Phymatosorus diversifolius
For those unexampled togrowing fern indoorswho want to start off on wanton mode , then this is the coinage for you .
Just like an actual kangaroo , the kangaroo fern is one problematical client .
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Although the Aussie pouched mammal bests this plant at jump , kick , and carry around joeys in a pouch , Phymatosorus diversifoliuscan outlive with less water and humidity than other fern .
Thus , it ’s the arrant first nonflowering plant for beginners !
lastingness is n’t the only reason to grow the kangaroo fern – with a spread of two to four feet and a height of one substructure , it ’s also quite adorable in appearance .
Its blue fleeceable , leathery , crinkled folio resemble ’ roo paws … if you employ your imagination .
Combine that with a cascading wont that looks densely chaotic , and you ’ve perplex a fern that shout out “ Crikey ! ”
Intrigued ? Well , well news : we ’ve whipped up this here usher for ya ! The following tips and tricks for cultivatingP. diversifoliuswill help you go off your growing journey on the right metrical foot .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover up :
What You’ll Learn
Cultivation and History
arise salutary in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11 open air , the kangaroo fern hail from Australia and New Zealand .
Its aboriginal growing sites within the Land Down Under let in timber floors , cliff face , and scrublands .
And withinthesespots , the industrial plant can be found grow in moist and productive soils more specifically , as well as directly on rocks , fallen log , and other plantsvia their epiphytic root .
A plant with many vulgar nicknames , P. diversifoliusalso run short by kangaroo paw , kangaroo ft , or cad ’s tongue fern .
It should not be confused with species ofAnigozanithos , plants that also go by the common names kangaroo paw or catspaw .
As you grasp into the Latin nomenclature , it becomes evenmoreconvoluted – Phymatodes diversifolium , Phymatosorus pustulatum , Polypodium billardieri , Zelandia pustulata , andPolypodium diversifolium , among others , are all synonymous names for this plant .
Personally , I ’m a fan of thediversifoliusepithet , which mean “ diversely leave . ”
This is in reference to the variation that the frond can have within a single plant – some look like the ’ roo feet mentioned in the beginning , while others are just simple , elongate fronds .
Either way , the plant ’s spores are arranged in row on frond undersurface , and are slump in so deeply that the indentation create gullible bring up excrescence on the upper frond surface .
Propagation
Speaking of spores … it ’s multiplication fourth dimension ! you’re able to do so by sow spores , dividing industrial plant , or transplant .
From Spores
For those used to growing plant from source , spore propagation can seem unusual and off - putt , like a deep - fry Oreo at the county fair . Or is that just me ?
But unlike that ghastly culinary intermixture , try spore extension is well deserving it .
Propagating fern spore is regard enough to guarantee its own guide , so give it a read if this is something you ’d like to attempt !
From Divisions
If you ’re jonesing for a propagule ASAP or simply weirded out by spore , go with dividing – it ’s fast , and wo n’t leave you furious , as long as you have access to a mature works to work with .
As a general rule , ferns can be divided every three to five age , but larger specimens can be divide whenever you trust more plants .
Once a plant outgrows its container , the center starts to die back , or overall frond increase diminishes – “ can divide ” becomes a must in these cases .
Give the specimen a hearty drink a day or two prior to division .
take away the plant life from its container – ideally while you ’re outside , or over some paper that you ’ve spread out on your employment surface or the flooring – and strip the soil off the roots a bit so you’re able to see what you ’re working with .
With a sterilized brand , separate the plant in half or into quarters , cutting through the roots as needed while keeping the frond intact .
head off causing unnecessary damage while doing so , and ferment carefully . Now your divisions are quick for transplanting !
Via Transplanting
Once yourP. diversifoliusis divided or if you ’ve acquired a potted transplanting , get an adequately - sized container , with a diameter that ’s about two column inch larger than that of the source system .
And of course , select a container with a drainage hole as well !
Fill the container with a coarse potting mixture that allow for root aeration and rich drainage .
savvy out a muddle – appropriately - sized for the graft ’s root system – and aim the transplantation inside .
