Maidenhair Fern Care
Are you letting your sensitive maidenhair fern hang on to a hair? Try placing the glass on top of it if it seems to be glassing. The maidenhair is one of the most beautiful outdoor and indoor ferns. This damsel is not to blame for her misery. Because of the thinness of maidenhair fern leaves, she needs higher levels of humidity in order to thrive. This is much more than the level found in an average home for plant care.
Maidenhair fern care is a challenging task for gardeners. Avoid irritating the delicate plant’s sensibilities by using too much other than humidity. Excessive heat, sun, fertilizer, and fertilizer could cause maidenhair to become dry. If it proves too difficult, remember that “faint hearts never win fair maidenhair!”
Maidenhair Fern Characteristics
Maidenhair ferns are named for their fine, dark stems that resemble human hair. They grow from rhizomes. They range in height from 1 to 3 ft and in hardiness between USDA Zones 4 and 12. The leaflets that make up the lacy fronds of maidenhair fern plants can take many forms, including fan-shaped, circular or diamond-shaped. Adiantum is the genus name of this plant. It refers to how water beads up on its leaves.
Selecting Soil Maidenhair fern
It doesn’t matter if you grow your maidenhair indoors or outside, it needs well-draining soil rich in humus that can retain constant moisture without becoming too soggy. Ground that is rich in leaf mold (decomposed leaves), is best for outdoor gardening.
A mix of peat moss mixed with organic potting mixture indoors should be sufficient for a maidenhair fern. Fertilizer pellets-free mixes are best avoided. The plant should be kept tightly in its container with no more soil than the rhizomes. It should also not have more than one inch between the sides of the pot and its drainage holes. This helps to prevent the soil from becoming too wet, which can lead to rot in the rhizomes.
Do maidenhair ferns need sun?
Maidenhair ferns should not be grown outdoors in the early morning sun, shade, or under trees. Indoor ferns prefer bright indirect light or east-facing windowsills which receive only morning sunlight. Do not place the plants in areas that are too dark or they will become unhappy. You should aim for between 100-500 foot candles and 500 feet of light.
So, How much sunlight does a maidenhair fern need? The level of brightness can be achieved by placing your ferns back from a sunlit window so that the rays don’t reach them, or by hanging sheer curtains between the window and the plants to filter out the light. A fluorescent grows lamp may be a good option for small ferns.
Watering Maidenhair Ferns – How often should I water maidenhair fern?
Indoor care for Maidenhair Ferns requires a careful balance between too dry and too wet. When the soil is beginning to dry, water your plant with either room temperature rainwater (or spring water). Don’t wait for the soil to dry completely before watering your plant.
It is important to continue to water the plant as needed to keep it lightly moist, but not mushy. Soggy soil can lead to the rhizomes of the fern becoming rotten. To prevent soil from getting soaked again, drain the excess water from your pot’s saucer.
Signs that a Fern is Overwatered: Soil is soggy or muddy The leaves are yellow or brown. The leaves are drooping. The Stems appear soft or mushy. The soil is contaminated by mold.
Fertilizing Maidenhair Ferns
Maidenhair Ferns do not require fertilization more than once per month, and only in spring and summer. You can fertilize it with a mild natural plant food like fish or kelp, or you can use chemical fertilizer. However, only one-half to one fourth of the recommended amount is required on the package.
The soil can provide all the nutrients that outdoor ferns need. Add compost to your soil if it is not rich enough. A balanced organic fertilizer can also be applied once a year. Avoid fertilizers that are too fast or have high ratios. This can cause ferns to become irritated.
Temperature & Humidity – Should I mist maidenhair fern?
The indoor plants that are tropical types of maidenhair fern need to be kept at a temperature between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They require humidity that is at least 60% if they are able to get it.
This would be unhealthy for your home and plants. Instead, place them in a fern box or large terrarium or under a glass cover like available on Amazon. These enclosures keep the humidity from rising from the soil. You can also place the Ferns on humidity trays such as this one from Amazon, or in a steamy area like a bathroom. Spray the mist directly on the leaves, not directly onto them if you are misting them.
Low humidity is the most common reason for brown fern leaves. Low humidity means that the air around the plant has become too dry. To increase the moisture level, place a humidifier in close proximity to the plant.
Propagating Maidenhair Ferns
Divide the plant in spring after the fern’s rhizomes have filled the pot. To do this, remove the maidenhair from its container. Use a sharp knife or a razor to slice between its rhizomes. This will allow you to create two or more divisions. Before you place each piece in its own soil pot, make sure it has its own foliage. Inverted plastic bags can be used to protect those divisions from drying out.
You can also propagate the plant using its spores. However, this is more difficult. You can learn how to spore sow from the American Fern Society’s instructions.
Safety Considerations
Maidenhair Ferns are nontoxic plants and shouldn’t be considered a danger to pets or children. People with allergies can experience symptoms similar to hay fever from fern spores in the air. Contact dermatitis (rash), can also be caused by spores in the air.
By keeping the plants in the glass cases or terrariums previously mentioned, you can reduce your exposure to fern spores. People with sensitive skin should avoid touching the spore-infested areas of the fern leaves’ undersides. The spores appear like a cluster of brown dots.
Potential Diseases and Pests
Don’t panic if your plant suddenly stops growing. The New York Botanical Garden mentions that maidenhair Ferns can sometimes rest before rerouting a few weeks later. Even if the fern died from low humidity or insufficient watering it can still make a comeback if its rhizomes remain alive.
However, stressed-out Ferns can also be affected by scale and mealybugs. Maidenhairs are sensitive to insecticide sprays, even organic ones like insecticidal soap. You may need to trim the plant so that you can get rid of any remaining bugs by hand.