The divine queen of flowers is Lady's slipper. Adiantum Venus hair flower: care and propagation at home

Name: The slipper genus got its name from the shape of the lip, reminiscent of a woman's slipper. In most European languages, as well as in Latin, this gender is called lady's shoe, Venus's slipper, lady's slipper, etc.

Cypripedium tibeticum	Cypripedium farreri	Cypripedium cordigerum
Cypripedium flavum	Cypripedium formosanum	Cypripedium ventricosum
Photo of Natalia Shishunova

Description: The genus slipper, or Lady's slipper, includes about 50 species, distributed in South and North America, Europe and Asia, from the forest-tundra to the tropics. From shoemakers of North America The most common in culture are:

Stemless slipper - Cypripedium acaule
Ram's slipper - C. arietinum
California slipper - C. californicum
Snow-white slipper - C. candidum
Bunched slipper - C. fasciculatum
Mountain slipper - S. montanum
Small-flowered slipper - C. parviflorum
Fluffy slipper - C. pubescens
Queen's slipper - S. reginae

A characteristic feature of the mountains.

Plants with rhizomes, glandular pubescent stems and large leaves. The stem is either very short, and then with a single pair of leaves, seemingly mundane, and a single-flowered peduncle, or quite tall, with large alternate leaves and usually with several, usually 1-3, less often with 6-12 flowers.

The flowers are quite large, of a peculiar shape, b. h. brightly colored, usually with a vanilla aroma. The bracts are also large and leaf-shaped. Sepals are petal-shaped; upper ovoid or elliptical; 2 lateral ones often grow together into one two-toothed one at the end, facing downwards. The petals are elliptical or lanceolate, the lips hanging down on the sides, sometimes more or less curled, and are often colored the same as the sepals. The lip is shoe-shaped, brightly colored, swollen to varying degrees, sometimes with a deep longitudinal fold, as if cut lengthwise or compressed in front or on the sides, with a hole or mouth at the top. The column is fused with the staminode, on both sides of which are located the anthers of 2 developed stamens. The stigma is corymbose, three-lobed or triangular, turned down into the cavity of the shoe-shaped lip. The ovary is often untwisted, usually on a small stalk. Flowers are pollinated by bees.

Photo of Shakhmanova Tatyana

Slipper flowers with their complex structure are a typical example of “trap flowers”. Once inside the flower, pollinators - usually flying insects - can only exit through a specific path that ensures pollination. The insect is attracted by the bright color of the flower. It sits on the smooth edge of the lip, slides along it and rolls into its cavity. After fruitless attempts to climb up the smooth, concave surface, the insect notices light coming from two imaginary holes on the side walls at the base of the lip. Moving towards the light source, the insect must crawl the stigma of the flower, on which the pollen it brought will remain, and only then will it be able to notice the real exit. Before leaving the flower, it rubs against the anther and sticky pollen grains (not united in poly-nii) stick to its body. Having landed on another flower, the insect will first touch the low-bending stigma and fertilize the flower, and only then will the anther sprinkle it with a new portion of pollen.

The oldest and most primitive genus of orchids. In plants of this genus, instead of a single stamen, which is preserved in almost all orchids, there are 2 functioning stamens and only the third, underdeveloped, has turned into a petal-shaped staminode. Pollen grains are not connected in pollinia, but are only collected in groups of 4 and immersed in a sticky mass.

There are 5 species in the flora of Russia. One of our most beautiful orchids.

The shoe is swollen- S. ventricosum Sw. = S. macranthum Sw. var. ventricosum (Sw.) Reichb. L= C.x ventricosum hort. Grows in deciduous and mixed forests, on forest meadows in temperate zones of the European part of Russia, Siberia, the Far East, to the Kuril Islands, Northeast China and Japan. Plants up to 40-45 cm tall. The rhizome is thick and short. The stem is stable, slightly pubescent. There are 3-5 leaves, they are broadly oval, pointed, barely hairy, 15 cm long and 5-7 cm wide. The flowers are large, solitary, with large leaf-shaped bracts. The upper sepal is elliptical (narrower than that of C. macranthum Sw.), long pointed; the lateral sepals are fused into one two-toothed one. The petals are long, narrowly lanceolate, longer than the lips, hanging down. The lip is elongated-oval, somewhat flattened on the sides. The color of the lip, sepals and petals is almost the same - brownish-reddish, light, sometimes white; lip with a subtle marble pattern. Blooms in summer. Highly decorative. Tested: St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok. A species closely related to C. macranthum. Found together with it, transitional forms are known. Photo of Natalia Shishunova