Backfill the muddle and drizzle the grease , making sure to keep the dirt moist up until and after establishment .
How to Grow Kangaroo Ferns
A kangaroo fern ’s TLC essential are n’t as “ tender ” as those of other ferns , but you still have ta handle yours right for healthy and happy growth .
Climate and Exposure Needs
To growP. diversifoliusas a houseplant , it prefers temperatures of 60 to 70 ° F . It can digest temporary as low as 50 ° farad or up to 75 ° F , but go beyond this range and you ’ll execute into job .
As designate by their sour and leathery fronds , kangaroo ferns prefer stay out of verbatim sun .
Therefore , you ’ll want to furnish collateral light by keep them two to three foot from Cicily Isabel Fairfield - face up windows , and at least five feet from due south - facing I .
East- and north - facing window are dependable to place these plant right up against , though .
Another shape worth providing ishumidity – at least 75 percentage , to be specific .
Humidity can be increased by putting potted industrial plant close together , specify them in a bathroom , or running a humidifier nearby .
you could also set containers atop humidity trays take with pebbles that are partially submerged in water system .
Soil Needs
As mentioned earlier , kangaroo fern areepiphytic , think of they can affix themselves to aboveground surfaces without necessitate to sit in growing media .
But given this plant ’s mature size of it , it ’s believably not extend to be practical to bring a with child hunk of rock or Natalie Wood at bottom to use as an lynchpin .
Instead , you ’ll want to provide a loose potting medium that allows melodic phrase to reach the roots and superfluous body of water to drain .
It should also be rich in organic matter with a slightly acidulous pH of 5.5 to 6.5 . A 50 - 50 mix of coarse sand and an constituent material such aspeat moss , orchid barque , orcoconut coir will do the conjuration .
Irrigation and Fertilizer Needs
“ prolific and moist ” – a mo much for a see profile , perhaps , but it ’s quite appropriate for aP. diversifolius .
Said moistness is maintained by water the grease whenever the surface feels dry . Maintain high richness with a monthly dose of a concluded , balanced fertilizer diluted to half - strength .
Jack ’s Classic All - function Fertilizer
JR Peters offers a water - soluble , 20 - 20 - 20 NPK fertilizer with supplementary micronutrientson Amazon .
Just use doubly as much water when you mix it up agree to package counseling , or use half as much as what ’s recommended .
Growing Tips
Maintenance
You should repot a kangaroo fern whenever it becomes root - resile , which is often suggest by roots poking out the bottom of the container through the drainage yap .
If you like , you may also divide the plant at this meter … but if not , continue with the repotting and move the plant into a container that ’s one size larger than before .
Root bindage is n’t a huge issue for this coinage , so no rush ! If you ’d favour to design for this body process on a fix schedule , repot every two years is in general appropriate .
Be sure tomake a note in your gardening daybook !
to boot , you ’ll require to prune any frond that are greensick , necrotic , damaged , or sickly whenever you happen to notice them . check that to habituate aseptic tools !
Where to Buy
Thankfully , you do n’t have to go all the way down to Oz to learn a kangaroo fern for yourself .
Specialty houseplant workshop and tropical plant vendors should have this specimen in stock .
You could also stumble up a fellow houseplant aficionado and mark a division or batch of spore from them .
Horticultural conventions or barter shows may also be worthy avenues for plant acquirement , as well as making young botanic buddy .
Of course , there ’s always internet . California Tropicals offer an already - establishedP. diversifoliusin a six - column inch poton Amazon .
Kangaroo Fern in a Six - column inch Pot
AndThe Home Depothas a similar mathematical product available for purchase .
Managing Pests and Disease
When it comes to constitute wellness problems , “ affectionate , humid , and wet ” vex a potent triple - terror . Makes so much sense , it rhymes !
Such conditions – the ace a kangaroo fern loves – can head to increased plague infestation and infection in some case , so you ’ll need to keep alert .
Insects
Bugs can bring pathogens along with them as they feed , so preventing infestations can egest two trouble for the cost of one .
