Indoor Plant Profile: Maidenhair Fern
The delicate lacy leaves of this lovely fern have made it a big hit with plant lovers around the world
What may come as a surprise to those who adore this seemingly fragile, but actually quite tough, little plant is that it has more than 250 close relatives. Maidenhair ferns belong to the Adiantum genus, which includes over 200 species and many more cultivars.
In New Zealand and Australia what is sometimes described as the ‘true’ maidenhair fern Adiantum aethiopicum grows wild in both countries. Other species are native to China, North America, South America and other nations. What most maidenhair ferns have in common are their finely cut leaves and a love of damp, shady spots, the latter making them the perfect plant for bathrooms and other areas where there is plenty of moisture in the air.
In New Zealand and Australia what is sometimes described as the ‘true’ maidenhair fern Adiantum aethiopicum grows wild in both countries. Other species are native to China, North America, South America and other nations. What most maidenhair ferns have in common are their finely cut leaves and a love of damp, shady spots, the latter making them the perfect plant for bathrooms and other areas where there is plenty of moisture in the air.
What is their best position?
Maidenhair ferns prefer bright light but not direct sunlight. In the wild they thrive in dappled light so if your room is too dark, fronds will turn yellow and the plant won’t do well. An ideal position is a bathroom like this one where there is plenty of humidity and soft morning or late afternoon light.
Maidenhair ferns prefer bright light but not direct sunlight. In the wild they thrive in dappled light so if your room is too dark, fronds will turn yellow and the plant won’t do well. An ideal position is a bathroom like this one where there is plenty of humidity and soft morning or late afternoon light.
How warm should the room be?
Most maidenhair ferns grown as indoor plants come from temperate regions, which means they grow naturally in around 10-16°C. Keep them away from draughts and heaters. If the air is too dry it can burn their fronds. They also like moisture in the air, which means in warm rooms you may need to mist fronds regularly with water. Standing the pot in a tray or saucer of pebbles and water also helps keep humidity levels high.
Indoor Plant Profile: Moth Orchids
Most maidenhair ferns grown as indoor plants come from temperate regions, which means they grow naturally in around 10-16°C. Keep them away from draughts and heaters. If the air is too dry it can burn their fronds. They also like moisture in the air, which means in warm rooms you may need to mist fronds regularly with water. Standing the pot in a tray or saucer of pebbles and water also helps keep humidity levels high.
Indoor Plant Profile: Moth Orchids
How often should you feed and water maidenhair ferns?
Regular watering is essential. Always leave the potting mix damp (not sodden) and never let it dry out. Many people use self-watering pots for their maidenhair ferns so the plants can take up water as they need it. All you need to do is keep the reservoir topped up. Feed through the growing season (spring and summer) with a diluted liquid fertiliser such as Nitrosol or a seaweed or fish emulsion. Stop feeding in winter as plants become dormant.
Regular watering is essential. Always leave the potting mix damp (not sodden) and never let it dry out. Many people use self-watering pots for their maidenhair ferns so the plants can take up water as they need it. All you need to do is keep the reservoir topped up. Feed through the growing season (spring and summer) with a diluted liquid fertiliser such as Nitrosol or a seaweed or fish emulsion. Stop feeding in winter as plants become dormant.
When should I repot my maidenhair fern?
When the roots are spilling out of the pot it’s time to repot. This is best done in spring. Before you start trim off dead or damaged leaves. The rhizomes (fleshy roots) of the plant should be split into two or three pieces and repotted into a good quality, free-draining potting mix. Removing the top layer of potting mix every year and replacing it with some fresh mix is also a good idea.
Tip: Try growing your maidenhair ferns as filler foliage with other plants that like the same conditions, as shown here. They also do well in hanging baskets and terrariums.
Outdoor Plant Profile: Hydrangeas
When the roots are spilling out of the pot it’s time to repot. This is best done in spring. Before you start trim off dead or damaged leaves. The rhizomes (fleshy roots) of the plant should be split into two or three pieces and repotted into a good quality, free-draining potting mix. Removing the top layer of potting mix every year and replacing it with some fresh mix is also a good idea.
Tip: Try growing your maidenhair ferns as filler foliage with other plants that like the same conditions, as shown here. They also do well in hanging baskets and terrariums.
Outdoor Plant Profile: Hydrangeas
How do you revive maidenhair ferns that have dried out?
If the fronds of your maidenhair fern turn brown and it looks very dry this doesn’t mean it’s dead. These ferns are actually quite tough and can resprout if they haven’t been dry for too long. Sometimes dunking the pot into a bucket of water and holding it there until there are no air bubbles will do the trick. Failing that, cut off the fronds and put the pot outside in a sheltered, shady place. It can take a few months but often the fern will regenerate. Repotting can also help.
If the fronds of your maidenhair fern turn brown and it looks very dry this doesn’t mean it’s dead. These ferns are actually quite tough and can resprout if they haven’t been dry for too long. Sometimes dunking the pot into a bucket of water and holding it there until there are no air bubbles will do the trick. Failing that, cut off the fronds and put the pot outside in a sheltered, shady place. It can take a few months but often the fern will regenerate. Repotting can also help.
How do you propogate maidenhair ferns?
Dividing the rhizomes of ferns that have grown too big for their pots into smaller pieces is the easiest way to grow new plants. In nurseries, ferns are propagated from powdery spores that can be found in reddish brown capsules on the underside of their leaves. This method is quite tricky for all but experienced gardeners.
Tip: Maidenhair ferns will grow outside as shown here, in moist, semi-shaded, sheltered spots. They look wonderful beside ponds or in ferneries.
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Dividing the rhizomes of ferns that have grown too big for their pots into smaller pieces is the easiest way to grow new plants. In nurseries, ferns are propagated from powdery spores that can be found in reddish brown capsules on the underside of their leaves. This method is quite tricky for all but experienced gardeners.
Tip: Maidenhair ferns will grow outside as shown here, in moist, semi-shaded, sheltered spots. They look wonderful beside ponds or in ferneries.
Tell us
If you found this story useful, don’t forget to like it, share it, bookmark and tell us below. Join the conversation.
More
Browse photos of indoor plants
Common name: Maidenhair fern
Botanical name: Adiantum species
Origin: New Zealand, Australia, Asia, North and South America
Plant type: Fern