Slipper grandiflora- S. macranthum Sw. A plant with a shortened thick rhizome and thread-like twisting roots. The stem is up to 45 cm in height, at the base with brownish sheaths, above - with 3 - 4 leaves, sparsely glandular-hairy, sessile, with stem-enclosing bases, oval, pointed, up to 16 cm in length and 7 cm in width, slightly hairy along the veins and edges. Photo by Sofia Zhelezova The flowers are usually solitary with large leaf-shaped bracts (up to 10 cm in length). The perianth is lilac or violet-pink with darker veins; on the underside of the lip it is paler and mottled. The tepals are divergent, 2 lateral leaves of the outer circle are fused into one two-toothed one, located behind the lip. The lip is up to 7 cm long, strongly swollen in the form of a shoe with a narrow opening, the edges of which are folded inward, forming a rim expanded into blunt lobes. There are 2 stamens, the third is transformed into a staminode, whitish with violet-purple specks, up to 1.5 cm in length. The stigma is corymbose. The ovary is not twisted. Blooms in June - July. The rhizome grows very slowly - 2 - 4 mm per year (the same for the true and spotted slippers). The inflorescence is formed in the bud in advance - 2 years before flowering. The age limit for our slippers is unknown, but the closely related North American slipper has rhizomes found at the age of 23 years. In nature, there are forms with other colors: violet-pink with a white or slightly pinkish lip; pure white, fragrant; yellowish with a network of yellow-green veins. The form with a dark yellow-reddish flower is well known - b. real f. swollen (C. macranthum var. ventricosum). Some experts recognize it as independent species(C. ventricosum). Photo by Irina Makhrova B. grandiflora is found in the forest zone in the east of the European part of Russia, in Siberia, in Far East, northeast Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and Japan. Blooms in late spring. Unpollinated flowers last up to three weeks on the plant and about two weeks when cut. To culture b. large-flowered was introduced by the St. Petersburg Imperial Botanical Garden at the beginning of the last century. Now some European floriculture companies occasionally offer this orchid for sale. For planting, it is necessary to prepare an area in partial shade with a loose substrate from the mixture leaf soil, peat and sand (2:2:1). The surface of the substrate must be mulched annually with pine needles. This species reproduces by seeds (seedlings bloom in the 10-15th year) and by dividing rhizomes in April or September. In the garden, the plant must be divided every five years, since over time, especially in areas with compacted soil, it begins to “strangle” itself and eventually die. A very decorative and promising orchid for widespread introduction into culture.

The shoe is real- S. calceolus L. The plant has a thick creeping rhizome and long winding roots. The stem is 25 - 50 cm in height, with brownish sheaths at the base, with short glandular hairs along the entire length. Leaves 3 - 4, elliptical, pointed, 10 - 17 cm long, slightly hairy on both sides and along the edge. Flowers 1 - 2, rarely 3, with leaf-shaped bracts. The tepals are reddish-brown. The lip is swollen, light yellow, with reddish specks inside. The upper perianth leaflet is elliptically lanceolate, with many veins, 3.5 - 5 cm long, the lateral leaflets are horizontal, unequal, linear-lanceolate, pointed, 4 - 6 cm long. Two stamens and a style with stigma are pale yellow, the staminode is whitish, with purple-violet speckles, obtuse. The ovary is glandular-pubescent. In nature, forms are known with flowers of other colors: yellow, red-brown with a white lip, yellowish-green, green, white. Most often, these forms are found in Siberia and the Far East; in Western Europe, only yellow-flowered ones are found. C. calceolus var. cordigera Lindl. (C. cordigerum D. Don) - C. cardiac slipper. - Flowers with a white lip and pale green sepals and petals. Grows in the Himalayas. Culturally known in Germany. B. verum grows in Europe and over a large area in Asia in forests and bushes on limestone or fertile acidic soils. A closely related species grows in America - b. pubescent (C. pubescens), which is sometimes referred to as the American variety b. present (C. calceolus var. puhescens), with very small flowers. Blooms b. present, like all species of this genus, in late spring and early summer. To culture b. the present one was introduced several times, starting from the end of the 18th century, but did not stay in the gardens for long - it fell out. In addition to a lack of lime in the substrate, other reasons for failure include dense and dry soils, as well as excess or low light. All this leads to the death of the plant in 5-10 years. The real slipper prefers well-moistened (not waterlogged) soils. More often found in moderate light conditions, in shady places it achieves maximum light capture due to the rotation of the stem. It is frost-resistant and survives in harsh winters with little snow. Prefers neutral and alkaline soils with a significant humus content. For this species, the site is prepared as for b. large-flowered, with the only difference that they also arrange drainage from limestone gravel. Photo by Elena Akimova Can reproduce both by seed and vegetative way(using rhizomes). For the first 3 years, the seedling leads an underground lifestyle, feeding on fungi; in the 4th year, the first green leaf develops (in favorable conditions this can happen earlier). The shoe blooms in the 15th - 17th year (in favorable conditions- on the 8th). Generative shoots usually make up no more than 1/3 of their total number. Pollination occurs with the help of flies, beetles, earth bees and other insects. Not all flowers are pollinated, and the percentage of fruit set is low. In this regard, seed propagation of the lady's slipper is not often observed. In spring, young shoots of the shoe appear above the ground in April, buds are already noticeable in early May, and the plant blooms in mid-May - early June (in the north and in the mountains - in July). Flowering lasts for 2 - 3 weeks. A pollinated flower retains its freshness for 1-3 days, and an unpollinated one - up to 3 weeks. The seeds ripen and fall out of the fruit after 2 - 3 months. After fruiting, the plant continues to vegetate for about a month. By October, next year's shoots have already formed in the buds. Very promising for widespread introduction into culture by selecting resistant clones.

