The healing and useful properties of the fern

A nondescript fern ... Probably, many of us, having come to the forest for mushrooms, paid attention to the whole plantations of the forest fern, which grows wherever it wants. But this is only at first glance.

It turns out that the forest fern never grows on poor dehydrated soils, the usual place of its growth is a land rich in humus, better in alder or aspen wood. As you know, aspen is the most "disinfected" tree, it does not admit to itself forest pests, preserves the green foliage the longest, practically does not decay at the root. Consequently, forest fern also has similar disinfecting properties.

Since ancient times in the villages, especially surrounded by shallow forests, the fern has been used for the preservation of the crop, it has been a means for repelling rodents, for drying lofts and cellars.

So I want to talk about wonderful properties of the usual forest fern.

When I came for the summer to my grandfather in the village, we collected the fern in early August with sacks. Then I noticed that my grandfather was hanging the brooms from the fern in the attic, throwing them in the cellar, drying whole bundles for the winter. Later, when I was studying at the Timiryazev Academy, I took the topic "Ferns" for the term paper. Investigating many species of ferns, came to the conclusion that several of their species really beneficially affect not only the environment, but also human health.

I intentionally will not mention the Latin names, I'll just say: the longest ferns that are found everywhere, and is a miracle cure for a person.

In August, on the back of the leaves of the fern ripen small brown spores. This is the moment when the fern is suitable for the treatment of joints and joint pain. I usually do this procedure: I apply fern sheets to the sore spot with spores to the surface of the skin and bandage with old cotton strips of tissue. I do not know why, but the bandage is not good. Overnight, the fern dries to a state of shallow grime, I remove and repeat the procedure every other day for a week. Do not believe it, but after a week of joint pain, there is not even a memory left!

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See also: Tsimitsifuga (photo) - cultivation and care

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I tried to collect the fern for future use: the same effect. While the spores did not naturally fall apart (and they disappear within three months after harvesting), the fern has the same healing power.

My old friend, who received inflammation of the articular fluid of the knee joint, was cured by the fern in just a month of treatment, although before that he limped with constant pain in his knee.

But that's not all.

In our summer cottage constantly during the winter appeared mold on the walls, on the floor, and especially in the attic.

The house is ordinary, shielded, but still it was necessary to scrape off this mold every spring, dry the house, and sometimes change the boards. And then I remembered about the fern, or rather, how my grandfather hung the whole attic with them. He took three fresh leaves from the bag, did not even dry it, but simply overlapped the loft along the perimeter, spread out the brooms from the fern on the floor and in the subfield. There remained many more, did not throw away, left part on the porch, a part transferred to beds with garlic, planted for the winter.

In the spring I could not believe my eyes: there is no mold anywhere, even in the places where it was, how they fought it!

In the attic dry, clean, in the subfield, not a single mouse family! And literally every year in the spring did not know where to get rid of them!

Of course, I didn’t quite believe it, I thought maybe an accident ...

Closer to August, when the maturation of ferns began, he again visited the forest and brought a little, picked the leaves with the most mature spores. The cabbage ripened, and the caterpillars were simply insolent. The fresh leaves of the fern were literally wrapped up with cabbage heads.

I do not know what happened there at night, but in the morning there was not a single caterpillar on one head - how they disappeared! The fern remained on the cabbage for about 2 months, I did not take it off, and the cabbage turned out simply excellent!

When I realized that the fern has such a miraculous power, I began to just experiment. So, dried leaves after winter, I buried in the holes around raspberries, currants, gooseberries. Has noticed: there were less than aphids, leaves have ceased to be twisted, as at defeat by a fire.

Brought fresh leaves with not yet sporulated disputes. Chopped. I note that it turned out a very fragrant, uneven mass. Once again he dug in the holes. I'll run ahead, but I've never seen such a crop on my berry bushes! Raspberry without a single wormhole. Currant, even on old bushes, yielded a crop no worse than a bouncer. On one bush of gooseberries a year earlier noticed traces of a scab and wanted to dig it already, but there was not a trace left of it. Gooseberries were born smooth, strong, which was not for a long time.

