Hand Fern Care

aily watering will help. Resting potted ferns on water-filled saucers or trays that contain a layer of pebbles or broken crockery is another simple way of keeping the humidity high. Just make sure that the bottoms of the pots rest above the water, not in it. Soggy fern roots can lead to rot and untimely death.

Feed your indoor fern after its first six months with a liquid houseplant fertilizer at half-strength once a month. Too much fertilizer will burn the leaves, causing them to turn brown, and leaving you with no choice but to cut off those fronds.

Ferns need average, indirect light because direct sunlight can damage the fronds. Move your plant to a window facing north if it is in direct sun.

When planting your ferns, choose a light, fluffy soil mix that contains plenty of organic matter, but not enough to make the soil so heavy and dense that it does not drain well. Most packaged houseplant mediums should work well as long as they are rich in porous organic materials such as peat moss or leaf mold. Adding coarse sand or perlite will allow water to flow through freely.

Ferns prefer daytime temperatures no higher than 70 degrees and evening temperatures from 50 to 60 degrees. Consider moving your fern to a cool room during the evening if its current room stays warmer.

Both plastic and clay pots are suitable for ferns, with those in plastic pots requiring less frequent watering. Pots should be large enough to accommodate the roots with an extra inch of space for further growth. Fern roots tend to be shallow, so short containers are best. Most ferns grow slowly but you should repot when they begin to overcrowd their containers, before they become root bound.

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