A small plant with a long creeping rhizome. Stem 15 - 30 cm in height. The leaves are elliptical, pointed, 6 - 12 cm long, much hairy below along the veins and along the edge. The bracts are leaf-shaped, ovate-lanceolate. The outer upper tepal is elliptical-ovate, pointed, 1.8 - 2.8 cm long, white or with violet-pink spots, the lower tepal, fused from two, greenish, glandular-pubescent, 1.2 - 1.7 cm long . The lateral tepals are bare, like the lip, white, with large purple-pink specks. The ovary is fusiform, finely and densely glandular-pubescent. Blooms in May - June.

Rare in culture, but quite stable. Able to grow and bloom on any soil. On an alpine hill it sometimes grows among stones, from under which its rhizomes are difficult to dig out. Does not form dense clumps. The ideal place for planting is an area prepared as above. Basically, the spotted slipper reproduces vegetatively, by dividing rhizomes. Seed propagation is very weak.

Photos by Konstantin Alexandrov.

Yatabe's slipper- S. yatabeanum Makino In the Far East, in forests, mainly birch (stone birch), you can find this ornamental plant. In Russia, its range is very limited, it occupies Kamchatka, the Commander and Kuril Islands. Outside Russia - in Japan, China, North America. View close to b. spotted A small (up to 40 cm in height) plant with a long creeping rhizome. Stem with 2 (rarely 3) almost opposite leaves, ovate, up to 15 cm long, pointed, hairy along the veins below and along the edge. Bract ovate up to 3 cm long. There is one flower, the lateral tepals, like those of the spotted shoe, are obtuse. The upper tepal is broadly oval, with outside and slightly pubescent along the edges, up to 2.5 cm in length, yellowish-greenish. The lateral leaves are violin-shaped, narrowed at the top, widened at the end, yellowish-green (less often whitish) with dirty purple spots, their length is up to 1.9 cm. The lip is brownish or greenish-yellow or dirty purple and vaguely spotted. The staminode is orange-yellow, short and wide. The ovary is densely glandular-pubescent. Blooms in July - August. Culture conditions and reproduction do not differ from the previous species. It is stable in cultivation, but very rare. The rhizomes grow rather slowly. It doesn't bloom every year in the Moscow region. Recommended for rocky hills in shady areas. It is of interest more for selection than for introduction.

The development of shoe seedlings from seed germination to the first flowering takes about 9-10, and often even 13-15 years. Plants can also be propagated vegetatively by successive division of rhizomes. Mature lady's shoes are not overly dependent on the mycelium and can therefore be transplanted and cultivated relatively easily.

Because vegetative propagation ineffective, and it is not yet possible to grow seedlings under sterile conditions in vitro; the natural habitats of beautiful species are being plundered all over the world. Today, the list of species grown in culture includes true cypripedium (C. calceolus) and c. large-flowered (C. macranthum), as well as North American species: c. royal (S. reginae), c. small-flowered (C. parviflorum), c. stemless (S. acaule) and c. lamb (C. arietinum); Japanese species: c. weak (S. debile) and c. Japanese (C. japonicum); and, finally, the Himalayan species c. cordate (C. cordigerum). New types of slippers are still appearing, such as the miniature single-leaf type, which has been imported from China several times recently.

