How to grow epiphytic ferns

What are epiphytic ferns?

Many of the tropical ferns sold as houseplants are ‘epiphytic’. This simply means they naturally grow on other plants rather than in the ground (in a similar way to many tropical orchids). In their

A native plant is one that originated or arrived naturally in a particular place without human involvement. In the British Isles, native plants are those that were here during the last ice age or have arrived unaided since.

To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key plant nutrients usually derived from soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are absorbed from the air. Other vital soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Most garden soils contain enough nutrients to promote healthy plant growth.

nutrients

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

compost

Choosing epiphytic ferns 

The most widely available epiphytic houseplant ferns – and the most suitable for growing in our homes – are:

• Asplenium nidus – the bird’s nest fern, one of the most popular and easy to grow, with a clump of long, strap-shaped fronds that unfurl to form a shuttlecock shape 

• Davallia canariensis – one of several known as hare’s foot ferns, due to the thick furry roots that emerge from the pot; they also have delicate feathery fronds

• Nephrolepis exaltata – the sword fern, with long feathery fronds; and the ever-popular Boston fern (N. exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’) with its fountain of arching, serrated foliage

• Phlebodium aureum – a hare’s foot fern with typically thick furry roots, along with slender-stemmed, glaucous foliage

• Platycerium bifurcatum – the stag’s horn fern is a real show-stopper, due to its impressive, branching, antler-like fronds

All of the above have an RHS Award of Garden Merit, having been trialled by RHS experts and found to be reliably good performers.

Buying epiphytic ferns

These tropical ferns are readily available from houseplant retailers, especially the ever-popular bird’s nest fern and Boston fern. Larger retailers offer the widest choice. 

When buying, choose plants with lush, unblemished foliage and healthy roots that aren’t overcrowded in the pot. If there are large furry roots on the compost surface, this is their natural way of growing and nothing to worry about – it just adds to their character!

Newly bought ferns can be kept in their pot for several years. Once the roots become densely crowded or start appearing through the drainage holes, repot in spring into a container that’s just slightly larger than the rootball. Avoid using a much larger container (overpotting), as this may lead to root rot.

Epiphytic ferns like an open, moisture-retentive but well-drained ericaceous (acidic) compost. An ideal mix would be two parts peat-free ericaceous compost, one part

Perlite is a naturally occurring volcanic rock which, when heated to high temperatures, expands to produce lightweight, micro-porous granules. It was traditionally added to compost to aid drainage and aeration, however, its manufacture, packaging and distribution has a big environmental impact, so locally-sourced grit or gravel is now preferred.

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

compost

Young ferns can also be planted in a glass terrarium, or in a kokedama (a traditional Japanese way of planting in a moss ball, which can be hung up) – watch our video guide to find out how:

Location

Bright, indirect light is best, such as in a west- or east-facing window. To grow these ferns in a south-facing room, position them behind sheer curtains or away from the window.

A bright bathroom is an ideal location for them, where they can also enjoy the higher humidity.

Temperature

Epiphytic ferns grow well in temperatures between 16°C (60°F) and 30°C (85°F). Keep them out of cold draughts and away from hot radiators.

Humidity

These tropical ferns like humid air, so place the pot in a saucer over a tray of damp gravel, or group several plants together, which will moisten the air around them. Mist the leaves regularly too.

Browning of the leaves may indicate the air is too dry, especially in winter when the heating is on. A steamy bathroom is often the best home for these humidity-lovers.

Many ferns can also be grown in a glass terrarium, where the air is kept humid.

For more on increasing air humidity, see our video guide:

Watering 

Only water once the

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

Feeding

To boost growth, you can feed epiphytic ferns with weak orchid fertiliser from April to October.

There are several ways to grow new plants, depending on the type of fern:

• Ferns with creeping rhizomes, such as Davallia and Phlebodium, can be easily propagated by division

• Clump-forming ferns can simply be pulled apart into smaller clumps, each with plenty of leaves and roots. If the

  The roots and accompanying soil when a plant is removed from a container or lifted from the ground.

  rootball is tightly packed, you may need to cut it with secateurs

• Many ferns can also be propagated from spores, but this can be a challenge

To keep these tropical ferns thriving, it’s important to give them the conditions they need – warmth, humidity, bright indirect light and moderate water. Too much or too little of any of these can cause problems and, if not corrected, the plant may decline and eventually die. So take action if you notice:    

• Leaves turning brown – may be a sign of too much water, watering with hard (alkaline) tap water instead of rainwater, sun scorch from too much direct light, low humidity, a cold draught or being too close to a heat source such as a radiator. Also see our video guide to light levels and our video guide to houseplant watering

• Mottled leaves or poor growth – may be caused by sap-sucking insects, including red spider mites and mealybugs