- origin
- growth
- leaves
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Water sword fern
- Fertilize sword fern properly
- Propagating Sword Fern
- diseases and pests
- Is sword fern poisonous?
- sorts
It looks particularly good in hanging baskets or in tall planters: the sword fern. With its arching, overhanging, very decorative pinnate leaves, the primeval plant can make a very attractive picture. Read and marvel at what else his cultivation has in store!
The sword fern is a popular houseplant
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Water sword fern
- Fertilize sword fern properly
- Propagating Sword Fern
- diseases and pests
- Is sword fern poisonous?
- sorts
- Ferns are among the first plants in the global flora
- Sword ferns are native to tropical Central and South America
- In this country kept in room culture
- Sword fern grows as a perennial
- Leaves emerge like a rosette and form a sprawling, arching, overhanging to slightly upright habit
- Mostly epiphytic in home areas, i.e. as epiphytic plants on trees
- Form clumpy rhizome roots
- Are the only, but very attractive decorative value of the flowerless sword fern
- Reproductive organs in the form of spore capsules are located on the lower midribs of the leaf
- Feathery structure typical of ferns with different shapes depending on the variety
- Mostly bright, fresh green
- Location bright but not full sun
- No cold drafts
- High humidity - bathroom or humid conservatory ideal
- Sword fern needs quite a lot of moisture, above all it likes water showers on its leaves
- Water regularly, but avoid waterlogging
- Use low-lime, lukewarm, stale water
origin
The sword ferns, botanically Nephrolepis, form their own genus within the true fern plant family - and of these they are probably the most popular for ornamental gardening purposes. In addition to its current distribution area, its origin must also be mentioned in just reverence its astonishing age. Because ferns, like horsetails for example, are among the first and most persistent forms of the plant world on our planet. Millions of years ago, imposing types of ferns grew in the primeval forests, long before the flora on earth became diverse.
Ferns have survived to this day in an overall reduced, but still very species-rich stock, so that one can only take one's hat off to their ability to survive.
Today's fern species grow in tropical to subtropical areas all over the world. The sword fern genus is found specifically in America - they are at home from southern Florida down to South America.
With us, sword ferns can only be cultivated as pure houseplants.
Origin at a glance:
growth
Like all ferns, sword ferns grow as perennials. Its characteristic appearance is characterized by the long, arching, overhanging leaves, which appear very regular and indestructible with their fine feathering. Depending on the species, they also develop a somewhat more upright habit. The leaves emerge from the center of the plant like a rosette.
In their home ranges, they usually grow epiphytically as epiphytic plants on large trees. They form a clumpy rhizome root system, which is not critical for its cultivation here - after all, a sword fern has to be kept in a bucket with us anyway, where it cannot spread uncontrollably. Nevertheless, this root property naturally requires regular repotting.
Growth characteristics in keywords:
leaves
The leaves of the sword fern are not only the reason for its ornamental status because of their attractive structure - it is a flowerless plant, so you won't get any ornamental value from flowers anyway. For propagation, the sword fern forms roundish, brownish spore capsules below the leaf midribs.
Like all ferns, the frond-like leaves have a typically pinnate structure and are twisted or wavy in this genus, depending on the variety. Overall, the fronds can be up to 1.80 m long. The individual leaves attach alternately and have different shapes from lanceolate to ovate-round, the leaf edges are either finely toothed or smooth. The color is usually a light, fresh green, with some varieties also a darker mid-green.
Sheet properties in brief:
Which location is suitable?
In accordance with its original habitat on large trees in tropical forests, the sword fern needs a bright but not full sun location. He reacts relatively sensitively to too direct and too frequent solar radiation with brown burn spots. If possible, give it a bright window seat or, if available, a place in the winter garden, where it is surrounded by other plants and slightly shaded. Even a thin curtain can help against intense sun through the window.
The sword fern should not have to endure cool drafts. In terms of temperatures, it needs pleasant values between 19 and 22 °C suitable for living space, but in winter it would like to be a little cooler.
From his tropical home he is used to high humidity, which you should somehow ensure for him at home. A sword fern thrives very well, for example, in a warm, humid bathroom - of course only if a window lets in enough light.
To remember:
What soil does the plant need?