Lady's slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum) - perennial herbaceous plant, widespread throughout Eurasia. In Russia, the Slipper of Venus orchid is sometimes called Adam's head, limestone slipper, cuckoo boots, Maryin's slipper or cockerels. In nature, the Paphiopedilum orchid prefers well-moistened, non-boggy soils and most often grows in places with moderate lighting. At home, the Lady's slipper orchid is grown in well-ventilated areas with sufficient quantity Sveta.

This unusual plant, whose distinctive feature is shoe-shaped flowers. Previously, all slipper orchids belonged to one genus, Cypripedium, which was then divided into four: Cypripedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Selenipedium. The names of all four genera are translated into Russian approximately the same way as “Venus’s slippers.”

The genus Cypripedium includes about 40 species, Paphiopedilum about 60, and Phragmipedium - 25. Paphiopedilum interbreed well within the genus, so more than 1000 interspecific hybrids are widespread in culture.

Types of home orchid Lady's slipper (Paphiopedilum)

The name of the plant is associated with the name of the goddess of love and beauty (from the Greek Paphia - one of the names of the goddess Venus, pedilon - “slipper”, “shoe”). The bag-shaped lip of an orchid resembles a slipper, which is why the Russians call Paphiopedilum “Venus’s slippers,” the British call them “Slippers,” and the Americans call them “Moccasin Flowers.”

Paphiopedilums are epiphytic and semi-epiphytic plants, common in the tropics and subtropics South-East Asia, greatest species diversity presented on the border of South China and North Vietnam.

As you can see in the photo, the Paphiopedilum orchid is a plant without pseudobulbs, with a rosette of evergreen leaves and a single waxy flower.

Some species of the Raphiopedilum orchid have oblong green leaves with an original bright pattern. The lower surface is often covered with purple dots. The roots of the shoes are brown and pubescent.

Flowering occurs depending on the species: in paphiopedilums with monochromatic leaves, the buds ripen at the end of winter and in spring, and their variegated counterparts bloom in the summer-autumn period. Types and varieties of Paphiopedilum are divided into single-flowered - opening 1-2 flowers on a peduncle; multi-flowered - with inflorescences of three or more flowers; "revolving" - each new flower is formed in place of the old one.

Look at the photo: the Lady's slipper orchid most often has red, yellow and green shades. The flowers retain their freshness for 2-3 months.

Paphiopedilum Appletona(Appleton's) (Paphiopedilum appletonianum) is a fairly large orchid that grows naturally in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The flower is large, fragrant green-lilac, up to 10 cm in diameter. Flowering begins in spring. The leaves are sessile, belt-shaped, hard, rounded at the end, with a marble pattern.

Paphiopedilum apricot (Paphiopedilum armeniacum)- Very unusual look Venus's slipper with yellow flowers with an orange core. There is also a rare variety with white flowers. The leaves are spotted, up to 15 cm long. Cultivation is usual for this genus. This species was first described in 1982.

Paphiopedilum beardedum (Paphiopedilum barbatum)- a popular and long-standing shoe in culture. Among breeders, he is also famous for being one of the parents of the first artificial hybrid - "Harrisianum", created in 1869.

The leaves of the species do not exceed 20 cm in length, with a marble pattern, and the peduncle bears one flower (up to 8 cm in diameter), the color of which is dominated by purple-red tones. The upper sepal is white with 15 purple stripes; the side petals are dark red (sometimes with whitish tips). The lip is dark red. Blooms in spring.

Paphiopedilum pilosa (Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum)- a plant with not very wide green leaves and heavily pubescent peduncles, especially beautiful on the first day of flowering. At the beginning, its petals, widening at the ends, look smooth, but after a few hours they become corrugated in the upper third.

Paphiopedilum Spicera (Paphiopedilum spicerianum)- a species popular in hybridization, native to Northern India. It is similar to Paphiopedilum pilosa, but its petals are shorter.

Paphiopedilum is wonderful(Paphiopedilum insigne)- a species native to the Himalayas. The leaves are linear, green, up to 25-30 cm long. This is a winter-flowering species: flowering begins in September and continues until February next year. A species with a not very long peduncle and greenish fragrant flower. This species has many varieties, differing in flower size and color. Requires cool conditions in cultivation.

Paphiopedilum coarse-haired (Paphiopedilum villosum)- a species common in India and Indonesia. It can grow as an epiphyte, lithophyte or as a terrestrial plant. Flowering of this species lasts from autumn to spring. Peduncles are pubescent, up to 30 cm high, bearing one flower at a time. A typical specimen has a brown-green upper sepal with a white edge. Petals are ocher-brown. The lip is colored in pale red-brown tones and covered with thin veins.

