Growing Ferns

Decorative and versatile, and found growing in all parts of the world, ferns are really beautiful and excellent for adding lush green foliage to your home.

Indoor Ferns
They can be grown indoors on table tops, shelves or mixed in a collection with other houseplants. The Boston Fern, also known as Nephrolepis sp., is cascading with a graceful flowing growth habit, making it ideal for hanging baskets. Other Ferns that do well indoors include Maidenhair Fern, Bird’s Nest Fern and Rabbit’s Foot Fern.
Indoors, ferns need good, indirect light. If they are placed in a position that is too dark, you may end up with weak, spindly growth. Also, they must not be grown in a direct sun position as this can scorch the leaves. They need well-drained potting soil with lots of organic matter mixed into it. Keep the soil evenly moist so that the roots stay damp. Additionally, ferns come from tropical areas where the humidity is high so mist spray regularly. An example of where extra humidity will make a difference is the Bird’s Nest fern which produces larger fronds and grows taller in height with extra warmth and humidity. Also note that indoor ferns need good air circulation but dislike cold draughts from open windows and doors.

Care of Ferns
Make sure that you keep them moist in summer. Other than needing lots of moisture and high humidity, ferns are fairly easy to care for. Feeding regularly will encourage lush foliage. You can use a weak solution of a seaweed based liquid feed. Ferns need to be fed during spring and summer when they are growing actively. They can be repotted in springtime. This is also a good time to divide plants that have become too large.

Outdoor Ferns
Ferns are also a solution for shady areas outdoors in the garden. They thrive in dappled shade under trees or even shady areas alongside the house. They can be used as a background filler plant, mixed with other plants or used as a border along a bare wall. They need a sheltered spot in the garden away from strong winds. Plant outdoor ferns in free-draining soil amended with compost and add bonemeal when planting. Outdoor ferns also need constant moisture, so please keep them damp. Some examples are tree ferns, which can be used outdoors to make a dramatic statement. There’s also the Holly Fern which has foliage that resembles holly leaves. Another favourite is the Knysna or Leather Leaf Fern, known by its botanical name as Rumohra adiantiformis. These occur naturally in shady forests so need moist, shady conditions in the garden. The leathery fronds of this Fern are often used in floral arranging and last really long, hence the other common name, the Seven Week Fern.

There are more than 10 000 known species of ferns around the world with new ones still being discovered in unexplored tropical areas. If you are looking for plants with exquisite foliage, do consider ferns as a rewarding and graceful option.