4707 OAK HILL STREET
APOPKA, FL 32712
Phone: 407/889-7868; Fax: 407/889-5443
www.arcferns.com
Falax
Culture Sheet
Note: Production tips are to the best of our knowledge and experience. They are offered for consideration and investigation, but we do not warrant or assure any results.
Uses: Polypodium falax (syn. fallax) is a beautiful interior foliage specimen. It has dark green, glabrous, deeply crested fronds with a semi-cascading presentation. It can also be used in tropical, shaded landscapes.
Containers: Grow in pots 4” – 8”.
Media: High water-holding capacity, good aeration and drainage. Minimum 50% coarse peat, with added perlite and / or composted bark. Any well-drained mix at pH at 5.5 - 6.5 should suffice. ARC Ferns currently uses PBH rather than Perlite in its pot fern mixes.
Light: 1,500 – 2,500 FC. Filtered light in landscape morning and evening. Will burn severely by direct light.
Fertilizer: Constant feed, 100 - 150 PPM nitrogen, with a balanced fertilizer. Slow release fertilizers are not recommended.
Temperature: Best production temperatures should be 65 - 75 F. Plants will be severely damaged by frost and are also not very tolerant of excess heat (90 F and up).
Water: Prefer moist media but dryer foliage.
Growing Time: From a 72 cell plug, 8 - 12 weeks for a 4”, 16 –20 for a 6”.
Disease: These ferns have a propensity for fungal leaf spot under excessively warm & humid conditions. We recommend ample spacing to maximise airflow. Final production spacing should be no more than 3 plants / sq. ft (4” pots) and 1 plant / sq. ft (6” pots). In summer, fungicide sprays may be needed.
Pest: Caterpillars will chew foliage and leave green fecal piles. These are easily recognizable by scent. Snails may also cause holes in foliage. Other insect pests rarely infest ferns.
Pesticides / insecticides: ARC Ferns will gladly share, upon request, its fern pest and disease control history. We cannot, however, guarantee success and will not be liable, in any case, for damages caused. Always read and follow labels; use pesticides at your own risk.
Tricks: Polypodium falax often displays an uneven, asymmetrical growth habit. This is not unusual and is considered one of the unique, attractive features of this plant.