Help — Delta Maidenhair Fern Dying!
I bought my Delta Maidenhair Fern just over a month ago (4/17, it's 5/18 today). The first picture is from the day I brought her home. I know a good deal about plants- I have over 40 happy, thriving plants inside and in front of of my 900 sqft townhouse- but I was NOT prepared for this picky fern.
I live in US zone 8a, which is pretty dry. She was thriving in the greenhouse I got her from, but it's been a constant uphill battle inside my apartment where my housemate runs the humidity-sucking AC more often than I would. I keep a cool mist ultrasonic humidifier on the plant for at least 12 hours a day usually, and I keep the soil moist. The plant is too big for a terrarium without spending serious money on one, so last week I moved her into a glass bowl with the hopes that it would increase humidity (I had her on a pebble tray previously). There's usually not standing water on the bottom, but I had watered RIGHT before taking this.
I need help. I've spent hours researching the care of this plant. I only have south-facing windows, but I keep her 8 ft from the window and out of direct light. The new fronds keep dying.
The 'underbrush' is looking worse for wear, too (Ignore the clothes hanger, I used that because I heard the leaves were sensitive to the oils in human hands).
I also keep seeing fronds that have this coloring. I'm not sure what would be causing this. The plant was fertilized a bit over a month ago by the greenhouse company. One mistake I did make was watering with tap water, would this have caused this sort of discoloration? I've since switched to distilled / rainwater only. Or could this be a sign of root rot?
I keep the soil moist to the touch of the surface, should I be letting it dry out an inch or so? Any advice is greatly appreciated. I haven't killed a plant in years so I'm pretty worried about her.
Comments (9)
Jesse Knight
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Woodwardia orientalis Fern as house plant
Comments (25)I moved the plant to a window area and the sun came in and burned the leaves. I thought it was dead. I moved to another window that is frosted and it looked like a small part of it is going to live. But a large part of it, just looks stone cold dead. I don't know I should unpot the fern and cut away the dead part and replant the living small bit in a smaller pot? Woodwardia orientalis is the most challenging plant I have ever grown. I don't why they are so difficult. It may be why they so hard to find. I think I could replace it on Oct. 11, at the big fern sale in golden gate park again, but I don't know if I will due to the fact, it just wants to die, and I really need a green house first before proceeding with Woodwardia orientalis. This post was edited by tropical_thought on Sat, Aug 9, 14 at 16:14...See MoreHelp with my ferns!
Comments (9)Boston ferns can start to look pretty ratty and sad for a while when there is a sudden change in their light/humidity if they originally came from a greenhouse, but they will adjust if kept indoors. They will start to grow new smaller fronds that can survive better in it's new lower light/humidity environment. It will slowly shed it's older fronds over time and grow new ones, but you'll need a little patient because it takes a while for the transformation. One frond browns here, two there, brown tips falling everywhere!Just pull, or cut them off as they dry up. Water well when the top inch just starts to feel close to, or near to almost dry, but not dried out yet. Keep it on the moist side at all times, not wet and give it indirect light. I water mine once a week, a little less in winter. No fertilizer for your boston fern now (use half or less strength when you do) only in the spring and summer months now and then, but not until it starts to grow lots of new fronds, fertilizer will not "cure" a stressed or ailing plant. I never did well with Maiden ferns in the house, so I never replaced the one that dried up almost overnight like a tumble weed. They are VERY HIGH humidity plants and don't seem to adjust well indoors. They would probably do very well in either a greenhouse, or terrarium. Mine after it went through the drying "Ugly Duckling" stage... Billy Rae...See MoreRabbits Foot Fern dying
Comments (6)I think your fern is over potted (but I'm totally guessing). What I've read about these ferns is that they grow on trees, so they don't actually grow in any soil. I am guessing they would prefer to be root bound and not have very much soil around their roots. Do you live where it is warm enough to put it outside? I took mine outside today because the high for today is mid 60s. I'm no expert, but I bought mine last summer on the Lowe's almost-dead rack for 50 cents. I left it outside all summer and only brought it inside if the temperature was going to be in the 40s or lower. Also, most of the ferns that I have take more light than what is indicated by information on the internet. I've killed two silver-dollar maidenhair ferns, but so far my cheapo rabbit's foot fern is looking good....See More'Fritz Luthii' Maidenhair Fern not doing so hot
Comments (3)It may need to be in a spot with high humidity. and in shade. Use distilled water or r/o water instead of the aquarium water. I would flood it with distilled water to flush out any residue from the aquarium water. Maidenhair ferns are really sensitive to salts in their soil mix. For a quick fix on maintaining humidity use a large clear bag to cover the plant and pot....See More
aviolet6
5 years agoJesse Knight
5 years agoJesse Knight
5 years agoJesse Knight
5 years agoupdate: here is the terrarium I built (I wasn't able to cut the acrylic panels, so I made do). Unfortunately I didn't have the terrarium charcoal that's often recommended so I added extra gravel.
aviolet6
5 years agoJesse Knight
5 years ago
aviolet6