Button fern (Pallaea rotundifolia) characteristic and care guide

Ferns always pose a challenge due to environmental, edaphological and nutritional requirements, which therefore translate into difficult care, and for this reason they are usually a little forgotten at home. Within ferns, as in any type of plant, we have some more delicate than others. Today we bring you one that although it is not a cactus, it could be considered a relatively easy to care fern.

Index

BUTTON FERN CHARACTERISTICS

As we have already advanced, it is a fern a little different from the ones we usually know in terms of its care, and how could it be otherwise, it is also so in its morphological characteristics. The leaves of its fronds are not the elongated, lanceolate leaf of the stereotype that we have of the fern. It is an oval or rounded and alternate leaf that confuses many people who do not know this fern. This peculiar fern is native to the Australian continent and is currently present in its native place and on the American continent.

Button fern leaf detail
Source: bowdenhostas.com

It is a very attractive fern as a hanging plant or placed on top of cabinets, shelves so that it drops its fronds into the void, making it so decorative. As we have already advanced, this fern is not too heavy in its care, but why? Now we see it.

BUTTON FERN CARE

Temperatures

This is one of the reasons why this fern is easier to care for. Ferns tend to prefer constant and mild temperatures or something cool, which is why, at home, it is sometimes difficult to have it if we do not want to be with a scarf on. The button fern develops perfectly at the 21ºC that a home should have, so it is ideal. If it is warmer, it is very possible that it begins to have a little worse.

Exposition

This is one of the few ferns that supports somewhat higher light conditions than what these curious plants have used to. As long as the humidity is adequate and the substrate does not dry out, this fabulous fern will withstand somewhat higher light conditions than the rest. We usually place ferns in humid places such as kitchen or bathroom (if it has natural light) or in darker areas of the house. The button fern can be located in sunnier orientations as long as it is not directly .

Irrigation

An aspect that we must not neglect neither this, nor in any fern. Watering a fern is one of the most delicate points. We always keep in mind the fern in wooded, shady and high rainfall areas. Therefore, one of the most common failures is to keep the substrate soaked thinking that it will develop well by not lacking water. We have to keep the substrate humidity constant , but not soak it.

Substratum

Acid. As in any fern. There are special substrates for fern that will be ideal if we do not want to break our heads doing it. However, it also has some tolerance to somewhat less acidic soils. In any case, they must be light, humid soils, rich in highly decomposed organic matter. Peat and mulch are the most common.

 

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