Pteris nipponica
Variegate cretan brake fern
Description
Source: wikipedia (CC BY-SA)Pteris parkeri, the silver ribbon fern, is a species of evergreen fern in the family Pteridaceae, native to Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
🌳 Although still fairly obscure, the silver ribbon fern has features that may be useful for evaluating environmental health, particularly as a bioindicator for certain heavy metals in soil. This unexpected use comes from the fern’s capacity to tolerate and, in some instances, accumulate heavy metals, which could reflect soil contamination levels. While it is not yet widely recognized or applied, this indicates a new direction for research and practical environmental monitoring.
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Partial sun
The silver ribbon fern flourishes when completely protected from sunlight. This plant grows vigorously in conditions that resemble its native shaded environment. Its wellbeing could worsen with excessive sunlight exposure. A consistently dimly lit environment tends to be optimal for all its growth phases.
🌡️ Temperature 15–37.8°C
The Silver ribbon fern is a type of plant that naturally grows in areas with moderate temperatures. It flourishes best in conditions between 59 and 100 °F (15 to 38 ℃). To ensure the best growth, it is recommended to seasonally adjust the temperature to reflect its original habitat.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
The silver ribbon fern calls for the largest amount of fertilizer during its growth phase that predominantly happens in spring, summer, and the start of fall. Fertilization is required to supply crucial nutrients that might be deficient in the soil, thus fostering robust root and stem growth, along with appealing leaves, which is a distinct trait of this specific plant.
🪴 Pot & Repot 2-3 years
When repotting Silver ribbon fern, choose a pot 1-2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) larger with ample drainage. Use a well-draining potting mix. Repot in spring or fall, ensuring the root ball is slightly lower than the rim of the flower pot. Water thoroughly after repotting and place in a warm spot with indirect sunlight.
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Pteris
- Family
- Pteridaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 8-12
- Mature Height
- 49 cm
- Mature Spread
- 40 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green, White
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Planting Time
- Spring
- Native Area
- South Korea, Japan, China