Paphiopedilum is pretty (Paphiopedilum bellatulum)- an orchid native to Burma, Thailand and China. It grows on moss-covered limestone cliffs at altitudes from 250 to 1500 m above sea level. Plants of this species were first found at the end of the 19th century. on the territory of Burma. The leaves are spotted, up to 15 cm long. The peduncle bears 1-2 white flowers with crimson speckles, 8-10 cm in diameter. Flowering begins in April.

Paphiopedilum Lawrence (Paphiopedilum lawrenceanum)- an orchid native to the island. Borneo. The name of this species is associated with the name of T. Lawrence, president of the Royal Horticultural Society and orchid collector. Peduncle with one flower, up to 30 cm in diameter. The upper petal is white with dark longitudinal stripes. The sepals are green with reddish tips and “moles” along the edges, the lip is brownish-red. Flowering occurs in spring. Leaves with a light marble pattern do not exceed 15 cm in length. The species is relatively easy to cultivate.

Paphiopedilum snowy, or snow-white(Paphiopedilum niveum)- a species with elongated leaves with a marble pattern, up to 15-20 cm long. The peduncle is 15-20 cm high, bears 1-2 white, fragrant flowers, up to 8 cm in diameter. Flowering begins in summer. In culture it requires warm keeping. Less than other species of the genus needs feeding.

Paphiopedilum beautiful, or lovely (Paphiopedilum venustum)- leaves are variegated, with clearly defined spots. Flowering begins at the end of winter. The peduncle is 15-20 cm high, bears a single flower, up to 15 cm in diameter. The petals are greenish-orange with large black dots and dark green veins. The lip is helmet-shaped, shiny, orange, with green veins. Homeland - Himalayas. It is also grown as Paphiopedilum remarkable.

Caring for the Slipper of Venus orchid

Paphiopedilums can be kept in pots on windowsills. Different kinds paphiopedilum prefer cool, moderate or warm conditions. Heat-loving species include variegated species, as well as species and hybrids with rounded large flowers. Caring for a lady's slipper orchid of tropical species requires maintenance at a temperature of +20...+22 °C. In summer, especially at night, the room with the plant must be ventilated. For placement, choose a well-lit sunny place, with shading during the midday hours; in winter, artificial additional lighting is useful (12 hours a day). In summer, homemade Lady's slipper is recommended to keep plants outdoors.

Watering is uniform and moderate; the substrate should dry out between waterings. In winter, after the indoor Lady's slipper blooms, watering and humidity are reduced. During the heating season, when caring for the Paphiopedilum orchid, it is recommended to use a humidifier instead of spraying.

During growth, regular feeding is required every two months. After 2-4 years, the plant needs to be replanted in fresh soil. Houseplants Lady's slipper is usually grown in ceramic or plastic, top part which are wider than the bottom one. This is necessary so that when replanting it is possible to remove the plant from the container without damaging its fragile roots. Venus's slippers are planted in containers in a mixture of bark and peat (2:1) with the addition of dolomite flour.

Paphiopedilums are propagated by dividing the bush. When dividing, you need to make sure that there are roots on the rosettes.

Adiantum, otherwise known as lady's hair, is an exquisitely beautiful fern. Representatives of this family delight with their attractiveness. This flower is superior to its peers in that it is equated with the curly locks of the goddess of love. Loose green hair is attached to dark legs and sways gracefully at the slightest breeze.

It is necessary to take care of the adiantum diligently, just like you would care for your hair. It, like curls, is washed, fed, and cut. He doesn't need good lighting for good health, which distinguishes it from other house flowers. With proper care, the fern for a long time will delight you with lush greenery and can decorate any corner of your apartment.

Adiantum - the most graceful fern

Adiantum is a specimen of multiple species of ferns. Under natural conditions you can encounter it in the most hidden corners of the tropical and subtropical montane forest. Venus hair has also conquered moderately soft habitats. It may also tolerate slight cold, but in frosty times the part that is above the ground dies.

Representatives of this species can be found:

• on the Crimean peninsula,
• in the north of the Caucasus,
• in the mountains of Africa,
• near the Mediterranean Sea,
• on the American continent,
• in European countries.

Loves the flower very much mountain landscape and shady as well as wet places. The fern does not need large quantities soil, it can grow even on rocky soil. It grows near waterfalls near the river bank, in rock crevices.

