Ferns
Fern
Adiantum, Asplenium, Davallia, Nephrolepis, Platycerium, and Pteris
Light Level: Low
Water Level: High
True ferns are primitive plants of the Filices family and have been around for about 100 million years. Ferns do not produce flowers; instead, they reproduce by spores. These spores are in spore cases (sori) look like clusters of brown spots which are found on the undersides of their fronds. They are often in an organized pattern.
Most ferns have hair-like fibrous roots that rot if kept too wet and burn if kept too dry. Soil should be kept evenly moist and drainage should be discarded. They do well in both diffused sunlight and artificial light.
Do not use leaf shine products on ferns. Dead fronds should be removed by clipping them at the base.
Adiantum, is the maidenhair fern and comes from North Africa. They love humidity and will decline quickly when allowed to dry out. If a maidenhair fern dries out and looks dead, you may be able to revive it by cutting the fronds back to about an inch in height and soaking the pot in a bucket of warm water to saturate the growing medium. Keep it very moist for the next few weeks. Do not fertilize until new growth is seen, then at half-strength only.
Asplenium species include the Bird’s Nest fern and Japanese birds-nest fern, A. crispafolium or ‘Lasagna Fern’ for its wavy leaves that look like lasagna noodles. In the wild, these ferns grow on trees with their fronds growing up to 5’ in length. Indoors, they prefer semi-shaded area with no direct sun. They are prone to spider mites and scale. Their leaves may spot if misted in a cool environment.
Davallia fejeensis cv. Plumosa is the rabbit’s-foot fern, and there is also a squirrel’s foot fern and ball fern. The common name “rabbit’s foot” comes from the rhizome which hangs over the edge of the pot and resembles a rabbit’s foot. These plants like humidity but do not like to be misted which leads to powdery mildew. If the rhizomes turn grayish or black, it is usually the result of very hard water or overfeeding with a granulated fertilizer. Never bury the rabbit’s feet with growing medium.
Nephrolepis are the Boston ferns, which include bostonensis, ‘Boston Compacta’, ‘Kimberly Queen’, ‘Florida Ruffle’, ‘Rooseveltii’, and ‘Dallas’. The variety ‘Netherlands’ is darker green with broader, less lobed leaves. These ferns do best in a potbound condition. Hard water will leave white spots on the leaves and lack of humidity will turn the leaves brown.
Platycerium bifurcatum is the staghorn fern. They are often mounted on sphagnum moss which is attached to a board or piece of bark then hung on a wall. The tan colored base leaves are brown and crispy, and serve as the support structure for the plant. They tolerate most light levels except very low light. The best way to water these plants is to submerge them in a container of water until the sphagnum moss is saturated through, then allow them to dry out. If they lose green fronds because they rot and fall off, you are overwatering.
P. hillii, or the elk’s horn fern are usually grown in a pot of sphagnum moss mixed with peat. The frond grow over the sides of the pot until you can’t see the pot at all. The base fronds are brown and the green fronds have a white, downy covering. These plants do not tolerate direct sunlight. They should be watered from the saucer, not from above; avoid wetting its foliage.
Pteris ferns include P. ensiformis cv. Victoriae which has small silver and green leaves. P. cretica ‘Ribbon Fern’ and P. cretica cripsata ‘Cockscomb Fern‘. These ferns get their botanical name from the Greek word pteron, meaning wing. These ferns grow quickly and make great table ferns. The crisp ribbon fern prefers a more shady location than the other cultivars. The variegated variety will produce solid green leaves when light is too low.
Country of Origin
Adiantum, is the maidenhair fern and comes from North Africa.
Asplenium species, the birds-nest ferns, are epiphytes from tropical Asia and Polynesia.
Davallia, the rabbit’s-foot fern, comes from Fiji and the Malay archipelago.
Nephrolepis are the Boston ferns, are native to several tropical regions.
Platycerium is the staghorn fern from Queensland, Australia.
Pteris is the Cretan Brake or table fern from Europe, Asia and Africa.
Maintenance Tips
Ferns tend to turn gray when excessively dry. Weak frond growth is usually due to low light, while pale fronds indicate light levels are too high. Leaf burn and runners indicate elevated soluble salts. Do not allow these plants to dry out completely.
Staghorn ferns are sensitive to excess manganese, which causes discoloration of the older foliage.
Avoid using leaf cleaners, especially those that contain alcohol as they may cause leaf burn. Instead, use plain, room-temperature water.
Do not clean or remove the spore cases that will appear periodically on the undersides of the fronds.
Avoid placing these plants in direct sunlight.
Pests and Problems
Scale, whitefly, fungus gnats, red spider mites, mealybug, and thrips are the most common pests.
Powdery mildew will appear when plants are kept too moist or when the humidity is too high.
Water stress and lack of humidity will make a fern more vulnerable to a pest attack.
For more care information visit our comprehensive Indoor Gardening Guide.