Indoor fern
29.00 €
Indoor or otherwise called Boston ferns, originating from Central America, are the most popular of the fern species. These ferns quickly spread across the porches and parlors of North American homes during the Victorian era.
The fern is sold with a decorative ceramic pot. Total height about 50cm
Out of stock
Description
Watering and care
Caring for Boston ferns is simple, all that is important is to provide them with plenty of moisture. Ferns come from tropical forests where the relative humidity remains well above 70%.
Keep the soil constantly moist, but not soggy. Keep an eye on large and hanging ferns as they can dry out quickly. Too much or too little watering can cause the leaves to fall or begin to wither. Always use room temperature water for indoor plants – cold water can cause shock.
Regularly spraying the fern with water will help prevent invasion by spider mites, which prefer drier conditions.
Place
A place with bright, indirect light is most suitable. Ferns are not suitable for direct sunlight. Rotate the plant weekly to get light from all sides.
Temperature
Try to keep the air around the fern moist (about 50% relative humidity). It is best to use a cool mist room humidifier. Spraying with room temperature water helps if you can spray several times a day. Suitable temperature 18-24 degrees.
Fertilization
Fertilize every 2 weeks year-round with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer diluted in half.
Transplantation
Repot in the spring when the roots fill the container. Transfer the fern to a pot that is only slightly larger. Want to control its size? Remove the fern from its container and trim about 1/4 of its roots. Then repot into the same pot it was in before.
Diseases and problems
Brown leaves are often caused by dry weather. Do not place the fern near a heat or AC vent, as temperature fluctuations can shock the plant and cause its fronds to turn brown. Some redness at the tips of the buns is normal. If you like, you can trim the brown leaves with scissors for a neat look.
Yellow and wilted leaves are a sign of overwatering. Reduce the amount of water and cut off the damaged leaves. Use a container with drainage holes to avoid waterlogging the soil. Check the roots of the plant for rot.
Pests
Look for scales that look like small brown disks on the leaves (Sometimes the brown spores on the underside of the leaves are mistaken for scale insects. You can identify the spores because they are in two rows under each spike). To remove scale insects, scrape them off with your fingernails. Do not use insecticides on ferns as the chemicals can damage the ferns.
Spider mites are rarer but can cause more damage. Thin bands between the leaves are a sign of this harmful pest. Cut off badly damaged leaves, but do not use insecticides that can damage them. If it’s warm enough, you can take the fern outside and wash it with lukewarm water to dislodge these mites. Otherwise, put the fern in the shower.
