Learn the best conditions, watering, fertilizing, and repotting tips for ferns in hanging containers indoors or outdoors. Discover which ferns are suitable for hanging baskets and how to increase humidity for optimal growth. Create your own fernery with ferns that thrive in dappled shade and moist soil. Discover the best types of ferns for your garden, their hardiness, size, and color.
Select the right fern for your garden, including Boston ferns and Kimberly Queen Ferns. These tropical plants thrive in humid and warm conditions and require specific temperature, humidity, watering, pruning, and fertilizing tips.
Plant, care for, and propagate ferns, a low-maintenance plant that thrives in shade. Find out the best varieties, soil, fertilizer, and pest control for your ferns.
Caring for ferns in your home shade garden can improve air quality and look good in a hanging planter or on a plant stand. Keep the soil fairly wet, as ferns prefer bright, indirect light. Outdoors, a fern in a hanging container will generally do well with morning sunlight but needs afternoon shade.
Indoor ferns in hanging baskets should be repotted into large planters or hanging baskets, fertilize them, water frequently, but the right way, and cut off any brown leaves. Overwatering or underwatering may cause ferns to yellow, so ensure evenly moist soil is provided. Boston ferns thrive when receiving indirect, filtered sunlight.
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Why is my fern dying outside?
Ferns can turn brown due to excessive or insufficient watering. They prefer moist soil, but not waterlogged soil. Too much or too little water can cause stress on fronds and root rot, resulting in brown foliage. To avoid this, closely examine the soil and check moisture levels, especially when watering plants in containers. If the soil feels dry, more watering is needed, while if it feels soggy, hold back until the fern dries out.
Seasonally adjust the watering regime, with summer requiring weekly watering in hot and dry weather, and winter requiring monthly watering or rainfall. Too much or too little watering can lead to browning of ferns.
Why is my fern turning brown and crispy?
Ferns require proper humidity to prevent them from turning crispy. If your fern is brown, try misting it more and placing it in the bathroom for steam. Ferns are adapted to living in shade and should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Move them away from bright windows and hot radiators. Venus our maidenhair ferns are sensitive to touch, and their leaves may bruise more when touched, turning them brown. To maintain their health, admire them from a distance and avoid direct sunlight or hot radiators.
What happens if ferns get too much sun?
Ferns prefer indirect light, so avoid placing them near direct sunlight to prevent burning. A north- or east-facing window should provide the right amount of light, but if your plant turns yellow and not grows much, it’s likely not getting enough. To supplement natural light, use a grow light for a few hours a day. Ferns prefer the same temperatures as most indoor plants, with daytime temperatures ranging from 65°F to 75°F and nighttime temperatures 10°F cooler.
For winter care, avoid placing plants near windows or doors where cold drafts might hit them and protect them from sudden temperature changes by keeping them away from fireplaces, air vents, and other heat sources.
Ferns like consistent water and humidity, so don’t let them completely dry out between waterings. To determine if water should be added, stick a finger into the soil about an inch deep, give the fern a drink if it’s dry, and wait a couple more days if it’s still damp.
Can dead ferns come back?
To remove dead fronds from a tropical fern, be patient and allow it to acclimate. If the plant appears ragged, don’t stress it. As long as it survives, it should restore itself when moved back outside. Water the plant enough to keep the soil damp but never let it get wet or soggy. Mist tropical ferns need humidity every few days to prevent drying out. If you withheld fertilizer during winter, consider resuming monthly feeding with an all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer. If the plant was dormant during winter, it would have needed watering once a month to keep it moist. However, it is now very dry and will be thirsty, so don’t overwater.
Why is my outdoor fern turning brown and crispy?
Ferns require consistent moisture in their soil to prevent browning and crispy leaves. To ensure this, keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Check the soil frequently and water when the top 1-2 inches feel dry. Overwatering can cause root rot, leading to brown leaves. Reduce watering frequency and ensure soil drainage. If root rot is advanced, trim affected roots and repot the fern in fresh soil. Ferns thrive in humid environments, so increase humidity by placing a tray of water near the plant, misting the leaves regularly, or using a humidifier.
How to keep outdoor hanging ferns alive?
Watering ferns is crucial for their growth, as they prefer moisture and thrive in a rainforest’s shady, wet canopy. The watering schedule depends on the plant method, and if placed in a hanging basket or pot, the soil should be damp but not wet to the touch. Checking the fern daily helps determine the frequency of watering, and the care will vary depending on whether the ferns are growing outdoors or indoors.
Fertilizing ferns monthly is also essential for their nutrition, especially in warmer months. Choose a water-soluble, nitrogen-rich fertilizer for best results. For assistance selecting the right fertilizer, visit Fairview Garden Center.
How often should you water a hanging fern?