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Reference by topic: How to transplant a fern

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From such successes truly the head will spin. I began to use fern everywhere and everywhere, grind the unripened leaves, laid ripe under the winter with spores. And then I realized that not everywhere the fern is useful. So, I literally burned down the landing remontant strawberry, when for the winter he overlaid it with a fern. Apparently, not all plants it is useful.

In the end, I use a fern to protect the beds from mice, to dry the attic, the sub-floor. But I try not to overdo the garden plants. It is better to check on a small area of ​​the soil, whether such a feeding as ferns is suitable.

And in general, there is nothing more beautiful in the garden area, like plants, freely feeling in the wild.

I now grow on my plot all kinds of ferns that occur in our forests. This is a beautiful ornament for flower beds, amazingly look ferns in solitary plantations on the lawn, even for decorating garden paths and park areas perfectly suited.

And now some tricks that are necessary for the good survival of ferns on your site. Ferns best take root in the phase of unrevealed twisted leaves, that is, just from under the ground.

In any place where you can find the fern sprouts, you can safely dig up the rhizome and transfer it to the garden with a clod of land. Fern loves a shadow, on the site there will certainly be a place to land. In a previously prepared pit, add three drops of ordinary greens: this is necessary for general disinfection of the soil. In the fossa, transfer the fern sprouts, sprinkle the soil from the place where you took it, compact the soil.

Do not water, do not loosen, do not forget about the fact that you must grow a fern. But when the leaves open, you can feed a little: half of the matchbox of a bird litter on a bucket of water - this is enough to throw powerful leaves.

I want to add that a fern, transferred from habitual habitats to a garden plot, can not form any controversy at all. So, something is wrong, and new plants will have to be planted.

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Reference by topic: Nephrolepis (photo) - planting and growing in room conditions

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Fern loves transplants, but responds to them very slowly, it seems, even reluctantly. In fact, you will not notice how the ferns decorate your site.

For the winter to cut faded leaves of ferns is not necessary. They, like in the natural environment, will themselves rot and rot during the winter, giving the upper soil layer at least a little bit of useful microelements and nutrients.

In a word, do not be indifferent to the fern!

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About ferns: a story of a specialist

Ferns are incredibly diverse, adapt well to room conditions, grow rapidly and perfectly clean the air. The patterned fern leaf is called "Vaya", which in Greek means "palm branch".

The history of ferns is truly amazing: on the ground they appeared more than 400 million years ago, long before the appearance of man. They found dinosaurs, and despite all the changes that have taken place on our planet, to this day they amaze with their diversity.

Despite their considerable age, they were introduced into culture relatively recently - in the XNUMXth century. The widespread distribution of ferns was prevented by stove heating - combustion products inhibit the growth of these plants. In homes with central heating, tropical and subtropical ferns feel great. And yet, even in modern conditions, it is worth recalling this feature of ferns: smokers note - ferns do not like smoke.

OUR REFERENCE

Disputes are formed in sporangia, which, in turn, are combined in Soruses. These formations are clearly visible to the naked eye and, depending on the species, may be similar to dots or dark bands on the lower side of the vai. Ripe spores are carried by the wind.

The cryptic plants

These ancient plants have a number of significant differences from their green counterparts.

The main one is the method of reproduction: ferns never bloom. Carl Linnaeus even carried them to a special group of so-called cryptic plants. Instead of the usual flowers and seeds, the ferns form spores on the underside of adult leaves-wai. When growing, they look like a cochlea and are sporiferous and sterile.

Nephrolepis

Among the ferns there are plants whimsical, which can only be grown by an experienced floriculturist. Nephrolepis is not one of them. This fern can be safely advised even to beginners. Beautiful, fast-growing and unpretentious, he has not lost popularity for many years.

