Fern
The term "ferns" refers to all green plants of the Philicophytes class. These plants are visible on all continents. From a few tens of centimeters in temperate zones, they can reach several meters in tropical regions. Visible in their natural state, ferns are also used in horticulture for their very decorative leaves. The most cultivated fern families in our regions are Athyriaceae, Dicksoniaceae, Dryopteridaceae or Woodsiaceae.
Scientific name: Filicophyta
Family: Athyriaceae, Dicksoniaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Woodsiaceae
Exhibition: Shadow
Soil type: Heather Land
Usage: Undergrowth, Rosary, Potty
Leaves: Resilient
Watering: abundant
Longevity: Long-term
Height: 60 cm - 15 m
Therapeutic Benefits: A Long-lived Plant
Plant a fern
In ferns among plants that are like acidic soils: Add the heathland to their land and make sure it is well-drained. Although ferns like fresh soil, excess moisture can be fatal. If your soil is too heavy, add river sand so that the water does not stagnate at its roots. Add some mulch from pine bark in summer to keep the soil still fresh, but also bring the necessary acidity to the ferns to thrive.
Fern plants grow naturally in the undergrowth, especially in shady or shady areas. They tolerate the sun in the morning or late afternoon but are afraid of hot situations. Their land should remain cool all year round and require regular watering during the summer season.
The best time to plant ferns is in autumn. Indeed, they can properly settle in the ground before the hot weather. However, you can plant them in spring, but the watering should be more generous.
Support ferns
Ferns are resistant to pests and are recommended in the vegetable garden for protection against gastropods. Indeed, their leaves are used to make the famous "fern manure", which is a natural repellent.
If your ferns are dry, you can cut dry branches and put them on the ground in autumn to enrich the soil with potassium and provide better recovery next spring.
Ferns are excellent green manure: the decomposition of leaves occurs quickly and redistributes many minerals in the ground, such as magnesium and potassium, which are contained in the leaves naturally.
Some ferns growing in the tropics are grown in our interiors, such as Boston ferns. Like outdoor ferns, indoor ferns need good hygrometry. To ensure this, you can install them on a bed of clay balls, always wet, the evaporation of water will create atmospheric moisture around the plant.
Breed with ferns
To multiply the ferns, you can divide the bundles of large objects or even start sowing.
First, collect the spores under the ferns by drying them in an airtight container.
Sow them on a substrate of peat and garden soil.
Always keep the soil moist when sprouting.
Transfer them to the ground the following autumn.
Gentian
A perennial plant in the mountains, the gentian seduces with blue color his delicate funnel flowers. Known for its digestive properties for centuries, the yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea) is also used for the production of aperitif liqueurs. This genus of the Gentianaceae family is represented by 400 species, the most cultivated of which is Gentiana acaulis, Gentiana sino-ornata and Gentiana clusii.
Scientific name: Gentiana
Family: gentian
Varieties: Gentiana acaulis, Gentiana Asclepiades, Gentiana clusii, Gentiana lutea, Gentiana septemfida, Gentiana sino-ornata
Flower color: blue flowers, yellow flowers
Landing: Landing in April, landing in May
Exposure: Sun, Partial Shadow
Soil type: fresh, light, humus-rich
Use: in hedges, in trays, in cans
Flowering: Flowering in May, blooming in June, blooming in July, blooming in August, blooming in September, blooming in October
Leaves: Resilient
Disease, pests: rust, slugs.
Watering: Moderate
Longevity: Long-term
Height: 10-50 cm
Therapeutic advantages: digestive plant
Symbolic: Gentian symbolizes contempt and pain
Like Edelweiss, gentians can be found in the wild in the Alps and Pyrenees. But now the gentian is protected and its collection is banned in France. To enjoy its beautiful blue flowers, you can always grow in your garden!
Plant a gentian
The best time to plant gentian is in April. Its flowering can last from May to October, depending on the variety. This can be set in full sunlight, but it prefers a penumbra in the south because it does not support too hot situations.
Gentian loves light, fresh and well-drained soils. This is the ideal place for rock culture. It also prefers slightly acidic soils. You can add a little heather to the soil to ensure good acidity.
For good drainage, add some river sand to the soil. If your soil is particularly heavy, feel free to add gravel and the bottom of the planting pit.
Gentians used to the mountain climate are very simple and do not require any special precautions to spend the winter. On the other hand, he likes the soil to be always fresh, does not hesitate to mulch its base in summer pine sea bark. In addition to providing good freshness in the hot season, sea pine will also bring good acidity to the soil of your gentian.
Maintain gentian
Gentian is not very demanding, because it grows on poor and stony soils. He will not need a contribution of fertilizers to prosper. However, you can remove its dry flowers as they disappear to stimulate the growth of the following.
Gentian is particularly susceptible to rust. These attacks are marked by brown spots that appear on its leaves. To treat it, remove the affected leaves and flowers and sprinkle the plant with nettles.
Also sensitive to slugs, you can set up a barrier made of coffee grounds or wood ash to prevent these snails from coming too close.
Multiply the gentian
The gentian can be divided into a bundle in spring from June. Or it can be sown under a cold frame in autumn to be transplanted the next spring.
Рlanting under a cold frame
After you have collected the seeds after flowering, pour them into the box you fill with sand;
- Spread the seeds every 5 cm and cover with a layer of the substrate.
- Transfer the seeds to the next layer, etc.
- Straw the top of your box to keep the substrate moist throughout the harvest
- Leave your box outside in winter and watch for seeds every week.
- Collect the seeds that have grown and transplant them
- Transfer the seedlings to the ground next spring