Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Creating the right environment
• Part 2 of 2: Keeping your fern healthy

Some people seem to have a natural green thumb and live in houses full of lush and healthy plants. Don't worry if you don't belong to this group of people - there are plants that even you can keep alive! The curly fern is one of them. It is one of the most popular ferns to grow, and its long, feather-like branches will add liveliness to any space. You can help your curly fern to thrive indoors or out with a little knowledge and a little TLC.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Creating the right environment

1. Gather your materials for planting. Curly ferns thrive in a soil mixture of peat moss, sand and garden soil. You can buy all of these from a local garden center. The final mixture should contain equal parts of each ingredient. The pot should be large enough so that your fern has enough space and so that the roots are not near the drainage holes, but without too much extra space as this can lead to root rot.
2. Plant your fern in the pot. Stick your mixture and plant in a clean pot with drainage holes in the bottom. The fern can be planted halfway down the pot so that the roots have room in the soil. Fill the rest of the pot with more soil mix, leaving about an inch of space up to the top edge.
3. Place your fern outside in a warm, humid environment. In many areas, summers are warm and humid enough to provide the perfect environment for a curly fern. They thrive in environments with a humidity level of at least 50 percent. Your curly ferns will thrive outdoors when the daytime temperature fluctuates between 18 and 24 ° C and the night temperature between 13 and 18 ° C. They will also do well in a veranda or terrace.
   • The cooler temperatures at night will prevent mold from developing.
4. Place your curly fern indoors in the appropriate room. If you grow your curly fern indoors, either always or only during the winter months, you need to make sure the room is sufficiently moist. The best solution for this is to install a humidifier. Maintain a temperature in the house between 18 and 24 ° C and move to a cooler room at night.
   • If you don't want to spend money on a humidifier, there are other options. You can put the fern on a bowl filled with small pebbles and water. The water will provide moisture during evaporation.
5. Provide indirect sunlight. Curly ferns thrive when they receive indirect, filtered sunlight. Outdoors, they should be placed somewhere where they can get sunlight from between the branches of trees or through the crevices in a roof. Indoors they should be placed near a window. You don't want your fern to be in the shade, nor in full sun. It's a fragile balance.

Part 2 of 2: Keeping your fern healthy

1. Keep the soil moist. As with sunlight, you should provide the curly fern with plenty of, but not too much, water. Water with lukewarm water until the soil is completely moist but not soaked. During warm months you will have to water more often. Make sure that the soil never dries out completely.
   • In winter, the fern is not in the "growing season". You can pay a little less attention to watering and it is actually good to let the soil dry out a bit before watering again. As new growth appears, water the fern more often to keep the soil constantly moist.
2. Feed your ferns every few months. Curly ferns don't need much, but it can help to fertilize them every two months or so during the warmer time of the year. Purchase indoor plant food from a local garden center. Read the guidelines on the package and dilute it so that it is only half as strong for your fern.
   • During the winter months you can skip fertilizing.
3. Prune discolored or leafless palm fronds. Palm fronds are the branch-like parts that shoot out of the plant and are covered with leaves. Older leaves may discolor or fall off, which is not aesthetically pleasing. Use sharp and clean scissors to cut these palm fronds near the base. This will allow new and healthy palm leaves to grow.
   • The best time to prune your curly fern is during the growing season, so in the spring or summer.
4. Protect your fern from insects. Fortunately, curly ferns are not a favorite target of insects, but they can still attract occasional pests. Do not use a strong agent on your boating. Spray the fern with a natural insecticide and check regularly. Hopefully this will prove to be enough to keep possible pests under control.
5. Keep your ferns hibernating during the winter. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make sure your curly ferns survive the winter. Once the temperature drops below 4.4 ° C, you need to bring the plants indoors. It is okay if the leaves discolour and fall off. This is normal. Water sparingly once a week and do not feed at all at this time of the year.