How do you care for a maidenhair fern so it stays green and does not wilt for years? Remember these few tips

Many friends say their maidenhair fern starts to wilt after just a few days of care. Why is the maidenhair fern so prone to yellowing leaves? This is not only related to the growing environment, but also requires mastering the correct care methods. Let us take a look at how to make the maidenhair fern grow more lush. Below is an introduction to the correct care of the maidenhair fern.

First, a note: the maidenhair fern has many varieties, and you can grow several varieties together. Their care methods are all similar, and most of them are tropical rainforest plants.

The maidenhair fern does not look very eye-catching, but it is very pleasing to look at, and it needs proper care to grow stronger.

1. Growing location:

Giving the maidenhair fern proper temperature and light conditions is the most important thing. You can let it get a little light in the morning or evening, and provide shade during midday and afternoon. Direct sunlight or scorching sun will cause yellowing or wilting of the leaves, so just give it a little weak, diffused light.

It is generally placed under tree shade, or on an east-facing or south-facing balcony or windowsill.

When caring for it, also pay attention to regularly turning the pot to ensure the plant receives light evenly. Generally, turn it half a circle every 3~4 days, so that the plant shape stays neat.

The maidenhair fern is very sensitive to temperature and moisture. A temperature between 18~25 degrees is the most suitable. Most maidenhair ferns are not very cold-tolerant, so attention must be paid to cold protection in winter, and the temperature in summer should not be too high either.

2. Environmental humidity

Another key point in caring for the maidenhair fern is environmental humidity. It is best to keep the maidenhair fern at a humidity above 60%. It does not like dry air, and it should also be kept away from air conditioners or heaters. It is best to place it next to a fish tank or in a bathroom, which helps increase humidity.

3. Soil mix

Caring for the maidenhair fern requires slightly acidic (pH between 5.0~6.0), airy and loose humus soil. Avoid using sandy soil with good drainage.

You can add more peat moss to the soil, which can very well increase the soil's acidity and water retention. The maidenhair fern's requirements for soil are airiness, looseness and relatively high water retention, and peat moss is the best choice.

The soil has good water retention capacity, but the soil must not be allowed to become waterlogged. You can appropriately spread gravel, broken tiles or coal cinders at the bottom of the pot to help with aeration and increase drainage. The soil can be mixed with peat moss, compost soil and leaf mold. The soil surface can be covered with some small gravel, expanded clay pebbles or similar media, which can increase water retention.

4. Watering and humidity

Caring for the maidenhair fern means keeping the potting soil moist and maintaining very high environmental humidity. When the environmental humidity is especially high, you can reduce the frequency of watering. When the air is dry, you need to spray it with water every day, spraying directly onto the leaves.

The soil should be kept in a moist state, but the potting soil must not become waterlogged, otherwise it is prone to root rot and leaf rot.

For watering, it is best to use rainwater or tap water that has been left to stand for 3 days. Avoid watering directly with water straight from the tap, as it easily makes the soil alkaline and causes yellow leaves.

Do not water when the light is strong, otherwise the leaves are easily scorched. When the potting soil is extremely dry, you can place the potted maidenhair fern directly into a basin of water, with the basin full of water, and let the water slowly seep in directly through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. After the soil is completely moistened, move the flowerpot out of the water basin and place it in a ventilated, shaded spot for care. Pour out any accumulated water in the tray promptly.

5. Fertilize sparingly

When caring for ferns, you must fertilize sparingly, and the maidenhair fern should also be given little fertilizer. Too much fertilizer easily causes fertilizer burn. You can give fertilizer once each in spring and summer each year, and use a mildly concentrated liquid foliage fertilizer. The soil must be moist before fertilizing.

6. Other care notes

Caring for the maidenhair fern also does not require pruning, except for stems that have yellow leaves and will wither. When it is dry, the leaves easily turn yellow and wither, so diseased leaves and diseased plants should be cut off promptly.

In winter, pay attention to cold protection and increase air humidity. Especially indoors in a heated room, the humidity easily drops, so you need to spray it with water more frequently. It is recommended to have a household air humidifier before growing a maidenhair fern.