant growth, while a deficiency causes old leaves to turn gray-green and gradually yellow, with small leaves; excessive nitrogen easily causes plant elongation and reduces resistance. Phosphorus is important for the root growth of ferns, and a deficiency results in stunted plants, deep green leaves, and underdeveloped roots, which can be supplemented by spraying phosphorus on the leaf surface with monopotassium phosphate or calcium superphosphate. Potassium enhances photosynthesis and promotes chlorophyll formation, while a deficiency causes old leaves to develop spots and gradually turn yellow. Calcium deficiency inhibits plant growth, causing leaves to curl and gradually die from the tip. Magnesium deficiency causes old leaves to gradually change color but the veins remain deep green. Iron deficiency causes new fern leaves to turn gray-green and gradually wither, with the veins aging and turning black. Manganese deficiency causes necrotic spots on the veins. Boron deficiency leads to the death of the apical bud. Copper deficiency causes leaves to turn yellow, eventually leading to leaf drop and death.
Fertilization should be light and frequent, and foliar spray or root application should be done as needed.
Potted ferns need to be repotted every 2 to 3 years, and this can be done between February and August. Do not damage the roots. When repotting, first place a 2 cm thick layer of broken bricks at the bottom of the pot for drainage, followed by a 2 cm thick layer of charcoal to absorb residual salts and toxic gases from the soil. Then add a layer of bone meal (rich in phosphorus fertilizer) to promote root growth. After placing the plant in the pot, fill it with the prepared substrate to ensure plant growth and achieve good cultivation results.
The above is [] specific content about the maintenance method of Heartleaf Fern (Zexie Fern) for everyone's reference.