Boston Ferns are adaptable plants that thrive in medium and bright, indirect sunlight. They require weekly watering sessions to keep their soil moist but not wet. They prefer a humid environment, which can be created by misting them, placing them near other plants, or on a partially filled pebble tray. They thrive in steamy bathrooms and kitchens, but prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may burn and scorch their leaves.
Do outdoor ferns need a lot of sunlight?
Indoor ferns require bright, indirect light to maintain their delicate foliage. Direct sun exposure can burn their foliage, making it dry and brittle. Avoid southern exposure, where ferns are exposed to harsh solar rays. Choose a light, fluffy soil mix with organic matter but not too dense to drain well. Packaged houseplant mediums rich in porous organic materials like peat moss or leaf mold work well. Add coarse sand or perlite for water flow. Both plastic and clay pots are suitable for ferns, with plastic pots requiring less frequent watering.
Pots should be large enough to accommodate roots and have an extra inch of space for further growth. Fern roots are shallow, so short containers are best. Repot ferns when they overcrowd their containers before they become root bound.
How do you tell if fern is overwatered?
To maintain the health and well-being of your ferns, increase humidity by placing a tray filled with water and pebbles near the plant, misting the leaves regularly, or using a humidifier. Adjust the watering frequency based on the season, as ferns typically require more water during the growing season and less during the dormant season. Monitor your fern closely for signs of overwatering or underwatering, such as brown, crispy leaves or yellowing leaves. By following these guidelines and adjusting care based on your fern species, you can ensure your plant stays healthy and well-hydrated.
Are hanging ferns full sun?
The ‘Foxtail’ fern, named after its feathery leaves, is an invasive perennial evergreen that can grow up to three feet tall and wide. It produces red berries and small white flowers and is easy to care for, needing well-draining soil and filtered shade or morning sun. It is drought-tolerant and can be grown indoors.
The ‘Maidenhair’ fern is popular for its fan-shaped leaves and slow growth rate. It grows in warm and steamy conditions and is hardy. They require consistent watering and can burn in direct sunlight. They look great in hanging baskets and require shelter outdoors.
Should you cut off dead fern leaves?
In the event that the foliage of your fern exhibits discoloration or necrosis, it is not a cause for concern. It is recommended that the dead portions be removed and that the plant be allowed to develop new foliage. It is essential to maintain a moist soil environment and high humidity levels, while also avoiding contact between the fronds and the hands during the trimming process.
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I had a fern business. Frond Ideas. The fern is an ever dieing plant. If you take the old fern, cut it all the way back, (divide it if you want) keep watering it through the winter, you will save some money. You can also cut the root ball back to half and put it in fresh soil. It will grow to what you want quickly. I love ferns. Those are beautiful. I like your irrigation, it seems to work very well in some cases. 🎉❤
I have a fern that was beautiful. I didn’t do research on it before buying it so I didn’t know it can’t be in direct sunlight. I loveeee the look of it hanging in front of my apartment, but unfortunately the leaves burned and are turning brown and the plant just looks terrible. The people who can hang their fern and not burn them are so lucky. I think they look so much better hanging.
Yes sirree buddy!! I have used drip and timers for over 15 years. Only way I can have anything green. My ferns are always fabulous. I use plant food and alternate with epsom salt. Love the hanger anchor, I will be trying that. My machos on the front porch were massive, I Neil Hurricane Zeta last year. Droppers? Yes!!!! Timers??? Yesss!!!!!
Transplanted ferns from my garden to a similar pot that you did and hung them from the rafters outside the house. My plants are not nearly as big as yours and I’m already worried that their weight is too much for the rafters. And I was wondering the best way to attach the planters – should I use nails or should I use screws? Also I don’t think your plants are going to live very long in such a small confined pot so is this something you change out every year or into a bigger pot or a smaller fern? I felt sad taking the plant out of the ground and sticking it in a pot where it could possibly grow because it’s roots would be so confined. Thanks exclamation
AWESOME ALL ROUND article, great caring advice, you have me as a new subby. I have always loved to design & put together my own sprinkler reticulated water system, I have been a renter for many years, and most times with written request I get permission to place in permanent (leave behind) irrigation system; or I set up a temporary reticulated water system above the ground so I can (lift up & take with me when I leave) covering the pipe line with leaves to prevent sun heating water bringing & connecting my garden hose to it at the garden edge. I always say, As long as it does not hurt anyone or anything WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY, thankyou heaps for sharing, I’m off to watch more of your helpful article’s, HAPPY GARDENING.
why are the larger fronds dropping from my hanging ferns I have outside? they look otherwise healthy, at least with the fronds remaining, not browning nor wilting. I water the ferns each day, but not soak them, just enough water to keep the soil moist. They get very little sun, just some indirect sun from afternoon to evening.