Basic Facts About the Maidenhair Fern and How to Grow It

The maidenhair fern is one of the more common and widely cultivated green plants. With its graceful, varied stems and leaves and its compact size, it is very well suited to being grown in a small pot to accent places such as a home windowsill, and it is popular with many plant owners. Below, let us look at an introduction to how to grow the maidenhair fern well.

I. Basic Facts About the Maidenhair Fern

The maidenhair fern (scientific name: Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn.) is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant, also known as wire fern, maiden's hair, wire grass, and water pig bristle soil. Its pale green, thin-textured fronds paired with the glossy black leaf stalks make it look especially elegant and graceful. It grows 0.1-0.5 m tall. Because its stems are slender and resemble iron wire in color, it is called the wire fern. The maidenhair fern is also an indicator of calcareous soil. Because it fears dryness and strong light, it must be placed in a spot without direct sunlight for care. The maidenhair fern also has many varieties, such as the lotus-leaf maidenhair fern and the kidney-leaved maidenhair fern. It is a cosmopolitan species, growing wild in all regions.

II. How to Grow the Maidenhair Fern

1. Pot and soil: When potting a maidenhair fern, a light-colored glazed pot or clay pot may be chosen; the potting soil must have good water permeability and aeration. Generally, use humus-rich peat soil or leaf mold, then 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 tile pieces or coarse sand to aid drainage, and the rhizome should be planted at a depth of 1.5-2.5 cm. Plant or repot and change the soil in spring. For potting, a culture soil 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 potting soil moist and the air humidity relatively high. Once new shoots grow, normal care can be resumed.

2. Temperature: The maidenhair fern likes a cool climate, with a growing temperature between 15°C-25°C. The temperature of the leaves must not be lower than 7°C, otherwise the fronds may be frostbitten. In an air-conditioned room, if pot cultivation is used, excessive transpiration of water can be avoided, thus preventing the leaves from withering.

3. Water: The 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 this can be reduced to 1-2 times, but it still needs frequent misting to prevent the leaves from becoming too dry.

4. Fertilizing: Fertilizing is essential for the maidenhair fern, but grasp the principle of "small amounts, applied often"; a 1000-2000 times diluted solution of Hyponex or similar is sufficient.

5. Pruning: After autumn begins, as the temperature drops, the maidenhair fern enters a stage of slow growth, and the old leaves gradually turn yellow; at this time they should be cut off.

6. Pests and diseases: In potted maidenhair ferns, leaf blight often occurs. In the early stage, Bordeaux mixture can be used for control, and in severe cases a 1000-1500 times solution of 70% thiophanate-methyl can be used for control. If scale insects harm the plant, a 1000 times solution of 40% omethoate can be used for control.

The above is an introduction to how to grow the maidenhair fern well, and we hope it can be of help to flower lovers.