Care of the indoor plant Blechnum gibbum or Miniature tree fern |
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The genus Blechnum, family Blechnaceae, comprises 200 species of ferns native to all continents. Some species are: Blechnum gibbum, Blechnum brasiliense, Blechnum occidentale, Blechnum orientale, Blechnum spicant. Common name: Miniature tree fern. This species is native to Fiji. It's currently classified under the scientific name of Oceaniopteris gibba. They are ferns with very ornamental thick foliage that can reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height. The leaves (fronds), oblong and lanceolate, appear on the sides of long petioles. They can form a crown similar to that of palm trees. They are used as indoor plants next to a window or in a greenhouse. Blechnum gibbum needs an exposure with light but without direct sun. The temperature must be between 12-20 ºC (53-68 ºF); they do not need heating. The ideal soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of coarse sand, garden substrate and peat. The transplant is done in spring. Water frequently with little water in spring and summer. It needs a medium-high humidity but it is not advisable to spray the leaves with water. Fertilize with mineral fertilizer in spring. They are plants prone to attack by mites and mealybugs. They propagate by spores found on the underside of fronds (leaves). |
Images of the indoor plant Blechnum gibbum or Miniature tree fern |
 Blechnum gibbum  Blechnum gibbum  Blechnum gibbum |