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If you ’re see for a great plant to add to yourterrarium plant appeal , then heart folio fern might just be the safe fit .
Also get it on by its scientific name asHemionitis arifoliaor tongue fern , heart leaf fern is anepiphytethat is often maturate as a miniature plant in terrarium . The name is derived from the plant ’s leathery green leaves that dead resemble a heart .
you may use this plant as a centrepiece on your windowsill or in the terrarium for extra attention .
While the heart fern is an attractive plant specimen that you could tally to yourfern collection , it strike quite some attempt to successfully grow it as a houseplant . However , with some background information about the plant , your succeeder is almost guaranteed .
And , in today ’s mail , we ’re going to cover everything you need to aboutHemionitis arifoliaaka the knife fern .
Let ’s begin :
Introduction to Heart Leaf Fern
Plant Description
In its native environment , the heart fern is a delicate epiphytic plant that grows upon other tree diagram . It belongs to a class of non - flowering vascular industrial plant with genuine roots , improbable , thin , stiff , and black stalk .
Besides , the plant has complex leathery green leaves that perfectly resemble a heart and reproduces by spore .
The leave-taking are unambiguously textured and can rise to 10 - inch tall . But what ’s more interesting is the fact that the leaf are dimorphous – which imply some are unimaginative while some are fertile .
The fertile leaves ( fronds ) are influence like anarrowhead plantwhile the uninventive fronds are heart - determine upon a buddy-buddy stem .
Plant profile in Summary
mob : Pteridaceae .
plebeian name(s):Heart Leaf Fern or Tongue Fern .
Scientific / botanic name : Hemionitis arifolia .
USDAHardiness zones:10
Mature Height:7 – 10 inch tall .
Mature Spread:4 – 6 inches wide .
Growing habit : upright piano .
Native Area : South East Asia .
Blooming Time : Doesn’t peak and reproduces from spore during springtime .
ontogenesis rate : Medium to fast .
Are Heart Leaf Ferns Toxic?
In cosmopolitan , most ferns are toxic or toxicant to pets , humans , and other animals when take in . Studies have established that some fern species like bracken fern containthiaminases enzyme .
This enzyme is creditworthy for do thiamin or vitamin B complex deficiency result in blindness and going of appetite in animals .
While the symptom of ingesting heart foliage fern have n’t been decently documented , it ’s safe to seize they are as toxic as the rest of the other species . Therefore , you should protect your favourite from ingesting this plant life by applyingBodhi Dog Bitter Lemon Spraywhich is in effect in discouraging your pets from manducate on the industrial plant .
How to Propagate Heart Leaf Fern
Unlike other plants that you’re able to multiply by cutting or seeds , heart leaf fern breed by spores . This is especially true in their aboriginal setting .
Therefore , if you want to distribute them , you have two options :
My favorite propagation method is the former and if you ’re like most people , it should be your method acting of selection .
Easy deliver the goods every meter :
Since we ’ve all opted for the 2ndmethod , let ’s learn how to propagate substance leaf fern by division .
First and foremost , you require to have a large enough mother plant life to split . you’re able to purchase a fully mature level-headed plant or get one yourself .
Next , you ask to divide the origin ball into adequate parts with the direct ratio of the frond . you may further split up them to get four character or divisions .
Once done , transpose each section into a 4 - inch pot and water consequently .
Pro peak – It ’s just to do the propagation in Spring when the plant is actively growing . Furthermore , see to it to moisten the soil before disunite your works specimen to quash damage the sensible roots .
Growing and Caring for Heart Leaf Fern
Potting mix/soil
When it amount to growing fern as houseplants , the choice and composing of your potting mix or dirt have to be on detail . Failure to do this and you ’ll have a myriad of challenges later on . This is because these plants are mostly air plant which mean they rise best on the bark of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in nature .
Therefore , the territory should be fertile , well - draining , moist , and rich in humus .
To make the soil that has the above characteristics , you should conflate 1 - part of guts with 2 - portion garden filth , 2 - part humus , some fir bark , aquarium charcoal where potential , and most importantly – a wet - retain substrate such as moss .
If this is too complicated or tedious for you , anycommercial pot mixfor orchidaceous plant could still do the put-on .
Watering your Heart Leaf Ferns
You need to good water your heart folio fern after repotting or transplanting to avoid shocking the plant .
later on , you ’ll have to wait until there ’s a lit dryness on the Earth’s surface of the soil before watering again . Always keep the plant moist but not wet to foreclose tooth root rots . likewise , you should not allow the plant to go into wilt as this will damage the fronds .
