5 Tips to Keep Your Maidenhair Fern Alive

Maidenhair fern care can be tricky at the best of times. It’s no wonder that the maidenhair has earned the reputation for being notoriously difficult to keep happy. Delicate and humidity-loving, there often seems to be a fine line between healthy and flourishing and dried out at death’s door. Here are my top 5 tips to keep your maidenhair fern alive.

I’ve had years of frustration, hard learning, research, and practice when it comes to dealing with these beautiful plants. Once you learn to master the care process, however, keeping these elegant, tropical evergreens healthy becomes effortless. Well, almost!

Medium Light

Indirect sunlight is ideal for this fern. In its natural habitat, the maidenhair fern lives in woodland shaded by trees, with small dapples of sunlight. Think dark and damp. As a general rule, avoid direct sunlight in the summer months, as this will be too harsh and scorch the soft leaves. This is one of the fastest ways to kill off maidenhair ferns, so aim to avoid them at all costs.

Misting

As a plant native to tropical climates, maidenhair ferns won’t be happy unless there is a degree of moisture in the air. This can prove tricky in cooler nations where central heating is regularly used, producing dry heat. Maidenhairs will generally thrive living in the bathroom, where steam from showers and baths creates artificial humidity.

Even so, you may find that your maidenhair requires an additional misting with a plant mister or spray bottle once a week. There are many beautiful glass bottle misters to choose from these days; I particularly love this grey-coloured one from Offidix. If living in the bathroom isn’t possible or preferred, mist the leaves at least twice a week for best practice maidenhair fern care.

Regular Watering

This can prove to be a delicate balance. The aim is to keep the soil evenly moist at all times. Check frequently, and if the top inch of soil is dry, water your maidenhair. Do not drench your fern or allow excess water to sit in the pot, however. Lift the fern out of the outer plant pot to double-check that it isn’t drowning, and if so, tip the water away. Afterwards, leave your maidenhair out of the pot to dry out for several hours.

I’ve been caught out several times by overwatering, which hasn’t ended well. Ironically, maidenhair ferns can often appear under-watered with browning leaves when the opposite is true. Don’t be fooled, and look for yourself whilst caring for your maidenhair fern.

Don’t Touch the Leaves

As tempting as it may be, resist the urge. Your hands contain natural oils, which are transferred onto the leaves if touched. This blocks the fern’s ability to absorb moisture in the air and make energy from light. If you repeatedly touch the maidenhair’s leaves, over time, this will lead to a sickly plant. When you do need to trim a sprig, for example, always use gloves.

The Right Temperature

The ultimate temperature for maidenhair ferns is between 65 to 75ºF (18 to 24ºC). The minimum the fern can withstand is 55ºF (13ºC). For most countries, it hopefully shouldn’t be too difficult to keep within this range, provided you don’t go mad with the central heating or air conditioning.

Final Thoughts on 5 Tips to Keep Your Maidenhair Fern Alive

Sometimes, despite all your best efforts, maidenhair ferns may dry out and fall into a past redemption state. This unfortunate event can often happen if you leave the house for a while. Do not fear, as all is not lost. In this circumstance, cut the fronds off at the soil level and make a concerted effort to keep the soil evenly moist. In my experience, signs of life and fresh, bright green shoots typically appear after several weeks. Maidenhair fern care isn’t that difficult once you realise what these seemingly demanding evergreens want, and the balance is right.

If you found 5 Tips to Keep Your Maidenhair Fern Alive helpful, you may also enjoy How to Be Ruthless When Decluttering Clothes.