A Natural Air Purifier: Everything About Crispy Wave

Crispy Wave is a great addition to your living space thanks to its pleasing color and unique structure and provides health benefits as a natural air purifier. This beautiful fern is easy to maintain and will require different levels of care during the year.

Light

Crispy Wave requires medium, indirect light for optimal growth and development.

Since this fern grows best in shady areas, it would be ideal to keep it in an East or North-facing window. If the plant is placed in front of a South or West facing window, make sure to provide shade.

Avoid exposure to light for extended periods: it will prevent the distinctive green coloured leaves from becoming pale and protect the plant from burn marks.

Water

It is always important to keep the soil moist, preferably evenly throughout. Never allow the soil to become dry to the touch.

Watering is required often while the plant is in its active growing period (April-September). Be sure not to over-water. If the plant is sitting in water, it can lead to pathogen problems.

Reduce the frequency of watering in the winter during the plant’s dormant period.

Fertilizer

Crispy Wave is a slow-growing plant and doesn't require as much fertilization as most houseplants.

Fertilizer is required from April to September, while the plant is growing. Once a month, use a 24-8-16 formula diluted to half the recommended strength.

There is no need to feed Crispy Wave during the winter while the plant is resting. Don't overfeed as this could burn the roots, and only use liquid fertilizer.

Temperature

Crispy Wave will grow slower when the temperature is not within the range of 70⁰-90⁰ Fahrenheit or 21⁰-32⁰ Celsius during the day and about 10 degrees cooler at night.

Leaves can become damaged by hot or cold drafts, and the base of the leaves will begin to turn yellow when the temperature is too warm.

Humidity

A moderately humid area is ideal for this fern. A humidifier is the best way to increase humidity.

Another technique involves placing the plant in a tray filled with pebbles and adding water just below the tops of the pebbles. Make sure to avoid the soil of becoming saturated with water, which can lead to rotting. The tray will require frequent refills to replace water lost through evaporation.

Never mist Crispy Wave's leaves as this could damage them.

Soil, Roots, And Repotting

Once Crispy Wave has grown to a point where the roots fill the existing container, the plant can be re-potted to the next size container.

It is important to choose a pot that has drip holes at the bottom. Use any all-purpose or tropical soil mixture with good drainage.

And remember: usually, most plants are healthy when they have nice white roots, but this is not true for Crispy Wave. This fern has roots that are brown, and not white.

Pests and Diseases

Crispy Wave is vulnerable to pests such as Mealybugs, scale, and Aphids. To treat the plant, use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol.

Excessive watering can lead to root rotting and other fungal problems. If such an issue occurs, check the soil and pot for proper drainage.

Crispy Wave's leaves should always be kept dry since misting might encourage bacterial and fungal infections.

Propagation

Crispy Wave can't be propagated by plant division like many other ferns. Under absolutely perfect conditions, tiny baby offsets might appear below mature leaves, and you can propagate Crispy Wave by spores and tissue culture methods.

Lay the mature leaves on a piece of paper or paper bag. After a few days, spores can be collected. Then, grow the spores under glass or plastic, placing them on some moist peat moss.

Keep the peat moss in a cool, shady environment during propagation, and mist it daily. Once large enough, the plantlets can be transferred to individual pots.