Ferns known today represent plants that evolved from the Paleozoic Era, millions of years ago. Within the ferns, two categories are observed, a group that has very small leaves and another that are the ferns with large leaves. They are difficult plants to maintain, so here we give you some tips on their cultivation, care and characteristics.
The ferns
Ferns are a sample of vegetation that originated more than 300 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period of the Paleozoic Era. In that Geological Era, the continents, due to the constant movements of the tectonic plates, the continents began to separate, moving large proportions of land to the north and south of the globe. The lands that went to the north were given the name of Laurasia and those to the south Gondwana. Fern plants originated in the lands of Gondwana.
In that era, terrestrial vegetables colonize the land, probably due to better climatic conditions, such as higher temperatures and frost-free majority of the land. This led to the appearance of primitive trees, and with them the first forests, where the first ferns and reptiles and fossil insects grew and developed. Corals already existed in the sea and the first sharks appeared.
Features
Ferns along with other vegetables are vascular plants, which originated from the Paleozoic, and began to conquer the terrestrial environment, perfecting their vascular conductive system with which they absorb and distribute nutrients throughout the plant. In addition, their different ways of reproducing sexually, culminating in the appearance of seeds protected by the carpelar or megasporophyllous leaf.
These differ from other vascular plants (plants with well-differentiated conductive tissues) that are called Tracheophyta, because they do not have seeds. Ferns are the most primitive Tracheophyta and, they are grouped (to date) in the Pteridophyita Division, they can have very small leaves and also large leaves, they develop in humid forests and in places with more envelope such as the undergrowth (the floor bottom of the woods).
Being plants without seeds or flowers, they reproduce in nature by means of spores, they live in places with high environmental humidity, most are herbaceous plants and some other tree species. Ferns have rhizome-like stems, in herbaceous Ferns they grow horizontally above the ground or below the earth's surface.
Unlike the tree ferns these stems grow erect and some climbers. These stems are usually covered with scales or also with hairs. The scales can be lanceolate and orbicular in shape. The hairs on the stems of Ferns can be unicellular or multicellular, most Ferns are simple, however, some species have stellate or ctenitoid hairs.
Fern leaves are called fronds, most species have monomorphic fronds and there are also certain species with dimorphic fronds. The laminae can be simple or pinnate, although they are usually several times fractionated with a pinnate division scheme.
The sorus is a community of sporangia, they are generated in the multiplication of sporophytes; haploid spores are generated internally in the sporangia. The sporangia have the particularity of having a peduncle that holds a capsule that is usually unistratified, in which a row of cells formed by thick walls can be seen, called a ring, which is vital for the propagation of the spores.
The sporangia are free structures that are attached to the sori. When several sporangia unite, they form the sori, the latter are located on the edges or underside of the fern fronds when they are fertile, they are easy to see with the naked eye. The shape, arrangement and location of the sori are characters of interest for the taxonomic description of Ferns. The shapes of the sori are varied: circular, elongated, linear, arranged in parallel or oblique rows arranged at the margin or randomly.
Ferns are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the planet, they grow and develop in the lowest extract of the forest, receiving the shadows of the tallest trees and shrubs, they like high humidity. There are species of ferns that can withstand temperatures of -4°C, such as the species balantium antarcticum, these are exceptional cases as most are very sensitive to light frosts and low temperatures.
Morphology
Herbaceous ferns have rhizome-like stems that grow underground and some, however, are arboreal like the genus blechnum, its stem is aerial and grows straight. Its leaves are called fronds, each frond has peduncles and a blade with many leaflets and pinnae, in some species of Ferns the frond is entire, depending on the species the frond can measure just a few centimeters or measure more than a meter.
Cultivation and Care
When we observe Ferns in houses, gardens and on walks in the mountains, we cannot even imagine that they are fossil plants that have evolved and adapted to the different environmental conditions that the planet has been through for more than 500 million years. They are very beautiful and delicate plants in their maintenance and cultivation. Below are some suggestions for their care.
In countries with temperate climates and marked seasons, it is suggested to cultivate Ferns during the spring or autumn seasons. In countries with dry and rainy seasons, it is suggested to cultivate starting the rainy season. The planting substrate must be porous and well aerated with a loamy or medium texture. Acid medium with a good leaf mulch or organic matter rich in shredded branches and leaves. That is, a permeable, porous and paid substrate. Mycorrhizal fungi can also be added to provide conditions similar to nature.
humidity and location
Because they are plants that grow in the undergrowth in nature, they are adapted to receive little light, live in warm places, with high humidity. For this reason, when they are grown, they have to be placed in semi-shaded places where sunlight reaches them indirectly. For this, it is recommended to place it away from the windows and to place it facing north, since in this way it receives less sunlight.
Because it grows in nature in places with high environmental humidity, good humidity must be provided in its cultivation. For this, a plate with gravel and water can be placed under the pot where the Fern plant is planted, and the water is absorbed. for the plant. You can also place double pots or if you have the opportunity to place a humidifier.
