The fern seemed to be doing well for a long time. But for a few days now, wrinkles have appeared on your forehead when you look at him? The fronds have turned brown. What's behind it?
Why is my fern turning brown and what can I do?
If a fern turns brown, the causes can be a location that is too sunny, a lack of nutrients, the wrong fertilizer, dry soil or indoor air that is too dry. To save the fern, the location should be adjusted, fertilization optimized and air humidity increased.
Deciduous ferns turn brown every year
If you have a deciduous fern and its leaves turn brown in the fall, there is no need to worry. Many ferns are deciduous and shed their fronds after they turn brown. When it gets warmer again, new fronds will sprout. You can remove the old, brown fronds - if they are bothersome - as soon as they have dried out.
Too sunny location
Both indoor ferns and outdoor ferns develop brown leaves when they are exposed to direct sunlight. Very few fern species tolerate sunlight. Therefore, ferns should preferably be planted in the shade or partial shade.
Nutrient deficiency or wrong fertilizer
Another reason for fern fronds turning brown can be a lack of nutrients or, conversely, excessive fertilization. Always use organic fertilizers (€8.00 on Amazon) on your fern. These plants react allergically to mineral fertilizers with too many s alts. The following also applies to fertilizing: less is more.
Dry soil or room air that is too dry
Another common reason why fern leaves turn brown is dryness. Ferns need a lot of moisture. They should be watered regularly so that the soil is moist. However, make sure that no waterlogging occurs. This leads to root rot and brown leaves.
In addition, ferns are happy about the following measures:
- use lime-free water for watering
- Choose location in the bathroom (high humidity)
- Spray the fronds daily with a hand sprayer
- alternatively, wet the fronds with a damp cloth
Many indoor ferns turn brown and eventually die if the humidity is too low. This is especially the case in the heated living room. Most ferns are absolutely unsuitable for such locations.
Tips & Tricks
If brown spots suddenly appear on the underside of the fronds, don't worry. These are the spore capsules of the ferns. They are not an indication of care errors!