If you take a closer look at the store shelves, you will find that from the varieties and types of nephrolepis you can collect a whole collection: there are among them large handsome men of length more than a meter, for small places, you can pick out dwarf varieties that can easily fit on a small window sill . Among them there are forms with erect and drooping pinnate leaves (such plants look beautiful in hanging baskets) with ordinary or twisted "curly" edges.

Interesting features

Nefrolepis is a fern with the most familiar appearance for most gardeners. But not all ferns have cirrus leaves. Thus, the epiphytic platicerium resembles deer or elk horns. At the asplenium, the leaves are completely whole, and the adiantum fern for its appearance even got the name “Venus of Hair” - its delicate delicate green leaves on glossy black petioles look like a fairy air hairdo.

Home Collection

Ferns prefer warmth throughout the year. They do not have a rest period, so even in winter the temperature on the windowsill where these plants are located should not fall below +10 ° С. Creating suitable conditions for them in the apartment is quite simple: they can grow even on the northern windowsill - because in nature they live in rainforests in the shade of large trees. They need protection from direct sun, but this problem is easily solved. If you got a south-facing apartment, just place the fern a short distance from the window.

Fern transplantation

Usually the transplantation of ferns into a new pot is carried out in the spring. At this time, it is possible to divide too large, well-grown specimens into several parts. Each delenka should have its own kidney and at least two or three leaves.

Ferns - proper care

During the whole year, the soil in the pot with the ferns should be evenly moistened. Water, not absorbed after watering, must be drained from the pallet, so that the roots do not rot.

In the period of active growth, ferns are fed weekly with fertilizers for decorative leaves. They are sensitive to an overdose of salts in the soil - apply fertilizer only in well-watered soil and dilute the fertilizer a little more than the instructions on the packaging.

Ferns do not like sudden temperature changes, cold drafts and dry air.

Be careful when winding in the winter, do not place plants near air conditioning and heating appliances.

Too dry air in the room can spoil the appearance of plants - in such conditions they will dry out the tips of the leaves.

Regular spraying of leaves will help to solve the problem with moisture and keep the plant attractive appearance.

Tips from our readers

For planting ferns use a loose, humus-rich soil with a weakly acid reaction-a ready-made substrate for violets will come up. For better air permeability, you can add a little perlite to it. Drainage is mandatory.

A. Grunina, Nizhny Novgorod

Very spectacular are the complex forms of nephrolepis with lacy three-four-fold leaflets on the vayas. It can be successfully grown at home.

A. Lev, Tomsk

© Author: E.Limonchenko

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FANS - LANDING AND CARE: REVIEWS TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF SPECIALISTS AND GARDENERS

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Ferns (Polypodiophyta) are one of the few ancient plants, and today they amaze with their magnificent variety. They vary greatly in size, life forms and cycles. It is generally accepted to call them the same - "ferns" in fact, this is a huge group of spore plants: about 300 genera and more than 10 thousand species. Ferns don't have true leaves. And what they look like a leaf is a whole system of branches located in one plane. The correct name for such a "leaf" is flat-line, or frond.

Crowns of large conifers in the shady garden are the most suitable place for decorating with decorative plantings of the Ostrich (Matteuccia), the Athyrium (Athyrium) and the holocaust (Gymnocarpium). These ferns, as well as Polystichum tripteron, Dryopteris filix mas and D. cristata will be a good background for many shade-tolerant perennials: the bluebell, Volzhanka, Brunner, Buzulnik, hosts, starlets and roguesia.

Strauss, Asian Osmunda (asmatica) and one of the most beautiful ferns-the royal cleanse (O. regalis) will be good near the fountain or on the shore of the pond.

The rock garden is sheltered on the northern side by rock ferns and their varieties. Together with saxifrage, juvenile, rosewood and clarifiers among the stones will be beautiful and a leaflet leaflet.

