Ming Fern (Asparagus Myriocladus) Profile: Care & Growing Guide

Ming Fern (Asparagus myriocladus) is a perennial shrubby herb. Ming Fern Plant height is about 1.5 m, the stem erect or slightly scattered. Branchlets are slender, leaves are short pine needles, clustered into a group. The new leaves are green, the old ones dark green. For its elegant appearance, Ming Fern is very popular as a house potted plant.

Ming Fern Picture

Ming Fern Info   

Botanical Name	Asparagus retrofractus
Common Names	Ming fern, ming asparagus Fern
Plant Type	Herbaceous perennial
Sun	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Hardiness Zones	9 to 11
Flower color	White flowers - orange maturing to black fruits
Native Area	Southern Africa
Mature size	6.00 to 8.00 feet tall, 3.00 to 5.00 feet wide

Ming Fern Morphological Characteristics

Ming fern is a perennial evergreen herb. Plants are erect, 30 - 60cm tall, with small root tubers, much-branched, caescenose stems. Leaves are scaly or spiny, new leaves bright green. Flowers are pale red.

The plant height of ming fern is about 1.5 m, the stem is erect or slightly scattered, and the lignification is shrubby. With white fleshy roots. Branchlets are slender, leaves are short pine needles, clustered into a group, very similar to five needle pine leaves. The new leaves are green, the old ones dark green. Flowers are white, berries black. With small root tubers, numerous tufted stems, much-branched, graying white, base lignified, leaflike or spiny. Ming fern has fresh green leaves, old white powdery leaves. Leaves are oblate, fascicular, globose, on lignified branches, dark green. Ming fern flowers are pale red to white, fragrant.

Ming Fern Ecological Habits

Ming Fern likes warm, wet and shaded environments. The suitable temperature for growth is 20 ~ 30℃, and the overwintering temperature should be above 3℃.

Ming Fern likes warm, humid and semi-cloudy environments, and is not cold resistant. Ming fern is afraid of long-term exposure to strong light and high temperature, and is not resistant to drought and stagnant water. The suitable temperature for growth is 20-25℃. Winter temperature is not less than 10℃, less than 5℃, is susceptible to cold; When the temperature exceeds 35℃ in summer, the growth stops and the leaf-like stem turns yellow. It had better be with loose, fertile rotting leaf soil.

Ming Fern likes warm, humid and semi-cloudy environments, and has strong drought resistance and cold resistance. The soil requirements are not strict, like the sandy loam with good ventilation and drainage, rich in humus. The suitable temperature for growth is 20-30 ℃, and the overwintering temperature is 3℃. When the summer high temperature exceeds 35℃, the growth stops, and the leaves are yellow. Ming fern should be shaded appropriately to prevent sunlight exposure, and often spray water to keep the plants green and beautiful. Ming fern likes warm and humid environments, afraid of strong light and low temperature; Summer pays attention to shade, winter needs sufficient sunshine;Soil with loose, fertile leaf rot soil as well; Ming fern has strong cold resistance, winter temperature is not less than 5℃ can be safe wintering.

Ming Fern - one of the best indoor trees

Ming Fern Care

Ming Fern Temperature Care

Ming Fern likes slightly higher environment. The temperature of 20 to 30 degrees is suitable for Ming Fern. ming asparagus fern has a certain cold tolerance, in winter, it can tolerate low temperatures of three degrees.

Ming Fern Light Requirements

Ming Fern dose not like bright light, but it could not be put in completely dark environment. So, the half shade is the most suitable for it. In growth period, you need to put Ming Fern in the half shade, a little astigmatism can also be. Especially in summer, Ming Fern must be shaded. In winter, because the light will not be particularly strong, so you can try to put Ming Fern in a good light place. In summer, when the temperature exceeds 35℃, Ming Fern will stop growing, and the performance of the leaves are yellow, it is necessary to do a good job in time to shade, avoid strong light exposure to Ming Fern, and often spray water to the plant, keep the plant green and beautiful.

Ming Fern Watering 

Ming Fern is a kind of plant that likes wet, but also can't accumulate water. During the growth period of Ming Fern, sufficient water should be given to the plant to promote its growth. But pay attention to avoid basin soil water, otherwise it is easy to cause the occurrence of root rot. After the temperature gradually drops in autumn, the growth of the plant began to weaken, at this time should gradually reduce watering.

Ming Fern Soil Care

Ming Fern has certain requirements on soil aeration, drainage and nutrition. The soil with good quality is beneficial to the growth rate of Ming Fern. it is suitable to choose the sandy loam with loose ventilation, good drainage and rich humus.

