The Indoor Gardener: Reconsider Fabulous Ferns

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janet4784

I keep a potted fern behind the kitchen sink, south and west-facing windows, and pour rinse water on it. It's a great way to re-use water rather than letting it go down the drain. I don't give it any food other than the bits left in the rinse water., and it's thrived for years. I also put plastic bags and wrap on it to dry, and the fern loves the humidity.

1 Like March 8, 2012 at 10:22AM

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CAROLE MEYER

I love the big fluffy ferns....only problem is when they start to look tired...it is so hard to throw the poor things out!

1 Like March 8, 2012 at 8:16PM

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Debbie Smith

To address both "messy" and "tired" in regards to ferns...ferns are a favorite of mine. Boston ferns are easy to start with, but they are messy in the winter. I simply schedule time with a pair of scissors, a garbage can and a hand vac about once of month through the winter. Fronds are going to brown, it's just what they do. In the spring, when it gets above 50 degrees at night, I take them outside for the season and they will rejuvenate very quickly, especially if you gently feed and use non-chlorinated water (rain water, filtered water). For the cost of them, I certainly don't blame you if you throw them out, but if you become attached to your plants, this is my method for keeping them going, even if they need to rest a bit in the winter. If you stick with your ferns for years, you'll get to see them become big and glorious, like green muppet monsters, but you will have to get after them with the scissors in the winter, there is no avoiding that mess. Maybe you will find it worth the trouble. I don't consider my front porch complete without my ferns and I am happy to bring the greenery inside in the winter. I do have a full time job and sometimes I do my plant care at a full run, splashing water everywhere and questioning which mental health disorder I must have to keep this many plants going (the ferns are the least of it), but when you get a peaceful moment sitting with your plants, it more than makes up for it.