Blechnum spicant Fern Ø11cm

Blechnum spicant , the deer fern, is a tough fern with leathery, glossy fronds cut like narrow ladders, of a deep green that stays unchanged all year. It has two kinds of fronds - sterile ones spread in a low rosette and taller fertile ones that carry the spores on their undersides. Green even under snow, it suits a shady corner, indoors or in the garden. An elegant choice for a cool, humid spot. Care instructions The good news is that, once the right corner is found, the deer fern becomes a companion of rare constancy. It grows slowly and steadily, adding new fronds to its low rosette season after season, without climbing or stretching. It can be kept indoors, in a bright, humid corner, or planted outside in the shade, where it survives the winter across most of the country. Nothing it asks for is complicated; it is simply a plant that responds to coolness and moisture. Here is everything you need to know, gathered in one place: Light: indirect, filtered light or partial shade. Indoors, a north- or east-facing window sheltered from direct sun is perfect; outside, a corner shaded by trees or a wall. Direct midday sun dries and scorches the fronds. Temperature: it is happiest in the cool, between 12 and 22 °C, and tolerates low temperatures well. Planted outdoors, it survives the winter across most of Romania; in a pot, protect the roots from a full freeze. Watering: it likes constantly moist substrate, but never boggy. Water when the surface begins to dry, keeping the moisture even; do not let it dry out completely, as the fronds curl and dry at the tip. Humidity: it favours humid air, around 60% or more. Indoors, group it with other plants, set it on a tray of pebbles and water, or use a humidifier; outside, the forest moisture is enough for it. Substrate: a loose, acid, humus-rich mix that holds moisture without becoming waterlogged - for example soil for acid-loving plants blended with coco fibre and a little perlite. A pot with drainage holes is essential. Feeding: it is a modest eater. In the growing season, from spring to autumn, feed every 4-6 weeks with a liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength. Stop feeding in winter. Propagation: most simply by dividing the clump in spring, carefully separating the side rosettes with their roots; for the patient, also by spores, on a moist, covered substrate. If small problems appear, do not be discouraged - they are signals easy to read, not obstacles. Dry, brown frond tips almost always betray air that is too dry or substrate left to dry out; restore the moisture and the plant recovers. Faded, yellowish fronds appear when the light is too strong or direct, so move it to a shadier corner. Old fronds that yellow at the base are part of the plant's natural cycle - simply cut them away, and new ones will take their place. All these adjustments are minor, and the fern responds to them with its characteristic patience. With these few pointers, Blechnum spicant becomes a green, constant presence, a natural gateway into the world of collector ferns - once you have mastered this one, your eye will inevitably wander to other fine textures, such as the glossy fronds of a Polystichum polyblepharum, and so a passion begins. Specifications Pot diameter: 11 cm Total height (incl. pot): 25 cm