Generally light green , easygoing - bodied , and extremely pestering , aphids munch on a plant ’s phloem with their sucking mouthpart , direct to rock-bottom growth .
All the while , they ’re excreting a nasty honeydew melon , which can go tosooty black cast .
Just like vampires , aphids can be controlledwith lineal sprays of garlic water .
The impact of the H2O will rap the aphid off of foliage surfaces , while the sulfur and allicin compounds in the ail will further repel them .
When sprayed directly on infested frond , neem petroleum is also effective .
Bonide Neem Oil
Bonide offers a quick - to - habit neem fossil oil concentrate that’savailable on Arbico Organics .
The white clump of cotton - looking insects known as mealybugsfeed and excrete honeydew melon in a similar fashion to aphid , and infestation symptom such as stunted growth and sphacelus may occur as a result .
PyGanic horticulture
For mastery , you could drench the soil with an insect powder such as pyrethrin , which is available in eight - ounce containers from PyGanic Gardeningon Amazon .
When affluent against folio surfaces , these pear-shaped - bodied pests look like the scurf of a reptilian , or perhaps something you ’d desire to show a skin doctor .
Regardless of what they bet like to you , scale insects are another character of pests that suck – both literally and figuratively .
Said actual suckage tends to cause chlorosis , decreased emergence , and other health issues .
Drenching the soil with an insecticide – as you would with mealy bug – is a square agency ofcontrolling scale .
The grossest pest on this list , if you ask me , slugs are shell - less mollusksthat go out irregular , smooth mess in leave-taking created with their file - like tongue and loathsome slime trail in their wake .
Along with mar the aesthetics of the foliage , said foliar damage interferes with photosynthesis , meaning the plant ca n’t feed itself as effectively in type of severe damage .
Even if you ’re not a dark-green thumb , slug in the home base are an matter … so prevention is predominant . To reveal introduction points , use a torch to keep up the slime trails back to their point of origin at night .
Quick - expand foam works to seal up golf hole and wisecrack , while salt , beer bunker , ordiatomaceous earthplaced out of doors and across the entrance point are all effective against these pests .
Inside the household , you should hand cull and dispose of slugs when you see them .
As a last line of business of defence force , copper tape wind around containers shocks slugs upon liaison , just like an electric fencing .
opine you ’ll spot these pests with ease ? You “ mite ” require to scale back your outlook .
wanderer mite are diminutive , ranging in length from a 1/20 to 1/50 of an column inch . A hand lens may be necessary to spot these oval - corporal and bristly arachnids .
They can cause greensickness , wilting , and leafage drop .
As with aphids and mealy bug , wanderer tinge can be controlled with direct coating of insecticidal max .
Disease
The kangaroo fern comes from Australia , so of course it ’s gon na be tough . Few pathogen messiness with this flora , but there ’s one condition worth knowing about .
Root rot come when roots do n’t receive enough O because of excess water in the filth .
With its epiphytic capabilities , P. diversifoliusis especially susceptible to this affliction , which go to weak and necrotic roots .
Above the soil line , the shoots will digest from weakness , scrawny growing , and dieback .
To prevent root rot , avoid overwatering and allow for a well - run out growing media in a container with drainage hole .
If your plant life is already afflict , off the flora from its container and snip away any rotted roots and a proportional amount of shoot . If the specimen is too far gone , it should be pitch .
Best Uses for Kangaroo Ferns
The kangaroo fern rise all-embracing than it does tall , making it ideal for shed over the sides of a flow basket or grandiloquent container .
P. diversifoliusalso look rattling when localise among other foliage - leaden houseplant , if you care to go for that densely packed , “ Rainforest Cafe ” feeling .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Make Like a Wallaby and Hop to It!
Have I get the awesomeness ofP. diversifoliuseffectively ? There ’s no time like the present – go forward and catch one !
Perhaps this plant life will dish as your introduction to the world of fern , or peradventure it ’s yet another clump of frondage in your ever - growing collection .
Either way , you ’re sure to enjoy this addition to your place !
For more fern facts , check out these guides next :
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About
Joe Butler
