How to grow maidenhair fern? Care methods and precautions, avoid dryness and strong light
Maidenhair fern is not only grown for its foliage, it can also be kept at home to remove harmful substances such as formaldehyde and nicotine, and its care and management methods are relatively simple, so more and more people are preparing to keep a few pots at home. So is maidenhair fern easy to grow? How do you grow maidenhair fern? Today let us learn about the care methods and precautions for maidenhair fern.
Is maidenhair fern easy to grow
Maidenhair fern is one of the easier plants to grow. Its requirements for soil, temperature, water and fertilizer are average, but its requirements for light and humidity are relatively high. As long as the environment it is in is not too dry and the light is not especially strong, and you use suitable soil and water and fertilize reasonably, it can be grown very well.
How to grow maidenhair fern
In terms of growing environment, maidenhair fern prefers fertile, loose soil with good water permeability; in terms of light it likes bright places where the light is not too strong; in terms of water it likes a moist environment; in terms of temperature its leaves need to be above 5 degrees to stay emerald green, so when caring for it we should try to create such an environment for it.
Care methods and precautions for maidenhair fern
1. What soil to use for maidenhair fern
In choosing soil, the minimum requirement is good drainage and looseness, and there are two most suitable soil mixes. The first is made from garden soil, leaf mold and fine sand in a ratio of 40%, 50%, 10%; the second is a mix of peat soil, leaf mold and fine sand in a ratio of 40%, 40%, 20%.
Precautions: No matter which soil is used, be sure to disinfect it before planting. The simplest method is to leave it in the sun for 1-2 days, and if conditions allow, you can water it with carbendazim or potassium permanganate solution to achieve disinfection.
2. Light requirements
Maidenhair fern likes a bright environment with no lack of light. It is rather afraid of direct sunlight, so when growing it at home it is best to place it on an east- or north-facing windowsill, which can keep it from being exposed to the sun. If it is grown in a courtyard, more than 50% of the sunlight should be shaded in summer.
Precautions: When the light is too strong, the leaves of maidenhair fern may become scorched and dry. Therefore it must not be grown in a full-sun environment. However, in the care methods and precautions for maidenhair fern, we should also note that it cannot lack light. If the light is too dim, the leaves will become thin and weak, and it will be unable to fulfill its ornamental value among the effects and benefits of maidenhair fern.
3. Suitable temperature
The most suitable temperature for maidenhair fern is 10-20 degrees, but as long as the temperature is kept above 5 degrees, its leaves can remain emerald green. However, if it is often below 5 degrees it may suffer frost damage, so keep it warm in winter. In summer, spray more water to lower the temperature.
Precautions: In autumn or winter, the temperature difference between day and night is relatively large. At this time, how should maidenhair fern be grown? It is recommended that flower lovers move it indoors, which not only allows the temperature to be controlled within a suitable range, but also reduces the yellowing of maidenhair fern leaves caused by excessive temperature differences.
4. Watering method
When watering, try to keep the soil moist, because maidenhair fern is a plant that likes a moist environment, so during the growing season it can be watered once every 1-2 days. If it is summer when the temperature is relatively high, it can be watered once in the morning and once in the evening, and each watering does not need to be too much.
Precautions: If it is often not watered, the leaf edges will dry out and curl, so when watering, avoid alternating between too much and too little. Although the watering frequency is relatively high, there must never be standing water in the soil, and it is best to water by sprinkling.
5. Fertilizing tips
In terms of fertilizer, maidenhair fern does not have high demands. It only needs a dilute fertilizer solution once a month. Because maidenhair fern is an indicator of calcareous soil, when fertilizing you can apply less calcium fertilizer, which can make maidenhair fern grow better.
Precautions: When the temperature is relatively high in summer, fertilization should be stopped, and organic fertilizer applied after the temperature cools down. In winter, generally no fertilization is needed either, especially when the temperature drops below 5 degrees, fertilization is even less necessary, and when fertilizing, the fertilizer should not be sprinkled on the leaves.
How to grow maidenhair fern, care methods and precautions for maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern habits: it likes fertile, well-draining calcareous sandy loam, and for home potted plants a mix of loam, leaf mold and river sand can be used. Maidenhair fern is native to the banks of flowing streams or dripping rock walls at altitudes of 100~2800 m, and is an indicator plant of calcareous soil. The suitable growing temperature for maidenhair fern during the day is 21~25°C, and at night 12~15°C. As long as the temperature is above 5°C, the leaves will remain fresh green, but below 5°C the leaves will suffer frost damage. Maidenhair fern likes scattered light and is afraid of direct sun. Indoors it should be placed in a bright place, and even if placed there for 1 year it can still grow normally.
