When it comes to winter fern care – with just a few simple secrets, you can keep your ferns looking healthy and green with ease – all the way to spring!
Bringing your ferns indoors for the winter is one of the best ways to save on your gardening budget. Instead of tossing out your ferns every fall to purchase new plants every spring, with just a little extra attention, you can keep them alive and growing year after year.
Even more, it also can fill your home with some serious winter greenery and interest! The good news is that winter fern care doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. In fact, by taking care of just three simple and basic needs, your ferns will thrive all winter long!
Winter Fern Care – 3 Secrets To Keep Your Ferns Beautiful Indoors!
#1 Giving Your Ferns The Right Location
More times than not, when ferns fail inside in the winter, it’s usually because they were simply put in the wrong location.
In their natural habitat, ferns are accustomed to the cooler shade of forests. In the forest, sunlight is never direct. Instead, it gets filtered by the layers of leaves overhead. Even outdoors in baskets and containers, ferns will only thrive in the shade with indirect lighting.
When they’re brought indoors, it’s crucial to mimic those same conditions. Many gardeners are tempted to place their fern in a bright window. Especially in the winter when the days are shorter and the sun doesn’t have the same heat. Unfortunately, this will only harm the plant.
The delicate foliage of a fern is extremely tender. And in direct sunlight or in a sunny window, its fronds will burn easily. Instead, the best location for your fern is a room that provides filtered or indirect light.
This means positioning the plant near a window where light is softened by curtains or blinds. One thing is for sure – always avoid placing your fern directly in front of a sunny window.
Avoiding Excessive Heat Sources – Winter Fern Care
Equally important is keeping your fern away from heat sources such as radiators, fireplaces and heating vents. The warm, dry air generated by these sources will quickly sap moisture from your plant, leaving it wilted and lifeless.
Another key location to avoid is near doors that open to the outdoors. The constant rush of cold air and changing temperatures can lead to leaf drop. It can also dry out the foliage far faster as well.
Instead, keep your fern in a cooler part of the room where temperatures remain consistent and humidity levels are higher. Rooms like kitchens or bathrooms, which often have higher moisture levels, can be ideal locations for ferns during the winter.
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#2 Watering For Success – Winter Fern Care
The second most common reason a fern struggles indoors is improper watering. Watering can definitely make or break a fern’s success anytime – but especially during the winter months.
While ferns enjoy humidity and a fair amount of moisture, overwatering can quickly lead to root rot. And root rot is one of the most common causes of fern failure. During the winter, when ferns are growing more slowly, you simply will not need to water as much.
The secret to keeping your fern hydrated without overdoing it is to focus on misting the foliage regularly. Misting mimics the natural humidity of a fern’s forest environment and keeps the fronds looking fresh, bright, and green.
Use a basic water bottle spayer to mist your fern two to three times a week. This regular misting helps prevent the foliage from drying out, especially in homes where indoor heating systems can lower humidity levels significantly.
In addition to misting, water the soil only when it begins to dry out. Ferns prefer their soil to be consistently damp but not soggy. To check if your plant needs water, lightly press your finger into the top inch of soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If there is any moisture at all – hold off!
With ferns, it’s always better to water less frequently than too much. Overwatering can suffocate the roots and cause irreparable damage. When you do water, aim to soak the soil evenly, allowing any excess water to drain out of the bottom of the container to prevent pooling. See: How To Water & Fertilize Ferns – 2 Big Secrets To Fern Success!
#3 : Regular Pruning – Winter Fern Care
Last but not least, it’s very important to prune your plant and trim off unhealthy or weak leaves on a regular basis.
During the winter months, ferns may occasionally develop weak or damaged fronds. Especially when the fern is first adjusting to the indoors. Simply remove any dead, brown or weak fronds as they begin to appear.
Not only does regular pruning keep your plant looking tidy, it also helps redirect its energy to healthy growth. In at nutshell, removing damaged fronds prevents the plant from wasting energy on foliage that cannot recover.
To prune your fern, use a clean pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears to snip off any discolored or damaged fronds at their base. Don’t be afraid to trim back your fern a little more aggressively if needed. It’s far better to keep the plant a manageable size than to let it become overcrowded or unbalanced.
Putting Ferns Into Dormancy – Winter Fern Care
If your fern is looking particularly worn or ragged, there’s an additional option: cutting it back completely and allowing it to go dormant for the rest of winter.
While this may seem drastic, it can be an excellent way to “reset” a struggling fern. To do this, trim all of the fronds back to just above the soil line. Store the fern in a cool, dark place where temperatures remain above freezing but are consistently cool. A basement or garage are both usually perfect for this.
During this dormant period, the plant will require minimal care. All you need to do is check the soil occasionally and water lightly if it becomes dry. Come spring, you can bring the fern back into a bright, warm space, and it will begin to regrow fresh, new fronds.
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