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August 15, 2019

How to Grow and Care for Maidenhair Ferns

Adiantum Aethiopicum - Maidenhair Fern

These lacy, delicate ferns with their small fronds are beautiful but can be very picky when it comes to their growing conditions.

There is no messing around when it comes to meeting the needs of the Maidenhair Fern. A well-loved Fern will reward you with stunning foliage. Maidenhair ferns can make an elegant, charming addition to shady garden areas or excellent decorations to your stylish home or apartment. They are great for wooded moist garden areas and make an excellent ground cover or container plant.

Sunlight and Placement

From temperature to sunlight, they are picky! Direct sunlight will lead to scorching, but too little light will cause poor growth and leaf discolouration. If you can strike a balance, finding a location that gets indirect morning or afternoon sunlight, with no drafts.

They can’t tolerate dry air, so if you are planning to keep yours indoors, the bathroom is a great option! Placing the plant near a shower, or standing it in a water-filled pebble tray can increase air humidity around the plant will provide the moisture it needs. Regular misting also helps!

Watering 

They need to be kept moist, but you must also be careful not to overwater or underwater them! Too much water leads to root rot, and not enough water can lead to the plant drying out.  If they dry out – Don’t give up! A good soaking and the Fern should recover and eventually produce new leaves.

Soil and Drainage

Maidenhair Ferns prefer alkaline soil, adding some ground limestone into the potting mix or mixing it into outdoor beds will achieve this. The plant typically grows in partial to full shade and prefers moist, well-draining soil with added organic matter. They will not tolerate dry soil. Maidenhair ferns prefer small containers and dislike repotting, so choose your pot wisely!

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