How to grow maidenhair fern in water culture (basic method)
Environment: The environment suitable for maidenhair fern to survive should be a dark and damp environment. This plant cannot tolerate cold or drought, and rather likes to live in acidic soil, but it can also be placed for short periods in places with scattered sunlight, which can make it grow better.
Soil: In terms of soil, the best mix is a growing medium made from half mountain forest soil and half garden soil.
Watering: Maidenhair fern very much likes a high-humidity environment, so in spring, summer and autumn it should be watered 4~5 times a day, while in winter it can be reduced to 1~2 times, but it still needs frequent misting to prevent the leaves from becoming too dry. During the growing season, watering must be kept sufficient.
Fertilizing: Fertilizing is essential for maidenhair fern. On average, a thin fertilizer should be applied once about every 2 weeks to promote its growth. But grasp the principle of "small amounts, applied often"; a 1000-2000 times dilution of Huabao or similar is sufficient.
Temperature: Generally speaking, above 5°C the leaves will not turn scorched yellow, but it also cannot exceed 30°C. In water culture, besides controlling the indoor temperature, the water temperature must also be controlled, and the water temperature should be equivalent to room temperature.
Light: Be sure to shade it, and avoid direct sunlight; the weaker the light the better. It should not be kept in a bathroom or indoors for more than 3 days, then moved to a windowsill for 3 days, with attention to misting, which can ensure the plant grows well.
Humidity: Summer weather is often too hot and stuffy, and indoor ventilation is not very good either. At this time the indoor air humidity should be increased and ventilation strengthened.
Pruning: When the leaf clusters are too dense, scissors can be used to properly prune the old leaves; otherwise the leaves will easily turn yellow, which detracts from the ornamental value.
Water culture of maidenhair fern
First, wash the roots of soil-grown maidenhair fern clean and disinfect them with potassium permanganate. Then find a container, add clean water, and add nutrient solution in the appropriate ratio (the nutrient solution can be bought on the market), or fix it at the mouth of the container or on the water surface with something. Maidenhair fern is best planted on coral stone; just place the coral stone directly in water, and after it takes root it grows very well.
Precautions for water culture of maidenhair fern: Coral stone can be bought at shops in flower and bird markets that make rockeries; there are many styles, so you can choose one. Before use, the coral stone should be soaked in water to remove salt. To make the stone grow moss, it cannot be kept indoors for a long time and should receive appropriate sunlight. In water culture, the water should not submerge the head of the maidenhair fern. During care, replenish water in time, and change the water once every 5~10 days.
Precautions for growing maidenhair fern:
1. Maidenhair fern is by nature fond of warm, humid and semi-shady cool environments, and greatly dislikes direct sunlight, so it is best to place the plant in a place indoors that gets no sunlight, since too much and too strong light easily causes the leaf edges to scorch.
2. Ferns all grow in damp environments, and for maidenhair fern this is naturally no exception. When cultivating it, besides keeping the soil moist, you should also frequently spray water mist on the leaves to increase air humidity. When the plant shows yellowing, it is often caused by insufficient humidity. Of course, it may also be caused by frost damage.
3. Every spring it needs to be repotted once, and at the same time dry leaves and old roots should be pruned away. The potting soil should also be changed to fresh, fertile and loose leaf mold, and it is best to add a small amount of brick crumbs to it.
Four-season care for maidenhair fern
Spring care for maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern can be repotted every April. Maidenhair fern likes a shady and damp environment and is afraid of strong light. In early spring, light can be given in the morning and evening, and it can be placed indoors with bright scattered light. Spring is the growing season for maidenhair fern, so pay attention to water and fertilizer management. Especially when growing it indoors, attention should be paid to increasing indoor air humidity; suitable air humidity is the key to growing maidenhair fern at home. In addition, once a month you can water it with ferrous sulfate solution to increase the acidity of the soil, which is both beneficial to growth and keeps its leaves emerald green.
