ferns

When summer vacation is over and the skies grow increasingly clouded, we spend more and more time indoors. Our houseplant needs shift from intense light and heat to lower light, softness and tranquility.

Enter the ferns with their often delicate, always beautiful foliage which provides the perfect backdrop to a long session of gazing out the window at the trickling rain and brilliantly colored trees.

Indoor ferns thrive in lower light situations. North or east facing windows are best, west or south facing areas can scald leaves. Most ferns should be kept consistently moist though not soggy and shouldn’t sit in excess water. Watering needs will vary depending on numerous factors so check the soil regularly to prevent over-drying or over-watering.

It is helpful to increase humidity around the ferns as much as possible. A simple way to do this is to place them in a well-lit bathroom or kitchen.

Also helpful is misting the foliage regularly with tepid water, placing the ferns on a pebble or humidity tray or placing their main pot within another slightly larger pot and filling the gap between with moist moss. Of course a humidifier would be beneficial as well.

Some fantastic ferns you may find at our stores include the following:

Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum species: Maidenhair Ferns

Very delicate visually and constitutionally. Require perhaps the highest humidity levels of all the indoor ferns and will not tolerate drying out or too much sun.

Mother Fern

Asplenium species: Bird’s Nest and Mother Ferns

The Bird’s Nest is a leathery, wide leaved species while the Mother Fern is feathery and produces many plantlets on mature fronds. Both are in the easy-to-grow category.

Rabbit's Foot Fern

Davallia: Rabbit/ Squirrel Foot Fern

Not especially difficult and can even handle some drying out between watering. Features a cool furry rhizome that creeps along the surface of the soil and crawls over the edge of the pot!

Boston Fern

Nephrolepis exaltata: Boston Fern

Undoubtedly the most recognizable and classic of all the indoor ferns, requires misting and constant moisture. Can get quite large and they look great in a hanging basket.

Button Fern

Pellaea rotundifolia: Button Fern

Maybe the easiest to grow as it actually prefers dryer air and is fine with the soil drying slightly between watering. Has cute roundish leaflets and stays pretty small.

Table Fern

Pteris cretica: Table/Brake Fern

Varieties range beautifully in shape and size and feature many lovely variegations and unusual leaf shapes some of which look like little deer antlers. Most all of them are quite easy to grow.

Houseplants for all seasons

From Aloe to Zygopetalum, we cover the alphabet with choices for your home or office; plants for your brightest window or your darkest corner, those that willa love the humidity near your shower or prefer a dry, sunny spot. Orchids, succulents, indoor bonsai and cactus. We have them all. You'll find our featured houseplants below. We carry our largest of houseplants at our Division location. This is only a brief list.