Fern ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips and varieties

Plant ferns properly

Already when planting, direct your attention to the special botanical structure of the primeval fern, set the course for a gorgeous and uncomplicated ornamental leaf plant. Choose a partially shaded to shady location with fresh, moist soil, richly populated with soil organisms. During the preparatory work, place the root ball in lime-free water until no more air bubbles rise. How to properly plant fern:

The planting pit has twice the volume of the root system
Compost, bog soil, peat and soil are ready for excavation Horn meal add
Insert the potted young plant and pour it generously overhead

Care tips

The guide to the proper care of ferns is dominated by an ample supply of water through the roots and leaves. All other references are lined up behind it. The key factors at a glance:

Water the fern regularly and sprinkle with lime-free water
From April to mid / end of September, fertilize organically every 4 weeks
Container plants provide liquid fertilizer for ferns
Cut out dead leaves during the season
Carry out ground-level pruning in January / February

If the fern is used as a decorative houseplant, there is no need to cut it back completely. If the temperature remains constant, the plant does not take a winter break. Therefore, continue to administer fertilizer every 4-6 weeks from October to March.
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Which location is suitable?

Declared as a shade plant, the fern should not live completely cut off from sunlight. Mild morning or evening sun is even desirable for vital growth. This is how the light and temperature conditions at the location should be:

Partly to shady location
No blazing sun or stagnant heat at noon
Gladly on the cool edge of the wood, airy, but not exposed to the wind

The higher the humidity, the lower the maintenance effort. If you cultivate fern as a room plant, it will thrive in other humid rooms in the bathroom.
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The correct planting distance

The selected species and variety defines the planting distance. The following overview defines the framework conditions for small, medium and large ferns:

Small ferns up to 40 cm high: plant spacing 25-35 cm
Medium-sized ferns 40-80 cm high: planting distance 45-55 cm
Large ferns 80-120 cm high: planting distance 70-100 cm

What soil does the plant need?

The closer the quality of the earth comes to the loose forest soil, the more frugal the plant is when it comes to caring for it. Ferns value the following attributes:

Nutrient-rich, humic and permeable
Fresh, moist, yet without waterlogging
Sour to minimally chalky

What is the best time to plant?

The ideal planting time outdoors is from late March / early April to early June. Plant a frost-sensitive plant in the ground only after the ice saints. Indoor ferns are planted all year round.

When is the flowering time?

As a vascular spore plant, fern does not depend on attracting insects and other pollinators to reproduce. A flower will therefore not appear on the ornamental foliage plants.

Cut the fern properly

Cut off dried leaves at the base during the growing season to make room for fresh shoots. If the plant thrives in the bed, the root system will pull in the leaves in winter at the latest. Ideally, the withered fronds stay on the plant until January / February as additional protection against frost and snow, and then be shortened near the ground. If you cultivate ferns continuously behind glass in the room or conservatory, there is no need to completely cut them back.
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Watering fern

The plant comes from the rainforests of the tropics, where the sun never breaks through the twilight and the air contains 90 percent moisture. With the help of the right casting technique, it is possible to create an almost tropical microclimate for vital growth. How to handle this central care topic properly:

Fern abundantly and regularly water with soft water
Spray or water the leaves every 1-2 days

Apart from exceptions, such as swimming fern, the plant should not be exposed to permanent waterlogging.
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Fertilize the fern properly

All ferns are naturally sensitive to lime and salt. In addition to the use of soft irrigation water, you take this requirement into account with the following nutrient supply:

Fern in the bed once a month from April to September fertilize with compost or nettle manure
Apply liquid special fertilizer for ferns in the bucket every 14 days

Since indoor ferns keep their green fronds all year round, apply liquid fertilizer in diluted concentration every 4-6 weeks from October to March. Ideally, add the preparation to the watering water to spray the plant with.
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Diseases

Over millions of years of evolution, ferns developed robust disease resistance. Regardless, the need for permanent moisture sometimes causes an infestation with fungi. Above all, putrefactive fungi cause brown discoloration of the leaves and the plant dies. Thoroughly thin out the fern and create better drainage. In addition, cinnamon powder has a defensive effect on the spores, scattered on the substrate.
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Pests