Sword ferns need a humus-rich and loose substrate that has a high water storage capacity. It is best to put it in a potting soil mixture that has been loosened up with sand, peat and perlite. Even a small amount of peat moss is welcome to the epiphyte.
Water sword fern
As a tropical plant, the sword fern loves a lot of moisture. He not only likes to be watered regularly, but above all appreciates a shower or two on his leaves with the water disperser. You'll give him homely circumstances. Nevertheless, the plant is sensitive to waterlogging. You should always empty excess water out of the coaster as soon as possible.
For watering and especially for spraying, use lukewarm, stagnant water that is as low in lime as possible.
To remember:
Fertilize sword fern properly
The nutrient requirement of sword ferns is moderate. You don't necessarily need to fertilize it, but you can do it if you attach great importance to fresh, vital growth. During the growth phase from spring to early autumn, it is definitely a good idea to give the sword fern a little fertilizer every week or two. Use a low-dose liquid fertilizer for green plants. Fertilizer sticks (€4.48) are also suitable. However, if you repot the sword fern into a fresh substrate every year, you can do without fertilizing altogether.
Propagating Sword Fern
As already mentioned, the sword fern is a flowerless plant and has always relied on a dispersal mechanism via spores. You can also use this if you want to multiply it yourself and in a targeted manner.
spore sowing
However, this method is a bit tricky and only works with pure sword fern species. For those interested in botany, however, it is an interesting challenge. As soon as the spore capsules on the lower midrib of the leaf have matured brownish, cut off the leaf and place it on a piece of paper for a few days. Eventually, the capsules will open and drop their dust-fine contents. Put this in planters with potting soil and moisten them well with the water disperser. Cover them with foil or, even better, use a mini greenhouse.(7.95€) Germination requires high humidity, even ventilation and warm temperatures. If a mossy covering forms on the soil, carefully and with strict observance of hygiene, lift it off and place it in a new substrate. Small sword ferns can grow from them in a bright, sunny location.
division
Division is much easier and less time-consuming. You can simply cut up the clumpy rhizome root system with a spade or a large knife after you have potted the sword fern. Simply place the divided piece in a new bucket with fresh substrate.
foothills
Older specimens occasionally form small offshoots from the rhizome roots. You can simply separate them and place them in small seed pots (€16.68) with humus-rich soil. It is best to do this in the spring.
diseases and pests
As with all moisture-loving ornamental plants, a sword fern can occasionally be infested with spider mites, especially if kept indoors year-round. These parasites find ideal conditions on host plants that have been weakened by too much dry heating air. It is therefore always advisable to pay attention to a high humidity level with a sword fern and to spray it regularly in addition to watering.
You can easily recognize spider mites by the cobweb-like webs with which they cover their host's leaves. But the small, greenish to reddish animals can also be seen with the naked eye. The safest, most ecologically friendly and sensible means is water. It not only eliminates the cause, usually the dryness, but is also extremely unpleasant for the mites. First, you can simply rinse them off the leaves with a stronger jet of water. Then wrap the whole, wet plant under a film that you tie together at the bottom. In this air-poor, moist environment, the mites usually die within a week.
Is sword fern poisonous?
Sword ferns are considered slightly poisonous. However, their content of harmful substances is so low that there is no danger to children or pets. Larger amounts would have to be consumed, and in that case the body also gets rid of the unwanted substances itself.
Overall, sword ferns can be considered less dangerous than health-promoting: Because they filter pollutants such as xylene or formaldehyde from the air and thus ensure a better indoor climate.
Continue reading
sorts
Of sword ferns, the two types Nephrolepis exaltata and Nephrolepis cordifolia are mainly offered in the specialist trade for ornamental purposes. Of these, especially of Nephrolepis exaltata, there are in turn numerous cultivars that differ from each other mainly in the length of the leaves and their pinnation.
A very classic variety is Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'. It pleases with its long leaf fronds in a beautiful medium green and with smooth-edged feathering. Its growth is bushy and arching overhanging.
The leaf fronds of the Nephrolepis exaltata 'Corditas' variety, which is also characterized by a very bushy appearance, have a somewhat finer structure.
If you have a lot of space, for example in a spacious conservatory, you can buy a Nephrolepis exaltata 'Massii': This sword fern inspires with particularly long and wide fronds in fresh green. This makes it particularly suitable for hanging baskets or for tubs in high frames.