You need to water your ferns whenever the top 3 inches of soil feel dry. This may be once a week, or may be every day.

Besides, Do ferns need a lot of sun?

Ferns Need Plenty of Indirect Light

Most ferns prefer indirect light, which means you should avoid placing them where sunlight will hit them—their leaves can get scorched if you do, resulting in a dry, crispy plant. Usually, the amount of light they would get near a north- or east-facing window is perfect.

Keeping this in mind, How do you tell if fern is overwatered? The first sign that a fern is overwatered is usually yellowing or wilted leaves. One surefire way to determine if it’s time to water a Boston fern is to touch the soil with your fingertip. If the surface of the soil feels slightly dry, it’s time to give the plant a drink.

How do you take care of a potted fern?

Keep the moss moist or even wet. Use plastic pots, which don’t dry out as quickly as clay pots. An electric humidifier is the ultimate solution for increasing humidity offering a continual light mist whilst increasing humidity levels. You ferns will wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

How do you take care of potted ferns?


How to Grow and Care for Indoor Ferns

  1. Pot in well-draining soil. Ferns aren’t picky about their soil, but their roots don’t do well if constantly wet. …
  2. Place in medium light. …
  3. Keep the soil moist. …
  4. Mist on occasion.

Do ferns grow well in shade?

Ferns are a natural inhabitant of shady areas, most commonly found where they will get at least some sun during part of the day or where they will receive dappled sunlight most of the day. In fact most ferns will not grow that well in real dense shade, they need a bit of sun to grow their best.

Can ferns live without sunlight?

Many fern varieties, like the Boston fern and bird’s nest fern, thrive well in indirect sunlight. Maidenhair ferns like indirect, bright light and are easily affected by direct sunlight. They also prefer high humidity and do not like dry soil, so they must be moist, but not overly-watered to avoid root rot.

Can ferns survive in low light?

Many ferns, including button, Autumn, rabbit’s foot, maidenhair and more, are good options for low-light situations. Give them consistently moist soil and low to medium light.

What does overwatering look like?

Stunted slow growth accompanied by yellowing leaves is also a symptom. Leaves falling off often accompanies this symptom. If your plants have yellowing leaves and old leaves, as well as new leaves that are falling at the same accelerated rate, you are overwatering.

Can an overwatered plant be saved?

There is never a guarantee that your plant can bounce back from overwatering. … At this point, you can move your plant back to its original location and resume watering it as normal. It’s important to water your plants properly from the start and to make sure they have plenty of drainage.

How do you tell if you are over or under watering a plant?

If the soil is wet, it’s overwatered – if it’s dry, it’s underwatered. Browning edges: Another symptom that can go both ways. Determine which by feeling the leaf showing browning: if it feels crispy and light, it is underwatered. If it feels soft and limp, it is overwatered.

How do you keep ferns alive indoors?

Mist your ferns as often as practical, preferably in the morning. Keep a spray bottle handy and train your family members to use it whenever they pass by the fern. Stand the pot on a tray of pebbles or clay granules and keep those wet. This increases the humidity around the plant without keeping the roots soggy.

Do indoor ferns need sun?

Light. Although most ferns grow in moist, shady places like forest floors, this does not mean that they need no light. … Give your ferns a position near a window that gets morning or late afternoon sun, and keep the ferns away from strong sunlight, especially during the summer.

How do you care for a potted fern outside?


How to Grow and Care for Outdoor Ferns

  1. Water ferns regularly to avoid dry soil. You never want sopping wet soil, but consistently keeping the top five inches of your soil moist is the key to a healthy fern. …
  2. Fertilize as needed. …
  3. Monitor for pests.

Do ferns do well in pots?

Ferns perform well in a shallow pot that allows enough space to accommodate the roots plus an extra inch to allow for growth. With too much extra space, the larger amount of damp potting mixture around the roots often leads to root disease.

Why is my indoor fern turning brown?

If you’re seeing brown leaves all over, your fern may not be getting enough moisture. They like their soil to be lightly moist, but not soggy, so check them regularly and water them if the soil ever feels dry. … If your fern is looking brown all over, try misting it more and see if it improves over the next few weeks.

How do you keep ferns alive?

All ferns love moisture and should be given humid conditions. In living rooms and family rooms, stand their pots on trays of damp pebbles or clay granules. Ferns also love being misted at regular intervals with tepid, soft water unless the humidity of the whole room is kept high through the use of a humidifier.

What ferns grow well in full shade?

All prefer organically-rich, well-drained soil, and most require a moist shady area – though some, like cinnamon, royal and Southern shield ferns, will grow in full shade if given constant moisture. For design combinations, nothing beats a frilly fern paired with a broad-leafed hosta.

Can ferns be outside in shade?

How to Grow Ferns in Your Garden. Plant ferns in part to full shade and rich, well-drained soil. In all climates, they need protection from afternoon sun to prevent drying and leaf scorch. Ferns can reach 12 inches to 6 feet tall, depending on the type and growing conditions.

Where is the best place to plant ferns?

Most ferns prefer a shady location, but they don’t do well in deep shade. The dabbled shade provided by tree branches provide the best conditions. Think about how they grow in the forest and try and find similar conditions in your yard.

How much sunlight does a fern plant need?

SUN LOVING FERNS can take direct sun for about 4 hours per day (morning, mid or afternoon) and filtered the rest of the day. These ferns thrive on LESS water which makes them easily adaptable to sunny locations.

How do you keep ferns alive indoors?

Most ferns like an evenly moist soil with regular waterings. Allowing the soil to dry out between waterings stresses these plants. Bushy ferns can be difficult to water. Try using a watering can with a long spout to direct the water to the center of the plant.

How much sun do ferns need?

SUN LOVING FERNS can take direct sun for about 4 hours per day (morning, mid or afternoon) and filtered the rest of the day. These ferns thrive on LESS water which makes them easily adaptable to sunny locations.

What plant survives in the dark?


Houseplants to Grow in Low-Light Areas

  • Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)
  • Chlorophytum comosum (Spider Plant)
  • Dracaena fragrans (Corn Plant)
  • Epipremnum aureum (Pothos / Devil’s Ivy)
  • Maranta leuconeura (Prayer Plant)
  • Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid)
  • Sansevieria (Snake Plant)
  • Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily)