A Fern is a perennial, which means it's quite a tough plant. Theyre not made to sit in direct sunlight. Ferns make for great hanging plants in bathrooms with good light, owing to their high humidity environment. Thats right, coal and oil come from dead plants dead ferns and not dinosaurs. All rights reserved. Bushy ferns can be difficult to water. In order to keep the air around your ferns moist, mist them often. You can help your plant by correcting your watering schedule. Direct sunlight will leave burn marks on your plant or make its environment too warm for it to be happy. 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Take a peek at the care-card in your potted fern to double check that it doesn't require bright sunlight (very few do) and then choose a spot with indirect or dapple light for your indoor fern to thrive! Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Before ferns, there were only mosses, lichens, algae, and fungi and then around 360MYA, the landmasses of the earth collided, forming the supercontinent Pangaea. If your indoor fern is looking dry or brown around the edges, chances are it could use more humidity in the air! Beyond these basics, each genus of ferns has more specialized requirements. This compacted soil will prevent the excess water from draining away as easily and will also block oxygen from reaching your Fern's roots. This will help to retain more moisture, but also provides drainage and keeps the soil light. You might be more used to seeing and growing ferns outdoors, but many of them also make beautiful houseplants. Keep it damp, not soggy. They naturally do well in bathrooms, thanks to steamy showers, but you can also mist their foliage with room temperature water once or twice a day. It grows rapidly and makes a dramatic presentation. Ferns are a great way to make your house feel more like a forest, add some texture to your house with the complex leaves, and serve as a great piece of decoration. Watering is the most important part of taking care of your Fern. Direct sunlight will make them lose their leaves or turn their fronds yellow. The fast regeneration coupled with their air-purifying properties makes them one of our favourite plants. You can read more about the type of sunlight each direction gives you in "Does the sunlight direction matter for your houseplant?". By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. In the winter, the sun isn't as strong and lower in the sky during the day. You might ask yourself if your Fern is toxic to your pets and small children. Try using a watering can with a long spout to direct the water to the center of the plant. These ferns would be well suited to cooler parts of the house but wont survive in rooms that are too well heated. These heat sources dry your Fern out too much too quickly and will slowly, sometimes not so slowly, kill your Fern. This means that you should move your Fern closer to windows to give it some extra sunlight exposure. Protect them from any sudden temperature changes in the opposite direction by keeping ferns away from fireplaces, air vents, and other heat sources, too. Lets learn more about growing ferns indoors. Misting your fern everyday, or setting out a tray with water and pebbles nearby, is a great way to keep it happy and green. In the home, this means giving them a steady supply of weak fertilizer during the growing season. All ferns love to be in a more moist environment. Keep in mind that bromeliads are tropical; they require warmer temperatures of 60-70 F. (15-21 C.) and some moisture. Please try again! If yours is right next to a window, it might be drying out in the sun. If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide or donate a plant in order to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with. Now you're ready to start adopting all those beautiful ferns you've fallen in love with! Wandering Jew: Types, Care, and Propagation, Betel Leaf Plant: Care, Benefits, and Propagation, Peace lily: Care, Tips, Benefits , and Propagation. Green up your home with a graceful, tropical fern. Ensure that the soil is moist at all times, like a wrung out sponge. If you have an Asparagus Fern, pay attention: Your plant isn't actually a fern and needs bright, direct sunlight to be happy. The perfect place for your Fern is a spot in the middle of a room with a south or west facing window where it doesn't get any direct sunlight. You shouldn't put it in a spot where it gets direct sunlight as this will make the plant too warm and will dry it out. There are many houseplants that thrive in low light. Often we imagine that all houseplants need the brightest light possible, however for ferns that is very seldom true. Its also good to remember that ferns are used to living in the shade of bigger trees. Nevertheless, it can also be from using hard cold water or the humidity is too low. This spread led to the explosion in fern diversity at the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, rightly dubbed The Age of Ferns. So make sure your ferns are well hydrated. Lush green ferns are a home decor favourite for indoor plant lovers! Learn simple techniques for taking care of indoor ferns. I hope it helps you to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! Most Ferns are non-toxic to your pets. Another option is to keep your ferns in the bathroom, which will usually be the most humid room of your dwelling. These are the topics we're going to look at in this plant care guide: Let's dive right in to explore everything there is to know about your Fern to help it thrive and make your house feel like a forest. Most ferns like an evenly moist soil with regular waterings. Some ferns to consider are button ferns, maidenhair ferns, holly ferns, asparagus ferns and staghorn ferns. Other ferns, like the Maidenhair Fern or the Button Fern like to be in soil that's always moist. Yellow leaves: it is more often than not a case of overwatering. The Fern is a group of plants that on average aren't very toxic to pets and people, but there are a few Ferns that are toxic. The bright green fronds come in all sorts of colour varieties, shapes and sizes. You can repot your ferns in the springtime, but only if their roots are filling the pot. Dropping leaves: Its normal for the fern to drop leaves occasionally. Don't