Growing ferns as houseplants

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Zahra Ali

I am often asked, ‘’which plant can I easily grow indoors?”. If you are one of these nature-lovers who want to bring some green inside your homes, this article will guide you to grow this fantastic plant.

Ferns that will not only add value to your house but also create a cleaner atmosphere. Ferns are ancient plants that have spread around the world by propagation through spores. They are adaptive of different growing conditions and grow almost everywhere around the world. Fascinating Ferns are older than animals, dinosaurs and even flowering plants. They are thriving on this planet since before all of these.

Ferns naturally grow under the shady moist canopy of trees in forests. Tropical ferns thrive outdoors in semi shade to full sun depends on where you live. These lush greens plants also grow well indoors. All you need is a good air circulation and some direct or indirect sunlight.

Keeping them near a window that gets few hours of direct or indirect sunlight, window sill, balcony or terrace. You can also place these near windows near your staircase or at the entrance where the requirements are met.

Light: Ferns grow best in direct or indirect sunlight.

Humidity: Ferns, like other tropical or subtropical plants, like to grow in high humid to relative humid climates. Ferns tend to die in dry hot environment. Avoid keeping them in parts of the house where you have placed heaters, geyser or in your kitchen where its hot and dry all the time. You can also add humidity around your plants by setting up a humidifier.

Another way of retaining moisture and keeping surroundings humid is to place your pots into a tray filled with pebbles or gravel. Water your tray and let the soil in pots soak in water slowly.

Making the soil mix right also helps. Water-loving plants like ferns will grow better in soils that retain moisture. Adding coconut coir or peat moss to the soil mix helps you achieve that.

Soil: Ferns like soil rich in organic matter that drains well. Moisture retaining soil will work best. Most of the varieties will grow in pH levels of 4 to 7.

General Care for Ferns

Fertilize: Add slow-release organic fertilizer to your plants each month from spring to fall. Avoid adding fertilizers in winters.

Water: Ferns love lots of rain. When you keep them indoors make sure you water your plants and the soil is well drain as well. 

Space: Divide plants or repot as soon new growth appear that will not fit in the pot. 

Fern Varieties

Ferns have a huge range of sizes, shapes and textures. From very delicate leaves to giant leaved varieties, you can select any that suits your space. Most of the houses will have small space and keeping the fact in view, I have compiled a list of ferns that will best suit your home.

Squirrel’s foot fern: This grows 20-35 cm big and for this reason, it is also used as ground cover in areas that get mild winters in tropics. Plants look lovely in hanging baskets as house a plant. They prefer bright indirect light.

Maidenhair fern: Fan- shaped delicate bright green leaflets of this beautiful fern looks nice in a tall container.

Asparagus Fern: This eye-catching plant stands tall and look very attractive because of its feathery foliage.

While there is a wide range of ferns available around the world, but these are few varieties that are easy to find in nurseries here.

Some other varieties best for containers include:

• Lady fern

• Shaggy shield fern

• Scaly male

• Sunset

• Tiger fern

• Hart’s tongue

• Boston fern

• Soft shield fern

• Holly fern

• Korean Rock fern

The humble evergreen fern has very old connections with this planet. I find it quite spiritual. Having this plant in your home will remind you of your connection with the soil and with this planet.