You can cultivate the stag's tongue fern in the garden or in the house. If not cared for properly, it is prone to pests indoors.
The stag's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), with its wide, rich green fronds, is a speci alty among the more filigree and slender ferns. The tongue-shaped fern leaves appear rich green and shiny. Various varieties with wavy and curled fronds are particularly attractive. The stag's tongue fern is about 30 to 40 centimeters high and is therefore also very suitable for pot culture.
Origin of the Deer Tongue Fern
The stag's tongue fern belongs to the spleenwort family and is distributed all over the world. In addition to Europe, there are also corresponding occurrences in Asia, the USA or in North Africa. The main area of distribution is moist deciduous forests. In Germany, the stocks in the wild are declining sharply. That's why the stag's tongue fern is under nature protection.
| Stag's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | curved, expansive, clump-forming, strong |
| Growth: | 30 - 40 cm |
| Growth: | 30 - 40 cm |
| Foliage: | wintergreen |
| Location: | Penumbra |
| Floor: | fresh to moist, well-drained, rich in humus, calcareous |
Pretty varieties at a glance
The stag's tongue fern is multi-faceted. The different leaf shapes can be put together to create pretty arrangements.
| Stag Tongue Fern Variety | Features |
|---|---|
| Roosterscomb | 25 cm growth height curly fronds tufts at the end of the leaves |
| Crispa | remarkably wavy leaves |
| Undulatum | 35 cm growth height slightly wavy leaves |
Plant stag tongue fern
» Find the right location
The stag's tongue fern can colonize regions in the garden that many plants do not correspond to, because the fern needs a cool and shady location. Planting between trees is beneficial. You can also useCreate a shade garden with different ferns.
In the rock garden, the stag's tongue fern can be shown to advantage between the sheet, hosta or silver candle. This attractive fern is also suitable as a houseplant. This is how the deer tongue fern feels comfortable in the cool winter garden. The overheated living room, on the other hand, is not suitable for these plants.
» Choosing the ideal substrate
The suitable substrate for the stag's tongue fern is loose and slightly acidic. Calcareous sites are also preferred.
Tip: To be on the safe side, you can determine the pH of the soil before planting. Appropriate values range from 5.6 to 6.5.
When buying conventional potting soil, pay attention to the notes on the label.
Plant lovers can also mix the right substrate themselves:
- a portion of garden soil
- a portion of lava granules
- half a portion of quartz sand
- two portions of mature compost
- three parts peat
All components are mixed well before use.
» Plant and repot stag's tongue fern - step by step
You will receive the stag's tongue fern in pots. These plants can be placed in the bed all year round. And this is how it works:
1. Find a suitable stand
2. Loosen up the substrate and remove roots, stones and weeds
3. Mix the substrate with compost
4. Observe the planting distance
5. Dig a planting hole
6. Insert stag's tongue
7. Fill up the substrate
8. Press down well on the soil
9. Pour on stag's tongue
Tip: Rooting can be accelerated if the old fern fronds are reduced by about a third after planting.
Potted plants should be transplanted when the roots have penetrated the planter and there is hardly any soil left. Repotting is preferred in spring.
Caring for Stag Tongue Fern
» water properly
The stag's tongue fern outdoors is watered when the soil has dried after prolonged periods of sunshine. The soil should not dry out completely. It is also important to avoid waterlogging. Consistent soil moisture should be the goal of irrigation. This requires some tact on the part of the hobby gardener.
Indoor plants need to be watered regularly. It is best irrigated with rainwater. Tap water should not be used immediately so that the limescale can build updecreased.
Potted plants are watered abundantly. The liquid is allowed to run out of the drainage hole and collect in the coaster. After about 20 minutes, the water should be removed from the coaster. The plant has then absorbed sufficient moisture.
To ensure high humidity, the stag's tongue fern should be sprayed frequently. The plant also likes it when the saucer is filled with water and stones. The humidity in the room should not fall below 60 percent.
Tip: A hygrometer is suitable for measuring the humidity.
During the heating period, the plant should be sprayed more often with a plant sprayer and not placed near the heater.
Tip: The stag's tongue fern indicates a lack of humidity by brown and dried-up leaf tips.
» fertilize properly
In the field, it is not necessary to fertilize the stag's tongue fern regularly. The compost added during planting provides the plant with lasting nutrients. The fertilizer doses can be renewed annually in spring.
In pot culture, the plants have fewer nutrients and therefore have to be supplied with fertilizer more frequently. The main growth period of the stag's tongue fern falls between May and September. Liquid fertilizer for green plants can be applied every two weeks.
Pruning Stag Tongue Fern
Regular pruning measures are not necessary with the stag's tongue fern. Even outdoors, the fronds are not cut off, because they are evergreen and therefore an ornament in the rather dreary garden bed.
Older and withered fronds can be removed at any time if necessary. The sections do not have to be thrown away, but can be used to create a layer of humus.
Propagating Stag Tongue Fern
There are several ways of propagating the stag tongue fern:
- Division
- Spores
» Propagation by Division
Propagation by division is good for the plant and at the same time represents a rejuvenation of older ferns. The entire rootstock is dug up for this purpose in spring. So that the plant is not injured unnecessarily, a sharp cutting tool should be used for the division. The divided rhizomes are replanted as soon as possible at the desired location. The mother plant should remain in the old location.
» Propagation by spores
The spores are closed on the underside of the leavesfind and appear in midsummer to early fall. The fronds are placed on a paper pad for about a day. If the spores have detached, they can be placed in moist potting soil and placed in a light but not sunny position for germination. This form of propagation is very tedious and can take months.
Detecting pests and diseases on stagtongue fern
Pests and diseases rarely occur on the robust plant. Care mistakes and unsuitable stands weaken the fern. The result can be scale insects. These occur more often in a too warm and too dry location. Usually only indoor plants are affected.
In the open air, the stag's tongue fern is vital and long-lived. Even snails cannot harm the plant.
Winter stag tongue fern
In winter, the stag's tongue fern slows down its growth due to the lack of light. During this time there is a little less watering. Regular checks of the soil prevent the occurrence of dry bales or waterlogging.
Tip: A moisture meter is a good way to monitor indoor plants.
During the winter months, the fern is only fertilized once or twice. Care should be taken to ensure a weak concentration. When the growth phase begins in March, watering is increased again and fertilization can now be carried out regularly again.