If you place double pots, the second pot is larger than the pot in which the Fern is planted. This second pot is filled with moss and water, inside it is placed the pot where the Fern is. The upper part of the largest pot is covered with soil and moss and after a few days it is checked to water it if it dries out, to guarantee humidity.
Temperature
It is suggested to cultivate Ferns at an approximate temperature of 20°C, up to a minimum temperature of 15°C, being more sensitive to lower temperatures. These temperatures are suggested for being plants originating from tropical climates. At home it is advisable to look for the most humid place such as bathrooms, due to the humidity provided by bathtubs and showers. A good place is also the balconies and roofed terraces in houses that are close to mountains in places with tropical climates.
Irrigation and compost
To maintain and provide irrigation water, it is suggested to water the Ferns directly to the planting land, a little each day keeping the soil moist, but avoiding saturating it with water. He suggests to water the rest of the plant to use a spray bottle and diffuse the water. Preferably store rainwater and reuse as irrigation water.
Likewise, you can apply denatured alcohol solutions to water, this will also control the attack of any pest. Regarding the application of fertilizers or fertilizers, it is suggested that it be specific for Fern, its supply can be done after six months and then once a month or as indicated by the manufacturer.
Ferns are disease-resistant plants, however they do not escape being affected by some diseases, so when you go to prune, it is recommended to disinfect the pruning shears and keep them sharp when removing the affected or diseased parts of the Fern. . If any part of the Fern has withered, it is suggested to remove it by pruning that dry part of the plant. These pruning can be done at any time of the year.
It is suggested to repot your Fern plants when the roots start to protrude from the pot. When to transplant is subject to the species and growth rate. Due to this, if it is in good health and has grown a lot and the pot is small, you can transplant it, so that it has good quality soil and drainage.
Fern Species
In nature there are different species of Ferns, classified within the Pteridophyita Division, although this taxonomic classification is currently being revised. These vascular plants reproduce by means of spores (cryptogams). About 150 genera of ferns and an approximate of more than 25.000 described species have been described. Some of them are the following.
swamp fern
The Swamp Fern (Acrostichum aureum), is distributed in the swampy coastal and lacustrine places of the tropical subtropical regions of America. In Venezuela it has been observed in coastal swamps of the Caribbean Sea. Of the large number of Ferns that grow in nature, this is one of the few adapted to growing in salty substrate (halophyte), although it grows very well in freshwater swamps.
It has a height that varies between 1 to 3 meters, more or less arborescent, its rhizome (stem) is short. This trunk is covered with small and thick roots, it is approximately 1 meter tall. Its fronds measure between 1 to 3 long by 20 to 40 centimeters wide, light green pinnate. It has alternate, elliptic, sessile coraceous pinnae. When it is fertile, the sporangia completely cover the underside, they do not agglomerate into sori. It reproduces by division of its rhizome and by spores.
Maidenhair
the fern adiantum raddianum Popularly called Maidenhair, it comes from shady or shady places, from the humid forests of northern South America, it grows in places with temperatures above 18°C. Currently several cultivars from the original species, very showy and resistant as the adiantum raddianum "Decorum", which are grown in pots and the varieties "Goldelse" and "Brillantelse".
Its stem is a creeping rhizome, with dark brown lanceolate scales. The plant has a height of about 30 to 40 centimeters high. Its fronds are triangular and tripinnate at the base, then bipinnate and pinnate towards the apex. Its propagation is by divisions of the rhizome and by spores.
Bird's nest
bird's nest (Asplenium nidis-avis), has a very extensive distribution from Asia through Oceania and Australia, it is one of the most cultivated Ferns and admired for the beauty of its fronds and its arrangement on the plant. Its fronds measure close to 1 meter inserted in a central cavity, which resembles a nest.
davallia
This genus of Fern groups about 65 species that originate from the tropical regions of Europe, Africa. They are terrestrial and epiphytic ferns of low height, their fronds are very divided and measure between 10 centimeters to 120 centimeters high. Its rhizome is creeping and long, it has dense, ciliated scales.
eagle fern
Eagle fern, common fern are some of the names given to the Fern identified by botanists as Pteridium aquiline, Its fronds can measure about 2 meters long, green, tripinnate or four-pinnate. They are grown in pots and in places with a lot of shade.
Java fern
The Java Fern is scientifically named as Microsorum pteropus. It reaches an approximate height of 35 centimeters, grows in marine habitats, its fronds are entire, lanceolate in shape and light green in color. It supports temperatures between 18 to 30°C and pH between acid and alkaline.
This is a small sample of Ferns, some of the fossil plants that we can still enjoy and that are widely cultivated as ornamental plants both for pots inside houses and internal gardens, under shade and high humidity. In countries with warm climates, they are also grown in terrestrial and aquatic gardens of houses and parks.
Importance of Ferns
In the branch of economic botany they do not consider it an important plant, as it does not have any medicinal, industrial or food use. However, it is known that since ancient times it has been used medicinally, especially to eliminate parasites. Although its best known use is as an ornamental plant. They are usually used as a complement to floral bouquets, providing foliage so that the flowers of the bouquet stand out.
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