About two hundred years ago, adiantum settled in people's homes. Flower growers did not remain aloof from the beauty of its leaves (their names are waiami). But another problem appeared, because the flower is very responsive to air quality, he was unable to adapt to stove-heated houses.

For this reason, rich people who have greenhouses and winter gardens. Soon it appeared central heating and the air in the apartments has improved significantly, and therefore adiantum could afford to grow all lovers of this species. But it appeared new problem- this is an excessively dry atmosphere in heated apartments, which is harmful to ferns. Currently there are different ways for air humidification.

Today, lovers of adiantum will be able to grow this rare species of fern without any problems. Since moist air, according to medical advice, is beneficial not only for flowers, but also for humans.

The name adiantum comes from the Greek word adiant, translated (not to wet). There is an invisible film on the surface of the leaves of this flower, so drops of water flowing from them are not absorbed.

Features of Adiantum

Adiantum is the most exquisite indoor flower. The second name of the plant is Venus hair, it is typical only for this variety. There are other species that are no less attractive, but little known.

From typical fern with a rosette of elongated hanging arched leaves, the flower has a difference in the form of dark cuttings in a shape similar to a spiral. It is precisely because of the cuttings that plants are compared to curls. For what reason does only Venus have hair? Since this deity is the very personification of love and splendor, emerging from the depths of the sea.

Only she can wear such exquisite hair. Because curls-cuttings covered with wavy petals, very reminiscent of curly hair. Along the edge of each petal there is a sorus; this is a pocket in which fern seeds ripen.

There are some beliefs about how the Adiantum appeared. An attractive, young girl fell from a cliff. It was in that place that a waterfall formed, and the curls became like a fern. The next fable says that when Venus was cutting her hair, she dropped one curl, which got its name.

Appearance and important features plants:

• Adiantum is not a very tall fern, since its leaves do not reach a length of more than 40–60 centimeters.
• Fern grows quickly, during the spring-summer period, can double, take this ability into account when choosing permanent place growing a plant.
• Adiantum - capricious flower and does not welcome moving from one place to another. If the woman's hair is subject to stress, then this is reflected in its vegetation, which loses its lushness and may dry out. We advise you to immediately choose a suitable place for him.

Healers of ancient centuries noted the similarity of fern leaves with curls and therefore recommend this plant for medicinal purposes for hair follicles. And the people of China use an infusion of leaves to treat alcohol and tobacco addiction. Venus hair will push you to healthy image life. Since it is overly susceptible to contaminated oxygen. Does not tolerate tobacco or any other smoke.

Pampered fern vegetation will cause trouble for the florist. It is enough just to provide this flower habitual conditions for its habitat, and it will delight you with its lush green willow. The flower will decorate any corner of your home, at a time when other flowers do not want to live there.

The flower does not need additional lighting winter time, because it loves shaded places. Venus hair is perfect for growing on a stand, hanging, or on a windowsill.

Caring for adiantum at home

How to care for adiantum

The home flower adiantum does not tolerate scorching sunlight. Choosing shady place please note that you need to place it near the northern or eastern windows, because from excessively dazzling lighting, the delicate patterned leaves of the fern die off.

Venus hair in the apartment loves fresh air, but he cannot stand chapping and dust, and therefore will need to be done frequently wet cleaning in the room, where this one resides home flower, and freshen the air in the room. Smoking near the plant is prohibited, and carbon monoxide from the kitchen can also destroy the flower.

Dry air is harmful to ferns:

The plant does not like when its habitat is changed, so try not to move the pot with adiantum. Spray every day warm water fern, especially in the hot season. During the cool season, it is not recommended to spray the plant, as this will harm it.

We recommend feeding the fern from April to September. For this will do liquid fertilizer for indoor or foliage and ornamental vegetation. Use half of the dosage indicated on the package, once every three weeks. IN winter period no need to feed.

Watering adiantum

Constantly moistening the soil will help to properly care for the plant, since its drying out will lead to drying out and death of the foliage. Important do not overdo it with watering, because the root system of the flower will rot.

To prevent poor-quality moisture, it is necessary to lower the flower pot into a container with water that has settled at room temperature. The peas should remain in the water until upper layer the soil in the pot will sparkle with water. Then The flower is placed in the sink to drain away unnecessary water., and return it to its place. In winter, you do not need to water the plant abundantly, but the rule of moisturizing remains the same. It is recommended to moisturize once a week in winter, and twice a week in summer.

Adiantum transplant

The flower prefers a spacious pot. Since it grows at a slow pace, it needs to be replanted once every two or three years. spring period when the roots of the flower begin to peek out from drainage holes in a pot. For an obsolete flower, it is necessary to annually change the surface layer of soil to a thickness of five or seven centimeters.

