Pteris

Family: Pteris. Native to the tropical regions of Japan, the USA, South Africa, New Zealand, and the Mediterranean. Includes about 250 species.

Pteris cretica - Pteris cretica - a terrestrial plant with a creeping rhizome and pinnately dissected fronds on long yellowish stalks. Fronds 20-50cm long and 15-20cm wide. Fronds have 2-6 linear-lanceolate segments with a serrated margin. It has fertile and sterile (not bearing spores) fronds. One of the most widespread forms, Pteris cretica albolineata, has a wide white stripe along the central vein.

Pteris longifolia - Pteris longifolia - a fern with a creeping rhizome covered with brown scales. Fronds about 40-70cm long and 10-20cm wide on short stalks. Fronds bear about 20-30 pairs of narrowly triangular segments 5 to 10 cm long and 1 cm wide. Sporangia are along the segment edge in a continuous line.

Pteris multifida - Pteris multifida - with twice-pinnately dissected fronds, about 20-40cm long and 15-20cm wide. Segments are linear, about 2mm wide (very narrow and long), with a serrated margin. Sporangia are along the segment edge in a continuous line.



Temperature: In summer about 20-22°C, in winter about 14-15°C, but not below 12°C for green-leaved varieties, and not below 16°C for variegated varieties. Does not tolerate drafts.

Light: The place for Pteris should be fairly bright but shaded from direct sunlight, light partial shade. It can grow in fairly dark places too, but the plant will then be sparse and unattractive.

Watering: Water only with settled water that does not contain lime. Abundant in spring-summer, moderate in winter, but the soil should remain somewhat moist at all times.

Fertilizing: Feed with liquid fertilizer for indoor ornamental foliage plants from May to August every two weeks, using a dose half that recommended by the manufacturer.

Air humidity: Pteris, like all ferns, does not tolerate dry air well and therefore requires frequent spraying with soft warm water. You can place the pot on a tray with moist expanded clay.

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