fern Dydimoclaena Truncatula

Didymochlaena truncatula, commonly known as the mahogany fern, is a large and stately evergreen fern native to wet tropical and subtropical regions across Africa, Madagascar, Asia, and the Americas. It features a short erect rhizome forming a caudex up to 25 cm in diameter. The fronds grow in tufts, erect to arching, reaching lengths of up to 2.5 meters, with bipinnate, oblong-elliptic lamina and pinnules that are almost rectangular with entire lower margins and irregular toothed upper margins. Young fronds are mahogany red-brown and mature to a deep glossy green.

Description
Rhizome: Short erect up to 25 cm diameter with pale to dark brown scales.

Fronds: Tufted, erect to arching, firmly herbaceous to leathery, bipinnate up to 2.5 m long.

Pinnae and Pinnules: Alternate pinnae with dimidiate, rectangular pinnules, apex rounded to truncated.

Color: Young fronds deep reddish-brown turning vivid green when mature.

Sori and Indusia: Sori are broadly elliptic, with brown peltate indusia with pale rims.

Caring
Light: Prefers bright, semi-shaded environments; tolerates higher light than many ferns but avoids direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch.

Temperature: Ideal range is approximately 12 to 22°C (54 to 72°F). Sensitive to temperatures below 10°C.

Humidity: Requires high humidity (65-85%), essential to prevent browning and drying of leaves.

Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, using soft, low-lime water. Allow the top third of soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Fertilization: Occasional feeding during growth with diluted balanced fertilizer or orchid fertilizer.

Air Circulation: Good airflow improves health; avoid placing near dry heat sources like radiators.

Potting: Requires well-draining, humus-rich soil; prefers stable, protected locations.

Adaptability
Adaptable to a variety of tropical and rainforest terrarium conditions.

Robust and more adaptable than some delicate ferns, tolerating varying light conditions while preferring humid environments.

Can be grown terrestrially or epiphytically (able to grow on other plants).

Slow growth but eventually can reach up to 2 meters in diameter, making it suitable for large rooms or conservatories.

Prefers protection from drought and cold; sensitive to transplant shock but recovers with stable humidity and moisture.

Growing Conditions
Habitat: Naturally found in deeply shaded, moist locations such as wet evergreen forests and stream margins, mostly between altitudes of 300 and 1800 meters.

Soil: Prefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil.

Light Exposure: Bright indirect light or semi-shade, avoiding harsh direct sun.

Watering: Moderate and regular watering to maintain moisture, avoiding drought stress.

Humidity: High humidity environment, suitable for tropical terrariums or greenhouses.

Propagation: By spores or offsets, with spores visible as brown spots on the underside of fronds when mature