The fern has massive roots, so it needs spacious pot made of wood or ceramics, unglazed in the inner part with rather large drainage holes. To transplant a plant, a massive layer of drainage base is laid out on the bottom of the pot.

The soil for adiantum needs to be loosened, sour and fertilized with humus. For this, peat with deciduous soil is suitable in a ratio of two to one. To do this, you need to sprinkle a small amount of substrate on the drainage layer and place the flower in a new pot and gradually add soil so that there is no empty space in the pot. But at the same time, do not press the soil, as the flower loves loose soil.

Adiantum pests and diseases

The foliage of the plant contains substances harmful to insects, but despite this they are very resistant to poison harmful insects harm the plant. For example: aphids, spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs.

In order to remove scale insects from affected leaves, use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. To cure a fern from aphids it is necessary spray soap solution and then wash it off clean water. A necessary measure is to treat with a solution of Decis or Biotlin, Derris, Fitoverm, as well as Antitlin, Inta-vir, Actellik.

Antitlina and Fitoverm are suitable for combating mealybug together with insecticides such as Konfidor, Aktara or Confident, Mospilan. From spider mites Fitoverm and Actellik are used.

Often at a fern leaves dry out around the edges, purchasing Brown color. This is a problem of improper moistening or release of gas near the flower.

The problem of curled but not dried adiantum leaves lies in the extremely low air temperature, but at the same time increased humidity. If the leaves turn pale, this indicates that the plant must be moved to a darker place O. When the leaves of a flower fall off, this is a problem of low air humidity, so systematically moisten the fern.

Properties of adiantum

The composition of fern leaves includes triterpenoids, lipids, essential oil, steroids, phenalcorboxylic acid. The foliage of the plant is used for medicinal purposes; medicinal powders, syrups, and infusions are made from it, which are actively used by residents in Western Europe.

An aqueous extract from the plant is widely used as it has antimicrobial properties. A syrup and infusions are used as antipyretic and an expectorant. It is used for diseases of the liver, spleen, and bladder, as well as for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Adiantum leaf juice is used in the form of lotions and compresses to treat malignant ulcers and bites from rabid animals. For the treatment of alcoholism in Chinese medicine juice from the plant is used. The juice is also used to rinse hair to get rid of dandruff. To do this, we recommend diluting fern juice with water and rinsing your hair with this solution. An alcohol infusion is used to treat psoriasis.

Lady's slipper represents a perennial evergreen with leaves of green, dark green or grayish marbled color up to 30 cm long. Each rosette of leaves produces one peduncle up to 40 cm tall, which can be single-flowered or multi-flowered. The flowers are from 7 to 12 cm in diameter, with a wide variety of colors: from white, purple and yellow to brown and green, spotted or striped flowers are often found.

The Legend of Venus's Slipper

IN ancient greek mythology There is a legend about Venus's slipper, or rather about Venus's slippers, which turned into a beautiful flower.

A thunderstorm caught Venus and Adonis while hunting; they hid from the rain in a secluded, quiet place and indulged in lovemaking. A man passing by did not notice Venus with her lover, but saw her shoe made of pure gold abandoned on the ground. And as soon as the commoner stretched out his hand to pick up the shoe, it instantly turned into a flower resembling a shoe.

Lady's slipper: types of plants

The plant includes in its genus about 50 species common in Northern and South America, Europe and Asia, where in natural conditions they grow from forest-tundra to the tropics.

Lady's slipper flower close-up on the picture.

Common types:

Lady's slipper stemless (Cypripedium acaule) - with a ground stem and two folded, oblong or broadly oval, lanceolate, greenish-purple leaves up to 20 cm long and up to 8 cm wide. Peduncle up to 35 cm tall with a large, fragrant flower. Highly decorative, blooms in late spring and early summer.

Ram's head (Cypripedium arietinum) – up to 30 cm tall with thin, weak stems. Leaves are alternate, elliptic or lanceolate, up to 10 cm long and up to 5 cm wide. The flowers are apical, solitary, small. Blooms in late spring.

Californian (Cypripedium californicum) – stem together with flower up to 80 cm tall, strong with 3-4 leaves. The leaves are alternate, oval, acute, up to 10 cm long. The inflorescence is a sparse raceme, consisting of 4-12 flowers, with leaf-shaped, round bracts. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter on long stalks. Petals and sepals are the same length (up to 1.5 cm), yellowish-green in color. Blooms in late spring.

