Ferns are very common plants used both as houseplants and as green garden plants. Present on earth since prehistoric times, there are tens of thousands of different species of ferns. Their appearance varies from light and delicate to dense and bushy, but their needs and care remain similar. Ferns are typically sturdy plants that have few needs, but still require some degree of care to become truly thriving.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Grow Ferns at Home
Step 1. Choose a suitable location
Ferns require lots of shade and indirect sunlight. Place your plants near a north-facing window; windows facing east and west let in too much direct sunlight. If you don't have a north-facing window, choose one that faces south instead. Keep the plants a little away from the window so that they get mostly ambient light.
Step 2. The humidity must be quite high around the ferns
Ferns are moisture-loving plants. There are a couple of ways to raise the humidity level for your fern: use the double vase technique or install a humidifier in the room. If you opt for the double pot, get a second pot that is a little larger than the one you planted the ferns in. Fill this second vase with moss well soaked in water and then tuck the vase with the ferns into it. Cover the soil and the rim of the inner pot with wet moss, and water it frequently to keep it moist at all times.
- If you use a humidifier, place it near your ferns for best results.
- You can spray ferns by spraying barely warm water with a sprayer, but allow a few days between treatments to prevent leaf spots from forming.
Step 3. Keep the temperature constant
Most houseplant ferns are tropical in origin, although not all require a tropical climate. Make sure the temperature in your home (or at least the room where you keep the ferns) is around 21 degrees. Ferns can withstand slightly lower temperatures, up to 15 degrees, but they don't grow well at low temperatures. When in doubt, keep the temperature high.
You could place your ferns in the bathroom; often taking a shower or bath helps to keep the temperature and humidity higher than in the rest of the house
Step 4. Water regularly
Ferns like a humid atmosphere, but they want the soil to be damp as well. Make sure the earth is always moist, but never too wet. It is better to water with a little water on a daily basis than to give a lot of water every now and then.
Step 5. Fertilize your ferns once a month
Go to your local nursery and look for a specific houseplant fertilizer for ferns; if in doubt, ask the clerk. Spray this fertilizer once a month to provide nutrients that aren't present in the soil. Do not fertilize for the first six months after placing the ferns in the pot.
Step 6. Remove dead or not perfectly healthy fronds
Ferns are prone to certain diseases, but they tend to be hardy and can usually survive. If your plant has any disease, cut off the damaged parts. Even if the fern begins to suffer because it has been neglected, with a pair of shears it cuts off the dry or diseased parts. If the entire plant has been affected, it is best to weed it out before the disease spreads to other house plants.
Step 7. Repot the ferns after a year or so
Over time the ferns grow, and the pot they are in is no longer enough. The time between the various transplants varies according to the conditions of the fern: sometimes they will need to be repotted even after only 6 months.
Method 2 of 2: Growing Ferns in the Garden
Step 1. Plant your ferns in a suitable area
If you already have ferns in your garden, you won't need to move them unless they're sick. Ferns want a lot of shade and humidity, and they grow well in the shade of large trees. Plant (or transplant) the ferns in a north-facing area that does not receive direct sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight tends to dry out the leaves.
Step 2. Keep the soil moist
If it doesn't rain regularly in your area, you'll need to water your ferns daily to keep the soil moist. Sprinkle a thick layer of pine needles or mulch at the base of the ferns; the ideal thickness is 5-7 cm. This will help retain moisture and slightly raise the evaporation rate, thus keeping the air around the ferns a little more humid.
Step 3. Fertilize the ferns once a month
Six months after planting, you can start fertilizing the ferns to encourage growth. Choose an organic fertilizer to spray and apply it to your ferns according to the manufacturer's directions. In addition, you can add a layer of compost to the soil and mulch with leaves to create a more favorable environment for growth.
Step 4. Cut away the damaged fronds
Ferns don't have many natural enemies in the open air, other than snails and one or two fairly rare diseases. However, if you see that your fern has damaged or diseased fronds, grab a pair of shears and trim away. This practice is to keep the rest of the plant healthy, and in the case of a disease it helps to prevent it from spreading to other plants.
Step 5. Transplant as needed
Over time, ferns can grow to become bulky, and then they need to be divided or transplanted. To subdivide a large fern, carefully dig until the roots are pulled out of the ground. Always with caution, separate the plant into different parts; ferns usually tend to grow in clumps, which makes subdivision easier. Then bury the smaller plants and water them abundantly.
Advice
A healthy fern can be split every 2 to 3 years
Warnings
- Keep indoor ferns away from air conditioning jets or other potential causes of drying.
- Mealybugs, pseudococci and mites can infest ferns. The use of pesticides is not recommended for ferns, so the best way to remove pests is to shake the plant to drop them or pick them up by hand.
- Direct or constant sunlight can cause fern fronds to wither and dry out.