Ming Fern Repotting

Ming Fern can be repotted generally 2-3 years later after its growth in the spring, and cut off too dense plants and long branches, so as to facilitate its ventilation and light. It should also pay attention to cut off dead branches, sick branches, etc.,  at any time to maintain the symmetrical shape of the plant beautiful.

Ming Fern Disease

"Root rot" may occur in Ming Fern. The disease spreads through the soil, so if left untreated, the entire root system can be affected. The effect of spray is better, such as armour frost evil frost spirit. In addition, if the disease is very serious, can be removed after the root pruning.

Ming Fern Insect Pests

On the whole, the occurrence frequency of pest in Ming Fern was low. Nevertheless, when hot and dry, may appear "starscream", "scale insect" etc. Generally, two or three sprays will do the job.

Ming Fern Toxicity

Ming Fern is non-toxic. Moreover, its effect of purifying environment is very strong.

Ming Fern Propagation

Ming Fern multiplicates in rows and can also be sown, but grows slowly at the seedling stage.

Watering should be sufficient during the growing season of Ming Fern, and should be gradually reduced when the temperature drops in the late autumn.In order to make the branches and leaves luxuriant, more nitrogen and potash fertilizer can be applied, about every 15 days. Artificial breeding like warm and humid and half shade environment, drought resistance, cold resistance is strong. The soil requirements are not strict, like the sandy loam with good ventilation and drainage, rich in humus.The suitable temperature for growth is 20-30 ℃, and the overwintering temperature is 3℃.

Ming Fern uses seeds to raise seedlings and propagate, and the germination rate can reach more than 90%. The latter half of the time when the cones are ripe, stacked up for 5 ~ 7 days, and then isolate for 3 ~ 4 days, beat and turn, the seeds come out, timely water selection, remove the empty grain debris, dry after the bag for winter. Ming fern has thick seed coat, slow germination, and should be sown early. The nursery soil with good drainage was selected and the soil was prepared with sufficient basal fertilizer. Before sowing, hasten bud treatment. Soak the seeds with cold water for 3 ~ 7 days (change the water during the soaking period), and then mix the seeds with slaked lime. After the seed coat cracks, the seeds can be sown. In mid-April, late April began to germinate unearthed, the seedlings of the year can reach 8 ~ 12 cm.

Ming Fern Disease Control

Ming Fern has few diseases and insect pests, but red spider and scale insects may occur in hot and dry conditions, so attention must be paid to spray control. Multiple rows of supplant reproduction, can also be sown, but the seedling growth is slow. Growing season should be fully watered, autumn temperature drops should gradually reduce watering. In order to make the branches and leaves luxuriant, more nitrogen and potash fertilizer can be applied, about every 15 days. Ming Fern has few diseases and insect pests, but red spider and scale insects may occur in hot and dry conditions, so attention must be paid to spray control. Ming Fern plant shape is regular, branches upright firm;Leaves were globular clumped and soft, verdant, both rigid and soft, loved by people.

Mainly leaf blight damage, can be sprayed with 50% carbendazim wettable powder 1000 times liquid.Insect insects have whitefly and scale insect, can use 40% oxidation east fruit milk not 1000 times the liquid spray kill.

In case of whitefly or scale insects, it can be sprayed with 40% oxidized diethoate emulsion 1000 times liquid. For Ming Fern potted plants, leaf rot soil, soil and river sand are often mixed in equal quantities as the substrate, and slightly mature base fertilizer is added when planting. Spring and summer for its growth season, need enough water, but should not make basin soil water, so as not to root rot; Should reduce watering quantity gradually after autumn end, make basin soil maintain micro wet can. In order to make the branches and leaves grow luxuriantly, the growth season should pay attention to supplement nutrients, generally apply liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month.It likes half shade, hot summer should pay attention to shade, prevent scorching sun exposure, so as not to burn branches and leaves or yellow.

Ming Fern has few diseases and insect pests, but red spider and scale insects may occur in hot and dry conditions, so attention must be paid to spray control. Multiple rows of supplant reproduction, can also be sown, but the seedling growth is slow. Growing season should be fully watered, autumn temperature drops should gradually reduce watering.

Ming Fern Distribution Region

Ming Fern is native to Natal, South Africa, and is widely cultivated around the world.

Uses of Ming Fern

Potted ornamental

Ming Fern is very suitable for potted ornamental, warm ground and can also be arranged in flower beds. Its cultivation management is simple, and good negative resistance, suitable for small and medium-sized pot planting, used for indoor layout; Ming fern is also an excellent material for arranging flowers and leaves.

The family pot

Ming Fern plant shape is beautiful, leaves are verdant, loved by people. Potted plant is displayed on the tea table, desk, and adds a few minutes of Confucian elegant gas for the bedroom.

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