How to take care of a fern: 12 steps (with Photo) - tips

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Steps
Advice
Warning
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Tending a new plant is never easy, especially if you don't know what they need or what they like best. The fern is a beautiful shrub and thrives in warm and humid environments both outdoors and indoors. The ferns come in countless species, but in general their needs are the same: water, warmth, and shade. Just choose the right place for the fern and with a little care, you will be able to grow a fern to its full size and maintain for many more years (seriously - some ferns have can live for a hundred years!)

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Take care of the fern indoors

Plant the fern in loose, well-drained soil. When choosing an indoor fern site, choose a clay pot or a ceramic pot with a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot halfway with loose, loose soil, then cover the roots with more soil. Make sure all the leaves are above the ground to make it easier for the plant to grow.
- You can buy loose soil mixes at most gardening stores. In general, this soil type usually has the addition of organic compost or manure to create air pockets in the soil.
- The amount of soil you need will depend on the size of the pot. It's better to just use a large pot from the start so you don't have to replant it many times.
- You can also plant ferns in hanging pots.
Place the fern in indirect sunlight. Choose an indoor location that is not in direct sunlight during the day, but stay close to a window so that the tree can still receive the sun's rays (a north window is usually best). Keep the plant a bit away from the window so it doesn't get too hot.
- If you notice that the leaves of the fern turn brown or are crispy dry, the plant is probably overexposed. Try moving the tree to another area or moving away from the window for a while.
Place a humidifier near the fern. Ferns prefer high humidity in the air because that is their familiar environment. You should place a humidifier next to the fern to keep it moist and lush. Adjust humidity between 30% - 50% indoors (ferns grow very well in 70% humidity in the wild, but this is often not achievable indoors).
- Although a nebulizer is sometimes recommended, using a humidifier is still easier and much more effective.
Maintain the temperature between 16 -22 degrees Celsius. Most indoor ferns are tropical plants, although not all require a tropical climate. Make sure the indoor temperature (at least in the fern room) is approximately 21 ° C during the day and 16 ° C at night. The fern will not grow well below this temperature, so increase the temperature if you are not sure.
- Consider placing the fern next to a window in your bathroom so it can stay in a warm, humid environment with minimal maintenance.
Water your plants when the ground is dry. The fern likes moist air and humid soil. You need to keep the planting ground moist (but not soggy). Water well so that the soil is wet and the water can reach the roots.
- Always use lukewarm or room temperature water, not cold water. Cold water can shock the roots of ferns, as they are only accustomed to the warm, tropics.
- If you live in a dry environment, place the pot in a saucer of pebbles and water. Mist regularly to add more moisture to the fern.
Fertilize the plants once a month, from April to September. The fern does not need to be fertilized as often; They can actually die if you over-fertilize. You should mix the water with an indoor water fertilizer to halve the concentration, then pour it into the soil once a month during the growing season.
- Indoor fertilizers are rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, which are essential nutrients for ferns to thrive.
- You can also use fish protein instead of fertilizer.
Get rid of dead branches. Indoor ferns can be infected with a number of diseases, but they are usually very stubborn and do not easily die. If you notice that the leaves have turned brown or withered, use hand pruning scissors to remove any damaged parts. If the tree begins to fall down due to lack of care, you can also use cutting pliers for the same treatment. If the whole plant is brown and crunchy, it's best to discard it before it spreads to other plants in the house.
- You will know that the leaves of the fern start to die when they turn brown or curl.
Repot the fern after a few years. Every 1-2 years, you should choose a new pot that is larger than the one you are growing to replant the plant. Turn the pot upside down and carefully tap on a hard surface to remove the plant, then immediately replant it in a new pot.
- Ferns have different growth rates depending on the species. In general, newly planted ferns will have to be replanted after 6 months to 1 year.
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Method 2 of 2: Take care of an outdoor fern

Plant the fern in full or partial shade. Ferns thrive in shady environments, where the tree receives just enough sunlight through the canopy. If you have ferns in your garden, choose a relatively shady spot throughout the day so that the plant won't get sunburned.
- If your plant is already in your garden, you probably won't need to move.
- The fern is a very suitable plant to grow on steep slopes for the purpose of preventing soil erosion. The fern can live for decades with its roots deeply embedded in the soil, so the tree will remain around for a long time.
Water the plants 1-2 times a week if it doesn't rain. Ferns need regular moisture, and they can live on their own in humid climates. However, if it doesn't rain, you need to water the plant 1-2 times a week to keep it healthy. Water the roots of the plants, do not water the leaves to avoid damaging the plants.
- If you plant the fern in a temperate zone or tropical rainforest, it can survive without watering itself.
Cut away any damaged leaves. The fern does not have many natural predators, except for slugs and a few rare diseases. However, if you notice any wilted or diseased leaves, remove them with scissors. This will keep the rest of the plant undamaged, and if the plant becomes diseased, it will also prevent the disease from spreading to other plants.
Separate the fern if you want to plant a new one elsewhere. The fern can grow into large dust. To split into several smaller ferns, dig up both the plants and the roots, and then plant each part in different parts of the garden so they have enough room to grow.
- The best time to remove the clump and replant the fern outdoors is after the first frost (usually October or November).
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Advice

Don't worry if there are dark spots on the underside of the fern leaves. They are the sporangia, the reproductive organs of the plant.
A healthy fern can split the clump every 2-3 years.
There are many types of ferns, so do your best to identify what you are growing to ensure proper care.

Warning

Direct and continuous sunlight can cause leaves to curl and / or brown.
Place the fern indoors away from air-conditioning vents or other elements that can dry out the plant.
Scab, mealybugs and red spiders often try to live on ferns. Pesticides are not recommended for ferns, so it's best to shake or shake the plant with your hands to remove the insects.