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Kochedyzhnik – herbaceous plants for open ground
An unpretentious herb for open ground, kochedzhnik belongs to the genus of ferns. It got its unusual name from the old Slavic word “kochedyga”, which means a gnarled root. According to legend, witches used it in their rituals.
Varieties of kochedyzhnik
The kochedzhnik family has about 200 names, but no more than 10 are used for cultivation in gardens. Among them there are both undersized species growing up to 20 cm and tall specimens up to 2 m. The fern has a powerful straight or spreading root and leaves of an unusual shape – frond , on the back of which there are tubercles with spores. Thanks to the continuous growth of leaves, the plant retains a picturesque appearance until late autumn.
According to legend, with the help of a herbaceous plant for open ground, the witch’s hawk used to spoil
The most popular plant varieties:
- female kochedyzhnik;
- Alpine cochiner;
- broadleaf kochedyzhnik;
- Chinese kochedyzhnik;
- burgundy lays;
- kopedyzhnik nipponsky.
Ferns of this family grow in tropical jungles and coniferous forests of central Russia. In natural conditions, they prefer shady places with moist soil, mountain slopes and the shores of water bodies.
Features of growing a kochedyzhnik
Kochedzhnik is an undemanding, frost-resistant plant. The best place for him is a poorly lit area with fertile, moist soil. Top dressing is done only if the soil is too poor. In open areas, where the sun predominates, the cabbage skimmer loses its beauty and grows slowly. It does not tolerate sharp temperature fluctuations and gusty winds, since it can damage fragile leaves. Caring for the kochedzhnik consists in regular watering, especially during the heat, and covering the ground with mulch.
Cabbage leaves love spraying. Rainwater is the best option as it does not contain salts.
For breeding long-rhizome varieties of kochedyzhnik, part of the root with buds is cut off, transplanted into a separate hole 20 cm deep and watered.
Varieties with short roots are bred by dividing rosettes with root segments. Breeding is also possible by layering: in June, the leaves of the kochedyzhnik are bent and pinned to the ground, and in the fall the young are transplanted to a permanent place and covered for the winter, since the sprouts do not have time to get strong enough before the cold weather.
Spores are sown in shallow containers with fertile soil moistened with boiled water and covered with glass. Sprouted seedlings are settled in a separate container, and then planted on a personal plot.
Kochedzhnik has a decorative purpose. He looks great alone under trees, on the banks of reservoirs and in flower bouquets. Kochedzhnik grows in one place up to 15 years, gives self-seeding many times – for this he is loved by the laziest gardeners.