A Detailed Guide to Growing and Propagating Maidenhair Fern in Water

The maidenhair fern is not only beautiful but also easy to grow. We can plant it in the yard, on the balcony, or in the garden; all it needs is a small flower pot. Whether grown in a pot or a hanging basket, it survives very easily. For such a plant that is both elegant and able to add a touch of brilliant color to the home, why not own a pot of it?

How to Grow Maidenhair Fern in Water

First, wash the roots of the maidenhair fern clean and disinfect them with potassium permanganate. Then find a container, add clean water, and mix in a nutrient solution at the proper ratio (nutrient solution can be bought on the market), or fix it in place at the mouth of the container or on the water surface. The maidenhair fern is best planted on coral stone; just stick it on, then place the coral stone in water. Once it takes hold, it grows very well. When growing it in water, note that the coral stone must be soaked in water to remove the salt, and the water must not submerge the head of the maidenhair fern. To make the stone grow moss, it cannot be kept indoors for a long time.

Propagation Methods for Maidenhair Fern

1. Division propagation method

Division propagation is the most commonly used propagation method for maidenhair fern. Division can generally be done indoors in all four seasons, but early spring, combined with repotting, is the most suitable time. First prepare several small flower pots and fill them with soil. Take the mother plant out of the pot, cut off the aged rhizomes, and use a small knife to divide the plant into several clumps, each of which must have rhizomes and leaves. Then plant the divisions separately in the small pots, cover the rhizomes with soil, water them, and place them in a cool place for care.

2. Spore propagation method

Spore propagation means scattering leaves that bear spores onto moist soil without covering them with soil, using water evaporation to promote leaf growth. The specific method is as follows: before planting, disinfect peat and fine sand by exposing them to the sun or watering them with a disinfectant solution. Then place the soil in a shallow pot and water it thoroughly. Cut off leaves that bear spores. Scatter the spore-bearing leaves in the shallow pot without covering them with soil, cover them with a piece of glass, and soak water up from the bottom of the pot to keep the pot soil moist. Place the pot in a semi-shaded environment at 20-25°C; in about one month new leaves will appear, and once the pot is full they can be divided and transplanted.

Spore Propagation Method for Maidenhair Fern

1. Whether you use the spores directly or plant them together with the leaves, it is the same; the gardening enthusiast in this article planted them directly with the leaves attached. The leaf in the picture above can be cut off like this and placed directly on the soil surface to plant.

2. The key to spore propagation of maidenhair fern is humidity and temperature. It is easier to succeed in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. In spore propagation, something like moss first grows, and then the first leaf of the maidenhair fern grows out from the moss.

3. The spores can be covered with a little soil, then covered with plastic wrap to achieve the purpose of retaining moisture and warmth. If nothing goes wrong, moss will grow out in 1-3 weeks, and then small leaves will come out. Growing moss and the first few leaves is very slow, but once they start growing, filling the pot is still very fast; in 3 or 4 months, the maidenhair fern can grow into a large pot.

How to Grow Maidenhair Fern

1. Choosing a pot

When growing in a pot, a light-colored glazed pot or clay pot can be used; the pot soil must have good water permeability and aeration. Generally use humus-rich peat soil or leaf mold, add about 1/3 coarse sand and fine sand, and put in some bone meal. The bottom of the pot should be lined with some broken tiles or coarse sand to aid drainage. The rhizome planting depth is 1.5-2.5 cm. Plant or repot and change the soil in spring. For pot culture, a growing medium commonly made by mixing humus soil or peat soil with a small amount of river sand and base fertilizer is used. Change the pot every spring; when repotting, do not damage the roots, avoid wind, and keep the pot soil moist and the air humidity relatively high. Once new branches grow, normal care can be resumed.

2. Temperature and light

The maidenhair fern likes a warm, moist, and semi-shaded environment. The suitable growing temperature is 21-25°C during the day and 12-15°C at night. In winter it should be brought into a greenhouse; at temperatures above 5°C the leaves can still remain fresh and green, but below 5°C the leaves will suffer cold damage. It likes bright scattered light and fears direct sunlight. In summer it can be appropriately shaded; long periods of strong direct light will cause most of the leaves to turn yellow and wither. Indoors, it should be placed in a bright spot; even if placed there for 1 year, it can still grow normally.

3. Watering and fertilizing

The maidenhair fern likes a moist environment. During the peak growing season, water it thoroughly; besides keeping the pot soil moist, also pay attention to maintaining relatively high air humidity. When the air is dry, sprinkle water around the plant. Especially in summer, water 1-2 times a day; if it lacks water, the leaves will shrivel. When watering, avoid the pot soil being dry at one time and wet at another, which easily makes the leaves turn yellow. Apply dilute liquid fertilizer 2-3 times a month; when fertilizing, do not stain the leaf surface, so as to avoid causing leaf rot. Because of the maidenhair fern's calcium-loving habit, the pot soil should be given an appropriate amount of lime and crushed eggshells, and frequently applying calcium fertilizer will give even better results. In winter, reduce watering and stop fertilizing.

4. Preventing pests and diseases

Potted maidenhair fern often suffers from leaf blight. In the early stage, Bordeaux mixture can be used for control; in severe cases, a 100-1500 times dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl can be used for control. If scale insects harm the plant, a 1000 times dilution of 40% omethoate can be used for control.

There are many and varied propagation methods for maidenhair fern, but the more common method is still spore propagation. No matter which method is used, we need sufficient sunlight, water, and fertilizer to make it grow well, so as long as we pay attention to these points, we will certainly be able to grow a beautiful pot of maidenhair fern.