Snow-white (Cypripedium candidum) – a plant with a short rhizome up to 30 cm tall. In the lower part the stem is covered with several scale-like pharynxes. Leaves (3-4 pieces) lanceolate or elliptic, pointed or acute, up to 12 cm long and up to 4 cm wide. The flowers are small, solitary, apical, up to 2 cm in diameter. The sepals are lanceolate, greenish, with purple spots. Flowering period is late spring-early summer.

Tufted (Cypripedium fasciculatum) – up to 40 cm tall with a woolly pubescent stem, two opposite, broadly oval leaves located in the middle of the stem, up to 10 cm long and up to 6 cm wide. The inflorescence is erect, stable, and has from 1 to 4 greenish flowers. Bracts lanceolate. Petals and sepals are lanceolate, with brown veins, up to 2 cm long.

Lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus L)

Perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant of the orchid family, up to 50 cm tall. The true lady's slipper has a thick, short, creeping rhizome, consisting of two internodes, preserved from each annual growth. The adventitious roots are sinuous and long, up to 30 cm. The stem has brownish cups at the base, with short glandular hairs along the entire length. The leaves are alternate, elliptical, pointed on both sides, slightly hairy along the edges, up to 18 cm long and up to 8 cm wide. The flowers are bisexual, zygomorphic, with large leaf-shaped bracts. The tepals are red-brown in color, the swollen lip is light yellow. Ovary inferior, glandular-pubescent. The fruit is a capsule.

Lady's slipper (Cypripedium macranthon)

It is a plant with a thick, shortened rhizome and thin, sinuous thread-like roots. The stem is up to 45 cm high with brownish shoes at the base, higher with 3-4 glandular-hairy sessile leaves, with stem-enclosing bases, oval and pointed, up to 15 cm long and up to 8 cm wide.

The flowers are solitary with large leaf-shaped bracts. The perianth is violet or lilac-pink with dark veins. The tepals are divergent. The lip is up to 7 cm long, strongly swollen, with a small hole, the edges of which are folded inward, forming an expanded rim. Two stamens, the third is turned white with violet-purple inclusions of staminodes up to 1.5 cm long. The ovary is not twisted. The stigma is corymbose. Lady's slipper grandiflora blooms in June-July.

Lady's slipper spotted (Cypripedium guttatum) or speckled

A small plant with a long creeping rhizome. The stem is from 15 to 30 cm tall. The leaves are elliptical, pointed up to 12 cm long, hairy below along the veins and edge. The bracts are ovate-lanceolate, leaf-shaped.

The upper outer tepal is pointed, elliptical-ovate, up to 3 cm long, white or with purple-pink spots. The lower one, densely fused from two leaves, is greenish, glandular-pubescent, up to 2 cm long. Lateral tepals are bare, white with large purple-pink splashes. The ovary is fusiform, densely and finely glandular-pubescent. The spotted lady's slipper blooms from late May to mid-June.

Growing orchids: lady's slipper

The flower is very rare and very difficult to propagate and grow. The whimsical flower loves shade and is not resistant to winds; it must be covered and protected from pests such as snails or aphids. Lady's slipper prefers to be grown in a complex substrate consisting of sphagnum, bark, charcoal with the addition of chalk or dolomite flour. When kept indoors, you can increase the proportion of sphagnum moss for greater moisture capacity. A coarser substrate is placed at the bottom, and a moisture-intensive and fine one is placed closer to the surface.

The roots of the plant develop horizontally, so you need or.

For normal growth and flowering, the flower must create the appropriate conditions:

• for heat-loving plant species, the air temperature during daylight hours should be in the range from +22 to +32°C, at night from +16 to +18°C, but not lower than +15°C;
• for species and varieties with monochromatic leaves, the temperature during the day is from +16 to +22°C, at night from +8 to +10°C, but not lower than +6°C.
• do not allow even a short-term drop in temperature below +5°C - this leads to the death of the plant;
• It is necessary to provide bright lighting (not direct Sun rays) flower for 12-14 hours a day.

Lady's slipper: plant care

The flower does not have storage organs; regular, abundant watering is required to maintain the substrate in a constantly moist state. Water should be at room temperature and should not fall at the base of the stem when watering, which can lead to rot.

The lady's slipper requires care with regular (once every 15-20 days) feeding in the summer months with a weak solution of complex mineral fertilizer applied with water during irrigation.

The flower is propagated by dividing the bush during transplantation.

Replanting is carried out as needed (usually once every 1-3 years), but special care must be taken to exclude the possibility of damage to the roots, which can lead to disease or death of the plant.