The elegant platycerium (olenerog) is a popular representative of the oldest family of ferns.
The natural habitat of the tropics grows on separate trees, clinging to the trunk and thick branches.
Description of Platicerium
Antler fern belongs to ephipites, a number of centipedes, the domain of eukaryotes. Received its name for its unusual appearance.
Leaf features
- spore-bearing (fertile) - participate in reproduction, similar to deer horns;
- vegetative (sterile) - salary are used as a storage of nutrients.
Types of Platicerium
It is divided into 17-18 varieties. In floriculture known:
| View | Description |
| Bifurcate (bifurcate) | Wii are triangular, bluish in color, deeply dissected at the edges, the ends are blunted. Sterile rounded with curled edges. |
| Hill | It looks like a two-forged, but the leaves are smaller, shallowly divided, straight. |
| Large flatfoot | Spore-bearing parts reach 2 m in length, hang down with straps. Barren extensive with incisions. |
| Angolan | Fertile leaves are wedge-shaped, without dissection, pale orange. Sterile whole, bent back. |
Features of care for platycerium
The flower is rather whimsical. Home care requires compliance with the rules.
Location, lighting
The plant feels comfortable on the western or eastern side, in bright but diffused light. The longer the shoots, the worse it tolerates the shadow. A prolonged stay in a shaded place leads to stunting, darkening of the color.
Temperature
In the summer, + 20 ... +25 ° C is enough; intense heat lowers the level of humidity. In winter, a decrease to + 14 ... +17 ° C is possible. Some varieties tolerate lower temperatures.
Humidity
A tropical resident is accustomed to dampness (an optimal rate of 80%). Top sprayed as often as possible, be sure to spray fine.
If there is an aquarium or humidifier in the room, hang next to it. It is undesirable to have close to heating appliances and in strong drafts.
Watering
The hotter the more watering. It is recommended to periodically put the pot in a bowl of warm water. After the soil is allowed to dry, so that the root system does not rot.
Transplant, soil, pots for growing
For planting you need a slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6), a ready-made substrate for orchids is suitable. Independently make a mixture of components:
- deciduous humus 20%;
- coarse sand 20%;
- natural peat 40%;
- mulch of pine bark 10%;
- dry moss 10%.
And also add charcoal powder, 2% of the volume of the filler.
They are fed with small (0.5 of the recommended) doses of preparations for decorative flora.
Transplanted after two years. The roots of the deer antler are underdeveloped, a flowerpot of small depth is needed. A water-permeable layer is placed below. Dying parts are not removed - they remain an element of the nutritional structure.
When diluted with a block, the roots are placed in a wrapper of raw sphagnum, fixing it with fishing line or thin wire. Whenever possible, add nutrients under wide ploskovetki.
As a support, use a hanging cache-pot made of cocovity or wooden planks in a carved frame. This composition looks like the artist’s creation, gives an exotic touch to the interior of the house.
The reproduction of platycerium
The reproductive period begins after 7 years. Mature spores scatter over a shallow ball of sphagnum. Before starting, it should be sterilized with boiling water and wait until it cools.
The sowing container is covered with a glass lid until emergence. Nursing requires a warm, shaded place, stable hydration.
When transplanting, accurate separation by containers is allowed.
Children (young shoots) are planted on pebbles with raw moss. Keep under the film for four days to get stronger, cultivated in a standard way.
Challenges for growing platicerium
- lack of moisture (lethargy and drying out);
- parasite insects (aphids, ticks, scale insects);
- brown spots (burns) due to direct contact with the sun.
Beneficial features
Despite capriciousness, the ploskorog perfectly filters harmful impurities, improving the room's microclimate.
