Maidenhair Fern Care:
Propagation from fern spores and division.
Fern Care: humidity, best soil, watering and fertilization.
Maidenhair Fern Care:
Maidenhair Fern is a beautiful, soft fern that once established it's pretty easy to take care of.
To get this fern growing, there's a learning growing curve, but it's definitely worth the extra attention and time.
To get Maidenhair Fern started, I gave my plant bright light during the winter, kept the soil moist and provided extra humidity. Once my plants were established, it gets the same attention as my other ferns. Just water once a week and fertilizer once a year in the spring.
Light: bright light - I have mine by a North window. An East facing window will also work. Full sun will scorch the fronds.
Humidity: Likes high humidity - mist often or keep fern on a pebble tray with water until established.
Keep high humidity loving plants clustered together and buy a humidifier or a vaporiser.
Pests: I only found aphids and they did kill my plant eventually.
Size: They can get pretty big. I think mine are about 2 feet wide by 2.5 feet tall now.
Fertilization: I only use general plant fertilizer, once in the spring.
What I've learnt about Maidenhair ferns?
They love to be watered and misted.
I would buy them, plant them and slowly, but surely they would end up dead.
Then my Mom sent me a maidenhair fern again and I thought this time I would try extra hard.
I watered my fern until I can see water on the pot saucer and left it. I thought "that will rot the roots for sure", but I left it as an experiment and it worked. Beats me!
So, I guess as long as you keep the soil moist and mist the fern until it starts growing in their own environment, it will survive.
Maidenhair propagation:
They can be propagated by division or grown from fern Spores.
Propagating by division: I just remove the plant from the pot and cut a piece of it with a sharp nice. Making sure I get at least one eye.
Propagating by Sowing Spores: I don't have to do this, because my ferns drop their spores in nearby plants and that's how I get my new plants.
If you want to try it: Look at the back of the maidenhair fern frounds. Do you see tiny, dustlike hardly visible dots on the backside edge of the fern fronds?
I just cut a frond with mature spores from my plant and lay it on fresh soil, cover with a thin layer of soil, keep soil moist and wait.
I find it easier to let nature do its thing. :)
