The fascinating room ferns are a popular green decoration for the living room or bright bathroom at home. If properly cared for, the species, which mostly come from the tropics, look very attractive and are also very long-lived - such an indoor fern can be cultivated for several decades without any problems. In this article we will tell you how to properly care for and plant these bizarre plants.
How do I properly care for a room fern?
Indoor ferns are long-lasting, attractive plants that are well suited to living spaces. Make sure you have a bright to partially shaded location, high humidity and a suitable substrate. Regular watering and occasional fertilizing promote their growth and he alth.
Origin and distribution
Ferns are found all over the world: around 12,000 different species are known, most of which come from the tropical regions of the world - only around 170 species are widespread throughout Europe. However, the attractive plants have one thing in common: with a few exceptions, as typical tree dwellers, they all prefer moist and shady locations. Fern plants have been native to Earth for a very long time: the oldest finds date back to the Devonian era and are dated to around 400 million years ago. The room ferns that we like to cultivate in our living room or bathroom also look back on a very long history. Most of the species sold for pot cultivation come from tropical and subtropical rainforests and are therefore not hardy.
Appearance and growth
The different types of room ferns have very different appearances. Depending on the species and variety, the characteristic leaf fronds can be just 20 centimeters or up to one and a half meters long. The method of reproduction is also typical: ferns form spore capsules on the undersides of the leaves, through which they practically sow themselves. The ripe spores sometimes appear as a fine, dark powder on the windowsill. However, flowers and seeds are not formed, which is why they are purely foliage plants.
Toxicity
The bracken fern is the most poisonous species of fern native to us. Like this one, indoor ferns are also all poisonous to humans and animals and should therefore be placed in such a way that children and pets do not have access to the plants. Simply touching it does not cause any symptoms, but eating the green fronds can lead to typical symptoms of poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. A doctor should be consulted immediately.
Which location is suitable?
The room fern feels most comfortable in a bright to partially shaded, but not directly sunny location. Most species are also quite sensitive to drafts and temperature fluctuations, which is why you should avoid placing them near a frequently opened window or door. As rainforest dwellers, most room ferns also need high humidity and are therefore best kept in a bright bathroom.
Substrate
For indoor ferns, it is best to choose a well-drained, loose and humus-rich substrate. Make sure to purchase one that is compost-based if possible, as peat is a poor choice for various reasons - even if these soils are cheaper. Mix the humus soil with clay granules or expanded clay to improve the permeability and thus avoid waterlogging right from the start.
Planting / Repotting
Put the indoor fern in fresh substrate and a larger pot immediately after purchase - the plants are usually in planters that are far too small, so they benefit from being moved quickly. Young ferns should be transplanted into a larger container every one to two years; older ones only receive fresh substrate. Good drainage is essential so that excess irrigation water can flow away unhindered.
Watering the indoor fern
Although indoor ferns do not like waterlogging, they cannot tolerate a dry root ball either - so both a permanently moist and a dried out substrate should be avoided as much as possible. It is best to water the plant when the top layer of potting soil has dried - and then slowly and thoroughly. Immediately pour any expired irrigation water out of the planter or saucer. Occasionally you can also dive the plant, i.e. H. Place the root ball (in the plant pot!) in a bucket filled with water for a few minutes. Then let it drain well.
Fertilize indoor ferns properly
If the room fern is potted annually in fresh, humus-rich substrate, additional fertilization is basically not necessary. If this is not the case, supply the plant with a low-dose liquid fertilizer for green plants every 14 days between April and October. There is no fertilization in winter.
Cut the indoor fern correctly
Indoor ferns are quite insensitive to cutting measures and generally tolerate them very well. Some vigorous species can be kept compact through targeted pruning; brown and dried out fronds should also be removed as quickly as possible. Older specimens also benefit from more pruning and then sprout many fresh shoots - the plants are rejuvenated, as the gardener calls it.
Propagate indoor ferns
You can easily propagate an older room fern by dividing it. But the spore-bearing fronds can also be used to grow new plants. However, you need a lot of patience because it can take up to a year for the young ferns to become recognizable as such. And this is how it works:
- Cut off fronds with ripe spores
- Place it on a piece of paper and leave it in a warm place for two days
- fill a shallow container with growing substrate
- moisten this well
- Spread spores on it
- Cover the container with plastic film or similar
- place in a dry and warm place
- Continuously keep the substrate slightly moist
- ventilate daily to avoid mold growth
After about three months - if it worked - a greenish coating will appear on the substrate surface. This is not mold, but rather the seedlings of the fern. However, they will only be recognizable as such after a few more months.
