Adler fern acts as a lush, green foliage ornamental plant in the garden and in living spaces. Its primeval appearance creates exciting contrasts to classic perennials and at the same time raises questions about its cultivation. The following answers explain all relevant aspects about plants and care.
How do you properly care for bracken?
Adler fern prefers a semi-shady to shady location, regular watering with lime-free water and high humidity. Fertilize the bed every 4 weeks with compost and horn shavings; for potted plants, use lime-free fern fertilizer.
Planting bracken correctly
Planned soil preparation sets the course for the best growth. If you follow these steps when planting, bracken fern will fulfill its tasks in the bed with flying colors:
- Place the still potted young plant in a bucket of rainwater
- Loosen the soil deeply and dig the planting pit
- Lay a root barrier along the edges
- Enrich the excavation with compost, leaf mold, peat and horn shavings
Pot out the young bracken and plant it in the middle of the pit, no deeper than before. Water generously and mulch with grass clippings or leaves.
Care tips
Soft water plays the main role in the bracken care program. All important details at a glance:
- Watering abundantly and regularly with lime-free water
- Water or spray the plant every 1-2 days
- From May to September, fertilize every 4 weeks with compost and horn shavings
- Administer a liquid special fertilizer for ferns in the bucket
Cut out wilted fronds, this measure promotes attractiveness and prevents aging from the inside out. The leaves that have grown in winter should be cut off close to the ground before new growth at the latest.
Which location is suitable?
Bracken fern prefers a semi-shady to shady location where it can soak up sunlight in the morning or evening. If you assign the green plant a location protected from the wind, this care will promote harmonious growth of the fronds. In addition, the highest possible humidity is mandatory, so the bathroom is considered a premium location in the house.
The correct planting distance
Place bracken 50 centimeters apart. If the plant is used to green larger areas, plant 4 specimens per square meter.
What soil does the plant need?
The quality of the soil contributes significantly to the vital growth of bracken. These criteria are important:
- Nutritious, fresh, moist soil
- An acidic pH of 4-5
- In the planter, bog soil with compost and sand serves as a substrate
What is the best time to plant?
Since bracken is one of the frost-sensitive plants, play it safe by planting it after the Ice Saints. The time window is open until the beginning of summer. Putting the moisture-loving green plant in the bed during the warm season results in a high failure rate due to drought stress.
When is flowering time?
Brakern will not spoil you with one flower. In the course of their evolution, all ferns on earth have chosen an alternative way of reproduction that works without flowering and seed formation.
Cut bracken correctly
Cut out individual withered fronds from a bracken regularly so that the herbaceous plant does not age from the inside. On the other hand, let the parts of the plants that moved in the fall remain in the bed as winter protection. Cut these off close to the ground in early spring. Don't forget gloves!
Watering bracken
Bracken is a very thirsty plant. Water abundantly and regularly with lime-free water. Ideally, you should water the bed with a finely regulated water hose nozzle. If you cultivate a lush fern as a houseplant, spray the fronds every 1-2 days with a lime-free mist.
Fertilize bracken properly
Just like the water, the fertilizer should not contain lime or s alt. Therefore, fertilize bracken in the bed every 4 weeks from May to September with compost and horn shavings. In the bucket, a special liquid fertilizer for ferns provides the necessary nutrients. If the smell is not perceived as disturbing, fertilize with nettle manure or worm tea.
Diseases
Its high poison content also serves as a protective shield against diseases. However, every now and then fungal infections find a way to attack the fern. If the plant turns brown from the inside out, mold or rot fungi usually cause the damage. Thin out the diseased plant and treat it with an approved fungicide.
Pests
Flymouth weevils like to eat bracken. If you discover damage to the fronds, lay out special bait traps with nematode gel for the adult beetles. You can combat voracious larvae in the bed with nematodes dissolved in water, which are available as suspensions in stick form for potted plants.
Wintering
In winter, bracken absorbs the above-ground parts of the plant in the bed. The rhizome overwinters in the ground to sprout again the next spring. Explicit winter protection is not required. The green splendor will remain in the pot if you move the fern indoors in autumn and continue to care for it in a partially shaded, warm window seat.
Propagate bracken
For uncomplicated propagation, dig up the root ball in spring, divide it and plant the segments in the new location. A suitable section has at least two shoots.
bracken in pot
In pots and hanging baskets, bracken adorns low-light corners in living rooms with its decorative green fronds. If you use a loose mixture of rhododendron soil, compost and peat as a substrate, the plant will feel in good hands. Drainage at the bottom of the pot ensures unhindered water drainage. The following aspects are relevant in nursing:
- Spray bracken regularly with lime-free water
- Do not let the substrate dry out
- Administer a lime-free fern fertilizer every 14 days
- Tighten dry fronds regularly
- In a warm location with 18-25 degrees Celsius, bracken does not take a winter break
If a fern in a pot spent the summer on the balcony, it will move into the house before the first frost. The green fronds are preserved in the bright, warm winter quarters.
Is bracken poisonous?
Highly toxic ingredients lurk in bracken, such as hydrogen cyanide and various saponins. Therefore, take appropriate precautions to avoid direct contact with the plant sap during planting and care work. Eating bracken is life-threatening for animals. This applies to horses, grazing livestock and pets.
Brown leaves
If freshly rolled out fronds turn brown and die in spring, they have suffered frost damage. Therefore, cover the bracken with garden fleece when the meteorologists announce delayed ground frosts. In the middle of the season, brown leaves indicate mold or rot. Spray the plant repeatedly with a mixture of 15 ml of pure soft soap and 1 liter of water. Additionally sprinkle the substrate with cinnamon, which acts like a natural fungicide.
Yellow leaves
If a bracken fern has yellow-colored leaves instead of bright green fronds, it is usually a failure in care. If the foliage plant is frequently watered with water containing lime, the lime in the substrate prevents the absorption of vital nutrients. Therefore, water primarily with collected rainwater or decalcified tap water.
How do I transplant correctly?
If you have prescribed a change of location for bracken, the months of March and April are ideal for this measure. Use the digging fork to loosen the root ball within the root barrier and lift the fern out of the soil. The soil at the new location is prepared with a sufficiently large pit. Plant the bracken here just as deep as in the previous location and water generously.
