Kangaroo paw ferns (or Microsorum diversifolium) are an ornamental variety of the wild-growing Thai fern. Outwardly, it does not look like its closest counterparts. The Kangaroo paw fern leaves are wide, wavy, and have a shiny surface and the so-called “crocodile” pattern. But there are Kangaroo paw fern problems, and now we will talk about it.
Kangaroo paw fern problems and their decision. Plant description
Plants go on sale under this name, denoting the method of propagation of ferns (small sorus from Greek). It is now known that the Microsorum diversifolium originated from different fern species, but the name given to the culture in 1833 is still allowed.
The Kangaroo paw fern is compact, with creeping scaly rhizomes, often crawling to the surface. The leaves (they are also called “vines”) move upward from the rhizomes, the young ones resemble a snail in shape, gradually unfolding. On the underside of the leaf plates are sori (groups of sporangia), spores ripen in them.
The development cycle is very different from ordinary indoor flowers. Generations of Microsorums alternate, reproducing sexually and asexually.
- In the first case, the opened sporgonaria scatter spores on the soil to germinate, forming outgrowths. On the growths, gametes (eggs and spermatozoa) are formed, with the help of which fertilization occurs in water. A sporophyte, a new growth, grows from the embryo that has appeared.
- In the second case, the formation of young shoots from the rhizome occurs. Vegetative propagation occurs less frequently when daughter shoots form on the leaf plates.
Characteristics
Microsorum diversifolium belongs to the genus of centipedes, the birthplace of the culture of India and China.
- fern species –a perennial herbaceous plant with a massive creeping rhizome and sessile leaves;
- culture does not bear fruit;
- the color of the Kangaroo paw fern leaves is bright green, and the veins on the plant’s leaves are well pronounced;
- the need for the sun is high, but does not tolerate direct rays;
- size of the indoor plant is compact, 30-60 cm in height;
- Microsorum does not bloom;
- aroma – Kangaroo paw fern exudes a faint, pleasant smell if you touch the leaves.
How to care for a Kangaroo fern?
Microsorum is unpretentious, and therefore it is widely used as a decorative home culture, for landscaping in offices. The endurance of plants allows them to be grown by both experienced flower growers and beginners. Let’s talk about Kangaroo paw fern care.
How much light does a Kangaroo fern need? It might be direct sunlight or shade.
Kangaroo paw fern is a photophilous culture. Does it mean, that for the Kangaroo fern, important bright sunlight? No, it requires light lighting. At the same time, it should be bright indirect light. Because the plant doesn’t tolerate direct sunlight.
For the plant, a place is chosen on the west or east-facing window, and in winter, additional indirect sunlight is organized so that the plant develops at the proper level.
Temperature
Kangaroo paw ferns are thermophilic – the minimum temperature in the room is maintained at least + 20 °C. Hypothermia is dangerous for ferns and leads to the death of bushes. If the window sill cools down a lot in winter, the earth in the pot loses heat with it – therefore, a special stand is provided for each instance if it stands on the window.
Bushes tolerate heat well. Recommended temperature regime is warm temperatures from +21 to +28°С in summer, not cooler temperatures than +10°С with indirect sunlight in winter. It is undesirable to transfer the plant to fresh air, even in summer, if it is cool outside. Airing the room, the bushes protect from drafts.
How to water?
Abundant regular watering is necessary for the Kangaroo paw fern, but waterlogging potting soil should not be allowed. Because it can cause root rot. A good drainage system with a big drainage hole is necessarily made in a pot. There should be no standing water on the potting soil.
A short drought will not prevent the Kangaroo fern from feeling good. And in winter, watering is carried out only when the top layer of the potting soil is completely dry. For potting soil, use soft water collected during rain or obtained from melted ice, or defend tap water for at least a day.
Air humidity
Kangaroo fern is a fan of high humidity, like most plants from warm tropical forests. The culture grows well both in special florariums and in pots with the soil moist on the windowsill if the right conditions are created.
Humidity in the room is increased with a humidifier, and if there is no such device, water is regularly poured into a wide pan with pebbles and moss. Another method is used during the heat – daily spraying of the bushes and making the soil moist with water while using a fine spray.
Fertilizer
Top dressing is carried out only during the growing season when the Kangaroo paw fern is actively growing and developing – this happens from April to August. Fertilize Kangaroo fern once every 2-3 weeks, using either universal organic and chemical complexes, or special preparations designed specifically for ferns.
Fertilizers need to be given special attention. Preference is given to Micronutrient nitrogen supplements. The dose of mineral fertilizers is three tablets twice a month. Urea is applied in two tablets every other day per 100 milliliters of water.
The roots are divided into several parts so that at least three leaves remain on each of them. From each such transplanted part, a new plant will grow. It is also possible to reproduce in another way: when the old foliage dries up and dies, the young Kangaroo paw fern breaks off and floats to the top.
There it begins to grow its rhizome, under the weight of which it falls to the bottom. There it is attached with the help of silt and continues to grow. Remember that the Kangaroo paw fern dislikes being disturbed around it. You may give it complete rest.
Features of transplantation and soil selection
A transplant of Kangaroo fern is carried out if the plant becomes crowded in a pot, and its root system ceases to fit in the soil. This usually happens every 2-3 years. The right time for the process is February-March, when active growth is just beginning.
The capacity for the Kangaroo paw fern is chosen low and wide, since the root system does not develop down but on the sides. As a pot, a low flowerpot with legs, or a hanging planter, a decorative stand is suitable.
Potting soil requirements
The soil for Kangaroo paw fern is purchased specially for ferns or prepared with your own hands, following the recommendations:
- prepare 1 part of sand, peat, and leafy soil;
- mix the ingredients, breaking up lumps;
- add a little charcoal or pine bark for looseness.