Wintering
In winter, there are no special care instructions for most species, with the exception of humidity. During the heating period, the air is particularly dry, which is why you should counteract this with a humidifier or something similar.
Diseases and pests
In terms of diseases and pests, indoor ferns are quite robust as long as they are cared for properly. Annoying leaf suckers such as spider mites, scale insects and aphids usually only appear when the plant is too dry.
Tip
Many indoor ferns can be kept very well in hydroponics, so that the maintenance effort is reduced even further.
Species and varieties
House ferns are decorative and – with proper care – long-lasting house plants. Here we present the most beautiful types for living rooms etc.
(Hanging) Sword Fern
The sword fern has been cultivated for a very long time: the fern, originally native to the tropical regions of Africa, South America and Asia, has enjoyed great popularity in the home and garden for 200 years. This is not a single species, but a genus comprising around 30 different species, which in turn are included in the sword fern family (bot. Nephrolepidaceae). The well-known upright sword fern (bot. Nephrolepis ex altata), which looks extremely decorative with its feathery, light green leaves that are up to 150 centimeters long, is particularly suitable for the room. Depending on the variety, the fronds grow upright to slightly overhanging and can be curled, wavy or twisted. Also common is the cord-leaved sword fern (bot. Nephrolepis cordifolia), which has smoother leaflets. Both species are particularly effective as impressive solitaires in hanging baskets or on plant columns.
maidenhair fern
The maidenhair fern (bot. Adiantum raddianum) has a delicate and delicate appearance, to which the countless fresh green and very fine leaves on the thin, shiny and black-brown petioles contribute significantly. The feather fronds, which initially grow upright and later overhang, can be up to 50 centimeters long and allow water to simply roll off. Maidenhair ferns can be found all over the world, some species are even at home in the Alps. However, the varieties cultivated as indoor ferns are all of tropical origin and therefore not hardy. This plant feels most comfortable in a bright bathroom due to the high humidity.
staghorn fern
The bizarre-looking staghorn fern (bot. Platycerium) lives up to its name: the up to one meter long, green leaves branch out over the years like deer antlers. The spore capsules on the undersides form large, dark brown and striking areas that are characteristic of the species. The staghorn fern also develops so-called mantle leaves, which turn brown and die after a while. The staghorn fern is at home in almost all tropical forests in the world, where it grows epiphytically (i.e. sessile) on the trunks or branch forks of the jungle giants. In the living room, the attractive plant is particularly effective in hanging baskets and, thanks to the waxy surface of the leaves, also feels comfortable in dry indoor air. These protect the plant from drying out. For this reason, the staghorn fern should not be sprayed like other indoor ferns. Instead, immerse it in lukewarm water for about a quarter of an hour once a week.
Button Fern
At first glance, the button fern (bot. Pellaea rotundifolia), also known as the fur fern, doesn't look like a fern at all: Where you would expect delicate fronds, the species, which belongs to the fur fern family (bot. Sinopteridaceae), has thick, leathery and shiny leaflets. These are reddish in color when they shoot and are located on the dark and creeping fronds, which are only up to 20 centimeters long. The button fern also differs from other room ferns in its other properties: it needs a comparatively bright location, requires little watering and is quite insensitive to dry indoor air and normal tap water.
Nest Fern
The elegant nest fern (bot. (Aspenium nidus) has leaf fronds up to 100 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide, all of which grow from a central point of vegetation and form a funnel-like rosette in the middle - the "nest". The shiny leaves are undivided and mostly decoratively wavy. However, the advantage of the nest fern lies not only in its pretty appearance, but also in the fact that it can cope with very little light. The plant is therefore also suitable for dark locations, but needs a warm place all year round with temperatures of at least 18 degrees Celsius and high humidity. In addition, the nest fern has a high water requirement and should not only be watered regularly, but also occasionally. To do this, use low-lime water such as rainwater or filtered tap water.