fertilize them during the winter months, because most ferns won't be actively growing then. When your pet eats this plant, it can start to vomit, have diarrhea, and get abdominal pain. The second most important thing for your plant is sunlight exposure. Otherwise, justscrape off the top layer of compost and replace it with fresh compost. Ferns purify the air, retaining ancestral genes from when the earths atmosphere was more unfavourable than it is today. Their fronds will quickly turn brown, and they will begin to drop leaves. All beginner-friendly plants to get you started, All plants that you can safely keep around your pets, Learn how to grow your plants in different ways. To water a staghorn fern, simply dunk the entire arrangement into a bucket of water several times. If you pet has eaten the Asparagus Fern, make sure to call your veterinarian immediately. On average, you shouldn't fertilize your Fern between the end of September and the beginning of March. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. If your fern is looking brown all over, try misting it more and see if it improves over the next few weeks. Fits pots During the growing season this sunlight is often too harsh, but it's fine during the winter. Most ferns are forest or woodland plants and have tender, delicate roots adapted to the light forest soil, which is rich in leaf mold and decayed vegetable matter. If your ferns are in a windowless room, provide light from a gardening bulb or fluorescent strip. Provide your ferns with consistent water and humidity. There was an error processing your request. But the Asparagus Fern is toxic and should be kept out of reach for them. You can add a few drops to the water you use for misting the fern. Usually, a north- or east-facing window provides the right amount of light for ferns. Change the way you look at this most ancient flower-free plant family. Touch the soil and water your fern if the top feels dry. Your Fern won't use the fertilizer and it'll stay behind in the pot. The Fern thrives in indirect sunlight. However, few ferns can withstand full midday sun and will quickly begin to turn brown. Ferns can completely regrow from the crown. During the day it shouldn't be warmer than 22 degrees celsius (72 F) and during the night it should ideally stay below 16 degrees Celsius (60 F). Spruce up your outdoor space with products handpicked by HGTV editors. West Coast Gardens. Graphic wallpaper, a pedestal table and Danish modern chairs give this home office a retro Seventies vibe. Ferns like the same temperatures you do. The temperature in an average house is actually slightly too warm for a Fern, so it's a good idea to find a colder spot in your house for this plant. As new growth comes in, the older leaves at the bottom will die off. A good sign that your fern has outgrown its container is if you can see roots emerging through the drainage hole, or if the plant is slightly elevated out of the soil. Pruning, watering, repotting, oh my! Move it somewhere less bright. Take a look at all our ferns in our online shop here. They are not used for gathering nourishment. Ferns are one of the oldest plants, dating back to prehistoric times. Earlier in this plant care guide, we've discovered that your Fern loves to be in a moist environment, so we'll need soil that can retain moisture for many days. You can mix your own potting soil by getting general indoor potting soil, and adding peatmoss and some sand to it. If you've always got the urge to water your houseplants, ferns will do well under your care. This means that there is less sunlight coming in through the windows and your house is darker during the day. If your home is dry, mist your fern regularly or put it on a tray filled with pebbles and a little water. Ferns are relatively easy to grow; however, drafts, dry air, and temperature extremes wont help. Start with a large waterproof container. Those ferns from tropical regions truly appreciate 60-70 F (15-21 C.). If you have pets, make sure to check if your specific Fern is toxic or not and take measures to protect both your pets and your Fern. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. The shady tree canopy stops the sun from evaporating all of their water and drying out the soil. When the leaves getting crispy and brown are in the centre of your fern, it is usually because of overwatering. There can be a few different reasons why fern leaves go brown. Popular ferns like the Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis) is non-toxic to cats and dogs. If it's dry, give your fern a drink, and if it's still damp, wait a couple more days. And if you notice that your fern isn't growing as quickly as it used to, try dividing it in half with a garden trowel before repotting so the plant's roots can spread out more. When you purchase a brand-new bag of soil from the plant shop, it's most likely filled with fertilizer for the first 100 days. He is the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home," and his writing has also appeared in the Chicago Tribune,and Better Homes & Gardens, among others. Newsletters are sent once a week and you may unsubscribe at any time. This sitting area is boho chic with layers of colorful fabrics and pillows, a basket for storage and a richly textured wall hanging. Most ferns you'll find as houseplants hail from tropical or sub-tropical regions, so they'll start to suffer when temperatures dip lower than 50F. Thank you for reading this post! Ferns are one of the oldest plants, dating back to prehistoric times. April 24, 2019 If you notice your pet has chewed on your Asparagus Fern keep on eye on them and call your veterinarian when your pet is starting to throw up. Follow these steps to put more green in your gardenand your wallet. For nearly all ferns, new growth comes from the centre. Below we give you the basic tips and tricks to keep your fern looking happy and healthy. Indirect sunlight means that your plant doesn't get any direct sunlight on its leaves through a window. In winter, make sure your ferns aren't too close to a window or door where cold drafts might hit them. An individual ferns place of origin and adaptability will determine how high or low of a temperature the fern needs. Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study.