The pH level of the finished soil should correspond to the values of 5.5-7.0. Be sure to lay a drainage layer 2-3 cm thick under the soil. The Kangaroo paw fern painfully tolerates transplantation, and therefore it is carried out by the transshipment method. When you take out the Kangaroo paw fern along with a clod of earth and plant it in another container.
Even small damages received by the root system have a bad effect on the state of the Kangaroo paw fern, therefore, to facilitate the adaptation of the bush in a new place, shading and high humidity are created. To achieve this, install a polyethylene cap over the plant or place the pot in a small greenhouse under glass, where they keep it for 3-7 days.
Pests and diseases
At low air humidity, conditions are created under which there is a high probability of infection of the Kangaroo paw fern with parasites. Kangaroo paw ferns are affected by mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects. For prevention, it is necessary to carry out regular spraying of the leaves, and the diseased bush is treated with insecticides, after manually removing the pests.
Microsorums are subject to pest infestation by whiteflies and thrips. Improper Kangaroo paw fern care is the cause of the deterioration of the plant and the appearance of painful appearance:
- the tips of the leaves dry because of lack of watering;
- why are my Kangaroo paw fern leaves turning brown? It is sunburn and too much light;
- stunting due to direct sunlight;
- why is my Kangaroo fern crispy? It is improper feeding;
- drying of foliage due to low humidity;
- slow development, ugly leaves because of lack of lighting.
Kangaroo paw ferns are rarely exposed to diseases if the conditions of detention are normal.
Reproduction features of Kangaroo paw ferns
Reproduction by spores when growing at home is a time-consuming and difficult task. To do this, you will need to create difficult conditions: heating the container from below, and maintaining the high humidity of the potting mix. Persistent flower growers get shoots after thoroughly drying the spores and germinating them on peat in a dark place.
Most often, reproduction is carried out by rhizome division. This is convenient to do during transplantation, carefully separating the right number of parts.
Rhizome division
Microsorum is propagated by rhizome division. Florists advise a similar procedure to be carried out simultaneously with a plant parents transplant, then the Kangaroo paw fern will suffer less. The resulting divisions are ventilated in the fresh air until the sections of the sections are completely dry.
To prevent infection, the bare places of the cuts are smeared with charcoal. The planting of cuttings is carried out in the same sequence as adult bushes when they are transplanted.
Spore propagation
There is another way of reproduction – growing a Kangaroo paw fern from spores. To get healthy seedlings, you need to make a lot of effort. First, spores are collected from the leaves, and the material is thoroughly dried and germinated on peat, ensuring that the seed tank is heated from below. Containers with spores are stored in a dark place with high humidity.
What other plants can I add to my fern of the same species?
There are about 50 species in the genus Kangaroo paw fern. Only a few of them are grown in indoor gardening.
Microsorum punctatum
Outwardly similar to sorrel, the bushes grow no higher than 30 cm. The rhizome is short, creeping. The leaves are rigid, with short petioles, and have a narrow elliptical shape.
Musifolium
Not a very popular species with unusual-looking leaves. Long leathery leaves reach a length of 1 m in nature. Outwardly, the leaf plates resemble the skin of a crocodile due to the mesh veins and also resemble the shape of the branches of banana trees.
Pteropus
The plant can partially or completely grow in water, so it is often used to decorate aquariums. Propagated well by division, not demanding on lighting. Leaves are lanceolate, 15-30 cm long, the shape may vary.
Microsorum scolopendria
A popular species, characterized by an unusual appearance – creeping rhizomes, covered with dark brown dense scales, resemble scolopendra. Widely spaced, ovate, pinnately dissected leaves, with 4-8 pairs of lobes and a segment at the end, emit a faint pleasant aroma.
If you are fond of floriculture, you will also be interested in learning how to care for plants:
Can a plant be in an aquarium?
This, at first glance, is a strange question but has a positive answer. The conditions under which the Kangaroo paw fern will grow play an important role in its development. Since the Microsorum is a fairly compact plant, aquarium owners love to plant it in their aquariums. It is suitable for large volumes and small ones.
With small sizes, it is recommended to plant one plant, but if the volumes are large, then planting Kangaroo paw ferns in groups is possible. It is better to place the Microsorum near the back wall of the aquarium or in its center. Plant it among other light-colored plants, and it will pair beautifully with its dark, luscious, green foliage.
The decorative appearance of Microsorums attracts attention with the brightness of dense shiny leaves that form lush bushes. The Kangaroo paw fern care includes a warm and humid atmosphere, but even inexperienced flower growers can grow a few unpretentious species at home.
Why is my kangaroo fern dying?
It is difficult to say why your kangaroo fern is dying without more information. Some common reasons for ferns to die include overwatering, underwatering, disease, pests, or a lack of proper sunlight. It is also possible that the fern was not well-suited for the conditions in which it was placed. To determine the cause of the fern’s death and to ensure the health of future plants, it is best to consult a horticulturist or to carefully observe the plant’s growing conditions.
How much light does a kangaroo fern need?
A kangaroo fern, also known as Microsorum diversifolium, prefers moderate to bright indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the delicate leaves, so it’s best to place it near a window where it will receive filtered light or dappled light.
How do you take care of a kangaroo paw fern?
To take care of a kangaroo paw fern, it’s important to provide it with bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. Water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch, and mist the leaves regularly to increase humidity. Keep the plant in a room with a temperature between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and fertilize it every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight or in drafts.
Why are my kangaroo paws turning brown?
Ink disease is an attack by a fungus called Alternaria alternata which affects kangaroo paws. Ink spot shows up as blackening of the leaves and flower stems. The disease usually starts at the leaf tips, then spreads down the leaves into the rhizomes.