Pteris cretica - Cretan brake is found growing in the rocky woods of warm temperate forests – warm being relative since winters hardiness of...
Pteris cretica, also called as Cretan brake, Ribbon fern, Cretan brake fern, Pycnodoria cretica, is a species of the genus Pteris. This species was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1767.
IDENTIFY PTERIS CRETICA - CRETAN BRAKE
Pteris cretica is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. It is found growing
in the rocky woods of warm temperate forests – warm being relative since
winters hardiness of these ferns can get rather cold and even snowy at times.
They seem to like vertical habitats, either on actual rock walls or on steep
slopes.
It is a slow-growing evergreen fern which reaching to 75 cm tall by 60 cm broad that produces clumps of fronds from the short underground rhizomes. The frond is about 30 cm long, 20 cm wide and light to medium green. The frond stalk is about 15 cm long and is black. Each frond blade has up to four pairs of pinnae and a single terminal pinna. Each strap-shaped pinna is up to 10 cm long and about 2 cm wide and it tapers to a point. In fertile specimens the spore cases can be borne on all pinnae.
Cretan brake is easily distinguished from all indigenous and naturalised Pteris except P. pacifica by the 1-pinnate fronds bearing long, narrow-lanceolate, linear to linear-falcate pinnae, with the basal few pairs often forked. From the very uncommon P. pacifica, P. cretica is readily distinguished by the typically dark green rather than yellow-green fronds, and by the distal portion of the sterile pinnae margins sharply dentate. Pteris cretica could be confused with P. vittata however that species has a much narrower frond, with a distinctly longer terminal pinna, and by the pinnae which are never forked and which reduce in size toward the frond base.
Common varieties:
- Pteris cretica var. Albolineata (White Striped Cretan Brake, Victorian Brake Fern) is a variety that has a narrow band of creamy white on either side of the midrib of each separate pinna.
- Pteris cretica cv. ‘Mayii’ (Variegated Club Foot Fern, Silver Brake Fern) features heavily forked tips with spidery appearance. It grows to around 40cm (16 inch) high and wide, so is quite a compact fern. Its pale green foliage has a narrow cream stripe down the centre.
PTERIS CRETICA - CRETAN BRAKE CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Pteris cretica grow best in medium to bright indirect light with light level of 10000-20000 lux. While it is tolerant of lower light conditions, you may notice leggy growth as a result. It can withstand 3 hours of direct sunlight but the plant should avoid to get too much direct sun, especially mid-day, because the leaves will burn. Dappled sunlight is ideal.
Temperature:
Cretan brake can grow outdoor in USDA zone 10-12. When grow indoor, it prefers warm temperatures of 18-24 °C. If you grow this plant outdoor, be sure to bring them inside before frosts or any cold fronts in which temperatures drop below 5 °C. Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Humidity:
Pteris cretica grow best with the humidity level of 50% - 80%. If the relative humidity drops below 50%, use a pebble tray or humidifier. The plant have a high need for humidity and will need to be misted daily, along with providing an additional humidity source. It's best to mist your plant in the morning so the water has plenty of time to evaporate before evening.
Substrate and growing media:
Cretan brake is commonly grown as an ornamental species indoors as pot plants and in gardens. It make a beautiful ground cover or border outdoors as well as an attractive accents for a room. Add beauty, style and design to courtyards, patios and verandahs with these easy care feature ferns. Its dwarf habit make it perfect for usage in rock gardens.
It can be used to create living vertical fern walls for small courtyards and commercial office developments. Also can be used in hanging baskets to create vertical height and is suited for shaded balcony gardens and dish gardens. It can be used in combination with other plants in a plant bowl, troughs or baskets.
The plant can thrive well in basic potting soil. The mixture should be well-draining and easy to keep moist, but it should not get boggy or waterlogged. Generally, any peat-based mixture will allow the plant to thrive just fine.
They are moderate growers and thus should be repotted every spring if they're showing signs that they're outgrowing their container. For best results, divide the plant during repotting, shake the old dirt from the roots, and carefully repot into fresh soil. After repotting, make sure to provide the plant with plenty of warmth and moisture until the new growth starts.
Watering:
Pteris cretica requires that its soil is kept damp constantly, but with no standing water, it will not survive drought. If indoors temperatures ever drop below 15°C or more for more than a day or two, water moderately during this period, allowing the top centimetre or so of the potting mixture to dry out between waterings. It's a good idea to use a pot with a drainage hole to prevent root rot. Remember to always use room-temperature water for the plant. Cold water will shock your plant. From fall to late winter, slightly reduce watering.
Fertilizer:
Apply a half-strength standard liquid fertiliser once every two or four weeks, depending upon the type of potting mixture. The more frequent feedings are required for plants in peat-based potting mixture. Underfeeding is often not problematic while giving too much fertilizer may kill the plant.
Pests and diseases:
Cretan brake are vulnerable to a variety of common household pests including aphids, mealy bugs, scale, and whitefly. If you notice signs of infection, move the fern away from any other houseplants immediately and treat the issue with a mild insecticide or horticultural oil until all signs of infection have ceased. Generally, these issues shouldn't kill your plants, but they should be dealt with swiftly just in case.
Propagation:
Pteris cretica can be propagated in spring by dividing large clumps. Using a sharp knife, cut the rhizome into sections, making sure that each section carries a clump of fronds and feeding roots. Plant each section in an 8cm pot of the fresh moist potting mixture and treat the newly potted fern in the same way as recommended for a mature plant.
Production of spores is so heavy that young plants are often found growing in the pots of neighbouring plants. These tiny ferns can be rescued, potted up in 5cm pots and grown on as adult specimens. Otherwise, the spores can simply be used for propagation.
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