5 Tips on Growing Ferns ...

By Aprille

5 Tips on Growing Ferns ...

I adore seeing the fuzzy little fiddle heads as they poke through the dirt, which is one of the main reasons I first started growing ferns. I also find them very easy to care for. Here are 5 tips on growing ferns for you to use or pass on to someone else! Some refer to indoor varieties and other tips are for outdoor ferns.

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5

Keep Them Moist

Whether your ferns are indoor or outdoor plants, they love the moisture. I water my outdoor ferns daily when it is extremely hot. I check the soil of my indoor plants every couple of days to make sure it is wet enough. I find setting all the pots in the bathtub and turning on a warm shower for them works great! Just watch out for excessive amounts of dirt going down the drain.

4

Watch for Fronds Growing out the Drainage Holes

When my hanging ferns begin to get root-bound, they start to send fronds out of the holes in the bottom of the pot. I tend to notice this towards the end of summer. I simply get another hanging basket, chop the fern in two with a sharp shovel, and place each half in a separate basket. I usually end up giving one of these plants to a neighbor.

3

Keep Them out of Direct Sunlight

My indoor plants seem to do best hanging in the kitchen window, since the sun never directly shines in. They like lots of light, but not direct sunshine. The outdoor ferns are underneath large trees and do excellent in this location.

2

Add Organic Material to the Soil

Peat moss is an excellent additive for soil around your ferns and in hanging baskets. I like to add some sphagnum moss to the bottom of the hanging basket. The moss not only keeps water from rushing out of the bottom of the container, but also holds some extra water for the fern to use later.

1

Watch for Deformed Leaves

Leaves that begin to look as if something has been eating them are often the sign of overwatering. I have yet to have any pests on my ferns, but I’m guilty of overwatering my indoor ferns from time to time.

Growing ferns is fairly easy, as long as you don’t drown or sunburn them. I’ve finally found a place in my home where the indoor ferns thrive, so I rarely have any problems with them. Do you have a fern that you’ve found to be troublesome? What types of ferns have you had the most success with?

Top Photo Credit: B℮n

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