Common asparagus fern

Common asparagus fern Asparagus setaceus

What is the plant

Asparagus setaceus, commonly known as common asparagus fern, climbing asparagus, or ferny asparagus, is a climbing plant in the genus Asparagus. Despite its common name, the plant is not a true fern, but has leaves that resemble one.

The asparagus fern isn’t exactly a common houseplant, but with its feathery, light foliage, it's quite attractive and can be successfully grown indoors. In warmer regions, the fern can be easily adapted to outdoor culture, where it sometimes grows like a creeper and can even become invasive. Indoors, the key to a robust asparagus fern is to keep the plant bushy and dense so its lace-like foliage forms an attractive mound. Asparagus fern is a fern in name and appearance only. It is belongs to the family Liliaceae and is a relative of lilies, including tulips, daylilies, amaryillis, and hostas. Asparagus fern has a lot of good qualities, but it comes with some important cautions. In warm, humid climates, asparagus ferns can spread rapidly when planted outdoors. It is considered an invasive species in Florida, Texas, and Hawaii. Asparagus fern is also toxic to humans and pets.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

18°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

9a - 10b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

Toxicity

Poisonous

Invasive

Weed

Water
Water your fern using a watering can with a long spout. That way, you can apply a water directly to a top of a potting soil. This is particularly relevant with hanging ferns where a fronds often hang down in quite thick curtains. You can maneuver a long nozzle between a fronds until it is over a soil.
Sunlight
Needs bright, indirect sunlight.
Fertilizer
Use a balanced fertilizer with a 10-10-10 formula.

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Soil
Loamy soil, a relatively even mix of sand, silt, and clay, feels fine-textured and slightly damp. It has ideal characteristics for gardening, lawns, and shrubs. Loamy soil has great structure, adequate drainage, is moisture-retaining, full of nutrients, easily cultivated and it warms up quickly in spring, but doesn't dry out quickly in summer.
Pruning
It is important because damaged leaves and stems can actually be an energy drain on your plant. By removing those dead parts, you're taking some of that work off your plant’s plate and allowing it to divert its energy into healthy leaves and new growth!
Temperature
Try to maintain a warm temperature (around 70ºF) and not dip below 55ºF for too long. If you have a shady porch outside, or a greenhouse, the indoor plants will likely respond with abundant growth over the summer.

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Container
When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 2.5-5 cm (1-2”) larger than the current size. Ceramic pots are porous which means your plants are less likely to experience root rot from overwatering. It also means you'll have to water more often. Plastic pots are lighter, less likely to break, and easier to clean.
Additional
All ferns love moisture and should be given humid conditions. In living rooms and family rooms, stand their pots on trays of damp pebbles or clay granules. Ferns also love being misted at regular intervals with tepid, soft water unless the humidity of the whole room is kept high through the use of a humidifier.
Popularity
7,218 people already have this plant 1,427 people have added this plant to their wishlists