On the Alpine hill, you can plant an exotic centipede centipede (Polypodium vulgare) with a creeping sweet rhizome, from which the petioles of leaves leave in two rows, like legs. Effective are delicate green vaillas of the vesicle of fragile (Cystopteris fragilis) - a fern with a height of up to 50 cm, a lover of calcareous soils and moist gorges.

On the retaining wall in the cracks and between the calcareous stones there will grow a low (up to 50 cm) shade-loving rocky fern - the polyhedron spear-shaped (R. lonchitis).

Interestingly

The belief says: mysterious fern flowers blossom in the summer at midnight on Ivan Kupala, and whoever finds a fiery flower will overcome dark forces, gain the treasured treasure that brings wealth and happiness. In fact, ferns do not have flowers and seeds at all. Instead, on the underside of the leaves - the smallest controversy, through which plants multiply. Having discovered this feature, Carl Linnaeus called them "secret" plants.

Alla KUKLINA, Cand. Biol. Sciences, GBS of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

About fern growing

In the "forest" corner of the garden I wanted to plant several ferns. What kind of soil is needed and will all grow in a partial shadow?

Nina Stelmakhova, Kirovsk

For all ferns need a light, loose soil, good drainage and regular moisturizing. Forest species are better to choose shady corners, so they do not suffer in the sun.

They are large, so they are planted according to the scheme 60 × 60 cm. Smaller species are placed at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other.

Plant better in the spring, until their kidneys "snails" open, or in late August, when growth has already ended. By the way, it is better not to touch the foliage when planting, so as not to disturb the decorative appearance of the fern. After that, plants need to be watered abundantly.

The most shady is the nomad, but the eagle and the overseer can grow in places more exposed to the sun, but under the condition of sufficient watering.

Growing ferns is a fun thing and everyone can do it. You can even take a small area for a garden from these plants.

During the whole season, if there is no rain, they need watering. For example, an eagle and a dumpling in a drought, if they do not die, they will lose decorativeness. Their drying leaves curl, and when moistened, the plants again become green and restored. But the vetch leaf without watering can fall out.

Rock ferns are poured once a month with calcareous water (10 g of lime for 3 l of water). The heat-loving varieties of the leaflet, to protect from freezing during the snowless period, are mulched with peat or covered with lapnik.

Ferns are practically not damaged by diseases and pests. Exceptionally rare on their leaves appear slugs or aphids.

About rock ferns

I saw on sale ferns for an alpine slide. I have always considered them exclusively forest plants. Is this not a trade bait? Is it worth buying and how to take care of it in the future? Veronica Lis, Baksheevo, Moscow region

Rock ferns exist! Experiment if there is a desire and an opportunity to provide them with suitable conditions.

Before planting such ferns, small gravel or pebbles are always added to the ground. They do not like acidic soil, so lime must be added to the substrate (at the rate of 50-80 g / m2).

And it is important to remember that these plants need good drainage, since getting wet and damaging them is more dangerous than a severe frost. They are winter hardy.

For rock ferns, penumbra is also preferable. In drought, they need to be watered, but it is better to spray the plants with a spray from the sprayer than to moisten excessively.

KEEP THE FEATURES

A boulder and a multicore are prepared with a stony ground with gravel and gravel.

Clay soil is suitable for growing a puzyrnik.

Adianum grows well on loose fertile soil, and also among alkaline rocks: limestone, sandstone or tuff.

3 important advice

Not all ferns are aggressive. Only around the eagle, ostrich and holokuchnik Linnaeus, who have long creeping rhizomes, you need to establish a mechanical barrier. In the soil around the planting to a depth of 10-20 cm, it is possible to dig a plastic strip of gas or other dense material.

They will save neighboring plants from the vigorous migration of offspring of these ferns to neighboring territories. But there is another option - growing in a large container.

In autumn, you can cut all the leaves at an altitude of 15-20 cm from the ground. You can remove them in the spring, but neatly, so as not to break the tops of the rhizome with the young opening buds.