Fern is one of the preferred prey patterns of black weevils and snails. To get rid of the voracious pests, do the following:

Use bait traps against black weevils prepared with nematode gel
At the same time, the larvae in the earth fight with nematodes dissolved in water from the watering can
Keep snails away with walking barriers made of potsherds, grit or other sharp-edged materials
Coffee grounds scattered around the plant have a toxic effect on the voracious pests

Overwinter

The majority of ferns are frost hardy. In the course of winter, the plant pulls in its leaves in order to sprout freshly at the beginning of the next season. If you cultivate the ornamental foliage plant in the bucket or if the garden is in a rough location, we recommend these protective measures:

Leave the withered leaves on the fern until late winter
Pile the plant with leaves, compost, straw or coniferous twigs
Wrap a planter in bubble wrap and place it on a wooden block
Water on frost-free days if there is no snow or rain

Fern propagate

These methods are available for breeding ferns:

Division of the root ball or Rhizomes in spring: by far the easiest propagation
sowing of spores harvested from the undersides of the leaves: labor-intensive and tedious

Shield fern develops kindel on its own in the armpits of its fronds. These are cut out and then rooted in a disinfected Potting soil within a few weeks.
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How do I transplant properly?

Do not expect ferns to relocate until they are older than 4 years. For this measure, choose an overcast day in April or May so that the plant can take root in the new place during the summer. Follow these steps:

The root area with the spade cut off in the radius of the expected growth height
With the Digging fork loosen and lift out of the ground
The new planting pit has twice the volume of the root ball

Do not plant the fern any deeper than at the previous location. Ideally, you should enrich the excavation with compost, bog soil and Horn shavings.(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) In order for the plant to grow quickly, water every 1-2 days for the first 2 weeks.
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Fern in the pot

Fern thrives in top form in pots when the plant finds a nutrient-rich, loose and structurally stable substrate. Cover the floor with potsherds or Expanded clay(€ 16.36 at Amazon *) as drainage, because waterlogging triggers root rot. This is how the care is exemplary:

Water abundantly when the substrate is dry
Spray every 2-3 days with soft, room warm water
Fertilize every 2 weeks from April to September and every 4-6 weeks from October to March
Cut off wilted fronds regularly at the base

Use mainly decalcified irrigation water and fertilize with low-salt special fertilizer for ferns.

Is Fern Poisonous?

Caution should be exercised when handling ferns, as they are all poisonous. The level of their toxicity varies from plant to plant. As a result, cultivation within the reach of children and pets is not recommended. Wearing gloves is mandatory for all maintenance and planting work.
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Brown leaves

Brown leaves on ferns indicate frost damage or rot. If delayed ground frost can be excluded as a cause, check the plant for waterlogging and rot fungi. If in doubt, change the location, optimize the water supply and thin out the fern. Repeatedly pollinate the diseased plant Rock flour(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) and add cinnamon powder to the substrate.
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Yellow leaves

Yellow leaves on ferns are a characteristic symptom of leaf chlorosis. This is an undersupply of the plant with iron, which is fixed in the soil due to an excessive lime content. Therefore, pour only with soft water. A special iron fertilizer from specialist retailers provides a short-term remedy.

The most beautiful varieties

Whitley Giant: medium-sized potted fern suitable for beginners for damp, shady locations; Growth height up to 40 cm
Golden scale fern: evergreen plant with golden shimmering undersides of leaves; Growth height 50-100 cm
Crispa Whiteside: lush fern with ruffled fronds all year round; Height of growth 80 cm
Deer tongue: lime-compatible variety with featherless leaves that thrives even in the deepest shade; Growth height 30-60 cm
Barnesii: more splendid Worm fern with frizzy, tightly upright feathered fronds; Height 90-100 cm
Peacock fern: delicate, light green fronds on black stems for humid locations; Growth height 40-50 cm