It ’s also deserving note that the timbre of water is just as authoritative as the watering oftenness . Ideally , you should habituate distilled or rain for watering your plants .
If you have to use the spigot water , have it sit overnight to fritter away any chemicals present , and then use it the comply twenty-four hour period .
Temperature and Humidity
Temperature is an crucial determinant of how tight or slack your works get . Higher temperature will hasten rapid outgrowth while lower than recommended temperatures will trigger dormancy .
If you rest in surface area with warmer temperatures and high humidness , you could comfortably grow your heart fern outdoors . However , commemorate to provide some specter to protect the plant from sunburn .
For indoor growers , you’re able to grow in a terrarium or a mini - greenhouse where you’re able to easily control the microclimate .
For the undecomposed termination , endeavor to keep the temperature between 60 and 85 degrees F.
As for the humidness , the more the practiced starting from 50 % and above . Do n’t rub if you ca n’t match with such conditions because fortunately , the core fern can brook a lilliputian bit lower humidness without any visible harm .
However , if your home is too dry like most homes , you should endeavor to increase the comparative humidness by continue a gravel - fill drain tray beneath the fern .
Light Requirement for Heart Leaf Fern
These plants favour bright but indirect sunlight . Therefore , if you ’re growing them alfresco , be certain to cater a bit of shade to screen the sun .
For indoor plant , place them on a lustrous windowsill sooner the northward - face one .
If the consideration are right alfresco , you could shift the plant out of doors once in a while for additional exposure . This will prevent the weakening of the stems and the plant - looking leggy .
Fertilizer Application
eye fern are not heavy tributary . But applying some piddle - soluble plant food sparingly can be good – specially during their active grow phase angle in Spring and Summer .
For optimum emergence , apply half the recommended rate of fertilizer once a month or two . Remember to apply a balanced fertiliser for instance 15:15:15 .
Pruning and Repotting
After your plant has been growing for a while , there ’s a likelihood that there would be some dead frond here and there . Or the works growing out of shape .
When that happens , you need to be train to prune the previous haired fronds to make the plant tidy .
Besides , you should repot your plant in a liberal potful once overgrown or disunite the root ball together the frond in adequate parts and graft them into smaller 4 ” potbelly .
Pests and Diseases Management
favourable for us , the heart folio fern plant is n’t susceptible to most pests and diseases . However , depending on how you manage pest at family in other houseplants , the plants may be infested withmealybugs , scales , andaphids .
you may mechanically move out these plague by hand or spray with neem crude oil to carry off the order of magnitude of the infestation .
Pro tip : Always put on yourgardening glovesbefore attempting to pluck out the bugs from your houseplant .
Common problems with heart leaf ferns
Heart Leaf Fern Leaves Curling
There are several reasons why the leave of your fern will start to curl of a sudden . The primary one is lack of sufficient wet which make dehydration and subsequent curling of the leafage .
In other words , this is touch on to as wilting . ensure you ’re not under - water your works and that the soil remains moist often .
The other vulgar cause for this demeanour is pests ’ infestation – especially scales attack . Monitor your plant closely and get disembarrass of any bugs present as soon as possible .
Heart Leaf Fern Leaves Turning Yellow
The yellowing of the leaf has two implications . The first one is the natural aging of the plant which is mostly manifest in the sr. humbled leaves .
In the second scenario , the leaves will bug out turning chicken uniformly and it should worry you .
Unless the plant is behaving naturally , yellowing of the leaves is often a augury of either nutrient deficiency especially Nitrogen , too much direct sunlight exposure , or sub - optimal humidness levels .
To adjust this , fertilize your heart foliage fern as advocate , keep the plant humid , and the right vulnerability to hopeful but collateral sun .
Heart Fern Leaves Turning Brown
From personal experience , while under watering can cause dark-brown spots or general foliage embrown in centre ferns , it ’s overwatering that stimulate such problem .
Your former action can point you to the ascendant cause . For instance , have recently water your plant too much ? Or has it been a while since you water ?
These question will facilitate you narrow it down . If you ’ve correctly been maintain your correct watering practice but you notice the leave of absence turning dark-brown , then the issue could be your H2O lineament .
seek to water with rainfall body of water or distilled piddle . If rap pee is your only choice , countenance it stay overnight before watering the undermentioned day .
Conclusion
WhileHemionitis arifoliadoesn’t look like a fern at all but rather like a philodendron , it ’s in every sensory faculty an adequate amongst the ferns .
If you ’ve been look for some interesting additions to your industrial plant collection , the heart leaf fern is definitely worth considering . With a flake of knowledge on growing and caring and you ’re good to go .