Plant immediately to a permanent place and do not worry about frequent transplants. They love peace and become more beautiful with time.

Popular species and varieties of ferns

Orlyak: it tastes like asparagus!

Young valee eagle, twisted into a snail, are tasty and useful.

I want to share recipes of dishes from them that I tried during the trip but to the Far East. The product tastes like boiled asparagus.

BENEFIT

Orchard greens are rich in biologically active flavonoids, which strengthen the vessels; phytosterols that lower cholesterol; as well as essential oils, tannins, mineral salts with phosphorus and microelements, which increase the immunity and stress resistance of the body.

Recipes

Collection.

A young eagle is harvested in the spring (May), when its leaves have not yet turned. It is better not to cut them with a knife, but to snatch them to feel a characteristic crunch, confirming that the plant is ready for processing. Over time, his petioles and leaves will become fibrous and unfit for food.

Preparation.

Remember, the eagle can not be eaten raw - it is poisonous! Edible only after heat treatment. Therefore, the young leaves are first dipped in salt water for a day. Then washed, cut into pieces and 8-10 min. boiled in salt water. Now it is completely safe!

Cooking stewed eagle.

Fry in chopped onion, add boiled eagle, add to taste and stew without lid, to partially evaporate the moisture. Preparation of meat salad. Cut into cubes and mix boiled beef, boiled eggs, fresh tomatoes along with boiled eagle. Season the salad with oil or mayonnaise, add salt, pepper and greens to taste.

SPIRITOR FROM DISPUTE

Collection of "seeds"

Spores (they look like dust) are collected at the end of summer, in dry weather, then they are slightly dried in a cool room. Disputes are not only small, but also very tender - it is important to remember that they are afraid of drying out and direct sunlight, the crop is started in February-March. Before this, the container and the soil mixture are sterilized (up to 1 hours above the steam).

Pour a mixture of peat and sand in a layer of 10 cm.

Sow spores in a moist soil, top covered with a film or glass - to maintain the moisture of the soil and air over the crops.

Germinate in the light at a temperature of + 13-16 degrees.

Only in a month there will be "kids", which need to be tempered. The glass is periodically removed, leaving the seedlings at room temperature.

When they grow to 2 cm, they are transplanted into pots with leafy ground and again kept under transparent cover until fully rooted.

It is important to periodically moisten with cool boiled water.

Plant young ferns in the open ground in the spring after 2-3 a year after sowing.

Interestingly

In ferns with a short rhizome (for example, in a bone, leaf, etc.), the spores are safely hidden on the underside of the vai in dark hillocks - Soruses.

In the bone, they are linear in shape, covered with a thin veil.

The leaf is arranged in pairs along the main vein of the leaf.

Vegetative

Fission of rhizome and layers. This way you can multiply the ostrich, the eagle, the holokuchnik and the nomad. Early in the spring before the wai grows (or in the first half of August, before the maturation of the spores), the bush is excavated and cut from a long rhizome with a length of 20-25 cm with two buds. Places of slices are sprinkled with pounded coal. Plants are planted in a new place and watered abundantly.

Dilenki should be taken only from adult bushes, and not earlier than in 3-4 years after planting.

With buds.

They are formed from the convex side on a thickened waiya petiole. The formation of such kidneys can be stimulated by violating the central point of growth of the rhizome. In an adult plant in a season, they can grow up to 10 pieces. In the early spring, the fern is excavated, the petioles are carefully separated from the kidneys, they are planted and grown in a greenhouse, priteniv from the sun.

© A.Nevmerzhitsky, Perm

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The most unpretentious ferns

Rules for the successful cultivation of ferns

• Good lighting.
• Correctly selected pot.
• Moderately loose soil with a neutral reaction.
• Watering with room temperature water.
• Placing away from heaters.

In my home "jungle" a lot of plants. But today I want to talk about ferns, which are better than others suitable for growing in indoor conditions.

