Helping you to find a warm moist, shady position for growing potential ferns

Ferns can be propagated indoors, creating a tropical rainforest with unique leave shapes and plant structures. Ferns however require certain climatic conditions for them to grow and reach there full potential.

Ideal positions for indoor ferns

Although ferns can grow in almost all parts of the world, not all of them appreciate being grown indoors. Ferns that originated from tropical or sub-tropical climates can be propagated indoors with no problem. Some ferns are reluctant to grow indoors because indoor conditions are different from the conditions in the tropical rain forests. If you want the ferns to grow indoors, there is a need to replicate the tropical rainforest conditions and many botanists achieved this by using greenhouses which have high humidity.

Temperature

Ferns that originated from the tropical regions such as maidenhair (Adiantum) and Davallia grow well in temperatures around 25`C. Indoors room temperature between 18-20`C also allows the ferns to grow. However the temperatures go down to 16`C in winter and thus there needs to be temperature control methods. Ferns from subtropical regions do quiet well in low temperatures. These ferns include Adiantum hisidulum which can thrive in temperature as low as 12`C.

Humidity

The air indoors is far too dry for ferns to grow well. Ferns require very high humidity and they tend to flourish in either an enclosed plant picture window or in a glass case. It is good practice to stand the ferns in room where humidity rises above average temporarily. Rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens have this effect.

Light

Ferns do not like to be placed in direct sunlight and will do well in a shady position. However this does not give you permission to place the ferns in complete darkness. The ferns need sunlight at least in small quantities if they are to grow well. The sunlight will help them produce food. East and west facing windows receive adequate morning and evening sunlight. Place ferns that prefer dark positions on north facing windows. Avoid placing ferns on south-facing windows because they receive intense sunlight all day long. If you have no other place besides a window that is facing south, ensure that the fern has some form of shade.

Ferns in an aquarium

Ferns adore this position. The design is eye-catching and ensures that the plants receive humid conditions. Use a luxmeter to determine the light intensity in the room. Indoor ferns will grow ell in positions between 500-1000 lux.

Purchasing ferns

You can purchase ferns from nurseries, flower shops and garden centers. Avoid buying ferns that

  • Do not grow well

  • Have leaves that are deformed

  • Have brown leaves, feathers or leaf tips

  • Have dry rootstocks

  • Have webs and pests

When you bring in the fern to your home make sure that it settles in comfortably in its new position. Place it in a position that is similar to the one in the nursery and allow the fern to adopt gradually with time. Do not rush to transplant the new fern into a larger pot. You will need to repot for at least a year before you can move it. Add fertilizer after about 4 weeks.