Care of the indoor plant Didymochlaena truncatula or Tree Maidenhair Fern |
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The genus Didymochlaena, family Hypodematiaceae, includes 2 species of ferns native to the American continent. The 2 species of this genus are: Didymochlaena truncatula and Didymochlaena microphylla. Common names: Tree Maidenhair Fern, Mahogany Fern, Moon Fern, Mahogany maidenhair. This species is native to Brazil. They are semi-arboreal ferns with the trunk (rachis) covered with reddish scales and with bipinnate fronds (leaves) with a leathery texture that reach 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) in length. They are used as indoor or greenhouse plants as they do not resist temperatures below 12 ºC (53.6 ºF). Didymochlaena truncatula requires shade or semi-shade exposure. Protect them from drafts and sudden changes in temperature. The soil can be a mixture of leaf mulch, peat, heather soil, coarse sand, and a little manure. Transplant in early spring every 2 years. Water with lime-free water 3 times a week so that the substrate is damp but never flooded. They do not need pruning. Fertilize every 15 days with mineral fertilizer for indoor plants in spring and summer. They are resistant to pests and diseases but sensitive to drought. They propagate in early spring by division; reproduction from spores is a complicated process. |
Images of the indoor plant Didymochlaena truncatula or Tree Maidenhair Fern |
 Didymochlaena truncatula  Didymochlaena truncatula |