NEPHROLEPIS

The greatest variety is in the Nephrolepis family. These ferns love bright, diffused light. The composition of the soil is undemanding, anyone with neutral acidity will do, you can add some vermiculite to it, but do not take too light, containing a lot of peat.

If the plant is small, I plant it first in a small pot. Transplanted as you grow. At the bottom of the container I put bits of foam, it serves as a drain.

When the top layer of the soil dries well, put the pot in a tray, water the fern with standing water at room temperature and wait for the soil to absorb as much water as it needs.

Many growers complain: "Nephrolepis actively grew, and then suddenly died." Nephroleuces, growing up, have a habit of "eating" the soil. Roots dry, the plant starves and withers. To avoid this situation, I always divide big bushes once a year. In order to quickly take root, put them in the greenhouse, preferably under the lamp, if it is not, then-on the window where there is no bright light. Weeks will be rooted in three weeks, and they can be obtained from a greenhouse.

SHEAR ferns are best in mid-February. The day before the transplant, I plant the plant abundantly.

FILEBODIUM AND MICROSOURUM

Another fern, which even a novice can cope with, is phlebodium. It can be grown both in suspended flowerpots and in the outdoor flowerpot, it depends on the species. Conditions of detention are almost the same as for nephroleases. Propagation by bush division and spores.

It is similar in content and micro-orum. I multiply it by dividing the bush, spores, segments of the rhizome, at least with one growth bud. Once when multiplying this way in a year, I got a beautiful plant.

Some types of microsorum grow beautifully in the shaded areas of the apartment, and also easily tolerate overdrying, but you should not abuse this.

ON CONNECTIONS AND AIR MODE

If ferns create good conditions for growth, then it does not need to be fed. I divide some species twice a year and never use fertilizers.

In winter, do not keep plants near the heaters. You can spray once a week, although the mentioned ferns tolerate the dry air. Once a month, it is desirable to wash the plants under the shower with warm water.

BREED DIVISION

Growing ferns from spores is an exciting activity. I scrape off the spores from the wai segments onto a white sheet of paper. In the dish I fill the soil, slightly moisturize and evenly distribute the spores on its surface. I put the container in a polyethylene bag, then - under the lamp. If the spores are fresh, the shoots appear within a month. I put the grown plants together and bundles into several cups in several cups. The next transplantation is carried out as the ferns grow. Plants that have real vayi, I plant one by one.

© Author: Natalia PETLINA, Biysk, Altai Territory. Photo of the author

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BRIGHT SHADOWS

In my garden, for 3 years now, 4 varieties of the Nippon coot goose have been successfully growing and wintering: Metallicum, Pewter Leis, Burgundy Leis, Ursula Red. They create chic bright spots that will catch the eye of even a sophisticated gardener. While the plants are small, all varieties are similar, but with age they show a unique color: pink, lilac, smoky shades and metallic reflections of the leaves begin to appear. I cut them off for the winter after they dry out, or I postpone the procedure until spring.

SECRETS OF LANDING AND CARE OF THE FUEL

For planting these ferns, it is worth choosing shady or partial shade corners of the garden. The soil is desirable loose, rich in organic matter. They respond well to mulching with coniferous litter, dry foliage or pine bark. In such conditions, plants are not particularly demanding on fertilizers, and adult (3-4 year old) specimens do not need additional feeding.

In the fall, for reproduction, I dig up and cut the rhizome of a mature plant into segments that have their own points of growth, then I plant them in a new place.

I never noticed any diseases or pests on my kochedyzhniks.

GOOD AND BAD COMPANY

Hostas, liverwort, brunners (varieties with silvery and variegated leaves), astilbe and even lady's shoes (cypripediums) are ideal as companions in the shade.

Ferns will develop poorly in too dry soil, adjacent to aggressive, earth-drying plants: spruce, ground cover periwinkle, creeping tenacious, etc. In this case, the cochidian should be transplanted.

© Author: Yulia MATVEYCHUK Author's photo

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