The fern that breaks the rules
The maidenhair fern – aka adiantum raddianum – is the ultimate rule breaker when it comes to watering.
Pronounced 'ahh-di-an-tum ray-di-ah-num', this plant gets its name because of the beautiful black stems resembling human hair, which contrasts beautifully with the vibrant green foliage.
'They grow wild in South America in rock crevices and in logs,' reveals plan expert Tony Le-Britton of @notanotherjungle. 'So they like to stay consistently damp around their roots, and that's where a lot of people go wrong with them. Many people think that maidenhair ferns are difficult to keep. But like any plant, give it what it likes and it will thrive in your care.'
Watch the video above to discover how to grow and care for maidenhair fern in episode three of Plants With Impact
Watering
'Most houseplants benefit from drying out between watering, but this one breaks the rules and always needs to be kept moist,' reveals Tony. 'A good tip is to put it somewhere accessible, so you remember to check and water it every few days.'
As soon as the top layer of soil starts to dry, it’s time to water, but avoid waterlogging the soil. ‘Every couple of days, just pull back the leaves and check the surface of the soil. If it’s starting to look dry, water it thoroughly right across the surface,' Tony explains.
Tony's very own maidenhair fern includes multiple plants in one pot that doesn't have drainage holes. 'That's another rule that we usually try and stay away from with houseplants. Most houseplants definitely need drainage holes to allow the water to run through, but not having them here really helps retain that extra bit of moisture,' Tony explains. 'And because we are planting multiple plants into one pot and filling it with extra soil, there's extra areas to hold some moisture on the roots.'
How to revive a dying maidenhair fern
If you forget to water your fern and it's looking far from happy or healthy, all hope is not lost. Even if your plant is dry with crispy leaves, it can be revived.
'It's not necessarily the end of its life,' says Tony. 'Figure out which leaves are really brown and crispy and will never recover, and you can either use your fingers to nip it out or get some snips to cut out dead foliage.'
It will recover quickly with new shoots emerging, but it's really important that you keep it damp. 'It's a really critical time when the plant is starting to recover,' Tony adds.
Light
Avoid low-light situations. Instead, place the fern where it gets some direct sun early in the morning or late in the afternoon for up to two hours, and ensure it has an unobstructed view of the sky.
Feeding
As well as regular watering it's really important to feed your fern. 'I recommend feeding this every other watering, and I prefer to use something that dissolves into the water, so you can be sure that your plant's getting exactly the nutrition that it needs,' says Tony.
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