Anyone here grow houseplant ferns? How do you take care of them?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I am starting to sense that ferns as houseplants isn't for the average homeowner. They need extremely high humidity and lots of water. I got 2 adiantum capillus-veneris a year and a half ago and one died about 6 months ago, probably due to underwatering. The other one is doing ok but I am not sure how when I killed the other one. When that one fern died I started watering my other one more frequently. I potted them into 50/50 peat and sand. I place the pots on a plastic container with pebbles in it filled with water. I have it in a sunny east facing window. You can see some fried up leaves here.

I am getting married soon and moving into an apartment in July and would like to take the plant with me but I am afraid that the change in environmental conditions will kill it. So would like any advice on how to 100% keep them alive anywhere.

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Comments (5)

socks
5 years ago
Here's a helpful youtube video for you. The only thing I would say differently is NOT to put a coffee filter in the bottom when repotting, as she advises. I think your fern is one of the more difficult to grow successfully. It looks quite wet, so even tho' it loves dampness and humidity, you don't want to overwater either. Good luck and congratulations on your coming wedding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxDgk1CusB8
Heruga (7a Northern NJ) thanked socks
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Ferns, maidenhairs in particular, are some of the most challenging of houseplants to grow well. They can certainly tolerate low light but but dislike strong, bright light and any sort of dryness - dry soil or dry air. And high temps that most houses seem to foster in winter.

The good news is your fern is fully hardy outside, so you can always move it out to a more suitable location!!

And nothing wrong with using a coffee filter, piece of cheesecloth or pantyhose, piece of window screen or any other similar type appliance to keep potting soil from migrating out of drain holes. A very common and widely accepted practice. Does nothing to impede or alter drainage.
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Heruga (7a Northern NJ)
Original Author
5 years ago
I thought it was marginally hardy to zone 7. And I want to grow this as an indoor plant. Sure I’ll bring them outside during the growing season but They’re staying inside for the winter.

So guess this fern is really difficult to grow indoors huh. So should I be proud that I’ve managed to keep this fern alive for 1.5 years? Lol. And I don’t think these ferns are that susceptible to rot from wet soil looking back from my experience with it. Sometimes after I water it the water in the pebble pot adds up higher than the ferns pot. And I just leave it like that And nothing happened to it.
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I grow lots of different varieties of ferns outside in NJ/Zone 7 (a few of them are actually evergreen); indoors, I can suggest Stag Horn ferns and Bird's Nest ferns (there are a few different varieties of Bird's Nest (I like Asplenium nidus and antiquum). Also, Nephrolepis biserrata (Macho fern) is a another one that is good for indoors..., have had mine for years! I also have Dicksonia antarctica (one of the tree ferns). I overwinter my A. antiquum and D. antarctica in my "cold" greenhouse/garage.
dbarron
5 years ago
No, they grow in constant wet seeps...I don't think they avoid being wet at all :)

Anyone here grow houseplant ferns? How do you take care of them?

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socks

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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Anyone here grow houseplant ferns? How do you take care of them?

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socks

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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Heruga (7a Northern NJ)Original Author

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dbarron

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Heruga (7a Northern NJ)
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