Ferns are one of the most popular houseplants and often considered to have good luck.
You can improve your ferns by using these six secret techniques.
- Cut back on water, especially when there is a lot of new growth. Too much water can cause root rot, leaf drop, and plant death.
- Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings; this will help you control fertilizer use better and reduce the risk of overfeeding.
- Use organic mulch around the base of ferns to keep the soil cool while retaining moisture and nutrients in the soil
- Don’t fertilize your fern too often or too heavily as this can promote unhealthy growth on top of your plant that will eventually kill it off
- If your plants are losing their leaves due to poor light conditions, place them under fluorescent lights for a few hours during the day to give them some relief from direct sunlight
- Place newly
The 6 best ways to improve your ferns
- Cut back on water, especially when there is a lot of new growth. Too much water can cause root rot, leaf drop, and plant death.
- Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings; this will help you control fertilizer use better and reduce the risk of overfeeding.
- Use organic mulch around the base of ferns to keep the soil cool while retaining moisture and nutrients in the soil
- Don’t fertilize your fern too often or too heavily as this can promote unhealthy growth on top of your plant that will eventually kill it off
- If your plants are losing their leaves due to poor light conditions, place them under fluorescent lights for a few hours during the day to give them some relief from direct sunlight
- Place newly transplanted ferns outdoors in the sun for a few hours each day until they acclimate to outdoor conditions
When should you cut back on water?
When should you cut back on your water? If your plant is growing quickly and the plant is becoming root-bound, it can be okay to cut back on watering. However, if the leaves are drooping or turning yellow, this suggests that the plant needs more water than what’s coming out of its soil.
This could be a sign that the plant is suffering from root rot or leaf drop. If these problems arise, add some organic mulch around the base of your plant and keep the soil moist but not soaking wet.
What is organic mulch?
Organic mulch is any material that is friendly to plants, in other words, it doesn’t contain pesticides or chemicals. It will also help keep your soil cool and retain moisture. Organic mulch materials include wood chips, bark chips, pine needles, shredded leaves and grass clippings.
If my plants are losing their leaves, what should I do?
If your plants are losing their leaves due to poor light conditions, place them under fluorescent lights for a few hours during the day to give them some relief from direct sunlight.
How often should I fertilize my fern?
Ferns need an average of one half to one teaspoon of balanced plant food per container per month. You should fertilize your fern every two weeks during the growing season and as needed during the rest of the year.
What is fluorescent lighting?
Fluorescent lighting is a type of light that uses electricity to excite a gas or vapor within a tube, causing it to emit ultraviolet rays with a different wavelength than visible light. These rays are then absorbed by the atoms in the gas, and the energy causes them to emit visible light at wavelengths characteristic of fluorescent lamps.
This type of light is recommended for any plants that need brighter light than natural sunlight provides. This can include plants like ferns because they don’t have as large a surface area for photosynthesis as other plants do.