Question

A lush, green fern plant is moved to a new type of soil. Within two weeks, the fern looks dried out and is starting to die. Around the base of the plant, there is a fine, white layer on the ground. What type of soil has the fern been moved to

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The presence of a fine, white layer around the base of the fern, coupled with the plant looking dried out and starting to die, could indicate that the fern has been moved to soil with poor drainage and high salt content. This white layer is possibly a salt residue left behind as water evaporates from the soil.

Excess salts in the soil can lead to water imbalances within the plant, causing it to lose water faster than it can absorb it. This can result in wilting and the appearance of a dried-out plant.

To remedy this situation, it's essential to transplant the fern to a soil type that provides better drainage and has lower salt levels. Additionally, you may need to flush the soil with clean, distilled water to help leach out excess salts if the problem persists.

Answer 2

The fern plant is likely experiencing stress due to high soil salinity indicated by the white layer of accumulated salt at its base, which can lead to dehydration in plants that prefer moist environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that the fern plant started to appear dried out and is beginning to die after being moved to a new type of soil, and there is a fine, white layer at the base of the plant, it is likely that the fern has been moved to a type of soil with high salinity, often characterized by salt accumulation, which can lead to a phenomenon known as 'salt burn' or 'fertilizer burn'. Fern plants generally thrive in moist and well-drained environments with an abundant source of water and might struggle in high salt conditions, as they don't possess mechanisms like those of desert plants that resist or minimize water loss. The fine, white layer around the base suggests a buildup of salt, which can dehydrate the plant by drawing water away from the roots, being harmful to ferns which require damp and cool conditions, prevalent in the understory of temperate forests or other humid regions.