Summer care for maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern grows normally in summer, but a high-temperature, hot and dry environment is not conducive to the growth of maidenhair fern. Maidenhair fern should be placed indoors in bright light for care, keeping the potting soil moist, watering once in the morning and once in the evening, and frequently misting the surroundings to increase air humidity. When the weather is too hot, do not water or fertilize; fertilizing is usually done in the evening, and watered the next morning after fertilizing. This is more conducive to the fertilizer taking effect. Maidenhair fern is afraid of wind, so it should not be placed in front of an electric fan or at an air conditioner outlet; rooms with air conditioning have lower air humidity, so the number of mistings should be increased.
Autumn care for maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern grows normally in autumn, so pay attention to water and fertilizer management. After the temperature drops in late autumn, attention should be paid to maintaining the indoor temperature, gradually reducing the amount of watering so that the potting soil stays moist, and gradually moving it to a place with morning and evening light for cultivation. Once the temperature drops, do not fertilize any more.
Winter care for maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern is not cold-tolerant, and the room temperature should be kept above 5°C. Below 5°C maidenhair fern enters a state of stagnant growth and its leaves become dark green; you can appropriately increase the intensity and duration of morning and evening light (avoid midday light), reduce watering, keep the potting soil on the dry side, and do not fertilize.
If the indoor temperature is relatively high in winter, the air humidity will be relatively low, so pay attention to replenishing air humidity.
How to grow potted maidenhair fern? Care methods and precautions for potted maidenhair fern
The leaves of maidenhair fern are emerald green and about to drip, small and dense, layered over one another, and have high ornamental value. At the same time, maidenhair fern has strong adaptability and is easy to cultivate, so it is very suitable for indoor planting, as it can not only green the environment but also purify the air. So how do you grow potted maidenhair fern? The care methods and precautions for potted maidenhair fern are introduced below.
Image: maidenhair fern
1. Care methods for potted maidenhair fern
1. Soil:Maidenhair fern likes loose, water-permeable, fertile calcareous sandy loam; for potting, the growing medium can be made from equal parts loam, leaf mold and river sand mixed together.
2. Watering:Maidenhair fern likes a moist environment, and during the peak growing season it should be watered thoroughly. Besides keeping the potting soil moist, attention should also be paid to 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 potting soil alternating between dry and wet, which easily turns the leaves yellow.
3. Sunlight:Maidenhair fern likes bright scattered light and is afraid of direct sun. If the light is too strong, the leaves turn scorched yellow or even die; in summer it can be appropriately shaded, as long periods of strong direct light will cause most of the leaves to turn scorched yellow. Indoors it should be placed in a dimly lit place, and even if placed there for 1 year it can still grow normally.
Image: maidenhair fern
4. Temperature:Maidenhair fern likes warmth and is also cold-tolerant; 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 green, but below 5°C the leaves will suffer frost damage.
5. Fertilizing:Apply a thin liquid fertilizer to maidenhair fern 2~3 times a month. When fertilizing, do not let it stain the leaf surface, to avoid causing leaf rot. Because of maidenhair fern's calcium-loving habit, the potting soil should be supplemented with an appropriate amount of lime and crushed eggshells, and frequently applying calcium fertilizer will give better results. In winter, reduce watering and stop fertilizing.
6. Pests and diseases:Potted maidenhair fern often suffers from leaf blight; in the early stage it can be controlled with Bordeaux mixture, and in severe cases it can be controlled with a 1000~1500 times dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl. If scale insects harm the plant, it can be controlled with a 1000 times dilution of 40% omethoate.
7. Pruning:After the beginning of autumn, as the temperature drops, maidenhair fern enters a stage of slow growth, and the old leaves gradually turn yellow; at this time they should be cut off.
Image: maidenhair fern
2. Precautions for growing potted maidenhair fern
Maidenhair fern is best planted or repotted in spring. When repotting, be careful not to damage the root system, avoid wind, and replace half with new soil. After repotting, keep the potting soil moist and the air humidity suitable. Because the leaves of maidenhair fern grow quickly, during the growing season regularly thin out and prune away some old leaves. When the leaves are too dense, maidenhair fern not only loses its graceful form, but the new leaves growing inside will also die from lack of light, easily forming a hollow center, so it needs to be pruned in time. During care, if withered leaves are found on maidenhair fern, they should be cut off in time to keep the plant fresh and beautiful and to help new leaves sprout.
[Editor's concluding remarks]The leaves of maidenhair fern are fine and dense and have a very good absorbing effect on harmful substances in the air, and can be called a "plant purifier". The above has introduced the care methods and precautions for potted maidenhair fern, and we hope it can help everyone!