Ever gaze longingly out the window, yearning for a touch of the rainforest’s lush greenery in your home? You’re not alone! Houseplants offer a multitude of benefits, from purifying the air to reducing stress, and ferns are some of the most rewarding options to bring a bit of the outdoors in. Find out which are the best ferns for your home in this article.
Their graceful fronds and fascinating life cycles (they reproduce with spores, not seeds!) create a sense of tranquility and reconnect us with the natural world. So, consider a fern as your next houseplant! This guide will share some favorites to add to your indoor jungle, along with how to help make your fern friends thrive.
Creating Your Indoor Rainforest
Before diving into specific ferns, let’s discuss how to cultivate the perfect environment for them to flourish. Remember, mimicking their natural habitat is key to success, and for ferns that means keeping the soil consistently moist. If you tend to over water and love your plants to death, ferns may be the plants for you! Here is what your indoor fern rainforest needs:
- Light: Most ferns prefer indirect sunlight, as direct sun can scorch their delicate fronds. Think dappled light filtering through leaves in a forest – that’s the sweet spot. North-facing windows are ideal; east or west-facing ones might require sheer curtains for midday sun filtering.
- Humidity: Ferns love air moisture. If you live in a dry climate or during winter when heaters crank up, consider a humidifier to keep those humidity levels between 50-70%. Grouping ferns together also helps create a mini humid microclimate.
- Temperature: Most ferns favor moderate temperatures between 60-75°F (15-24°C). Avoid placing them near drafts, hot air vents, or cold windows.
- Watering: Ferns enjoy consistently moist soil – but remember this does not mean soggy. The “finger test” is your best friend here. Stick your finger into the potting mix – if the top inch feels dry, it’s watering time. Aim for deep watering until water trickles out the drainage holes, then discard any excess. Avoid letting them sit in water.
- Soil: A well-draining, loose potting mix is essential. Look for mixtures specifically designed for houseplants or ferns; our potting soil is ideal as it promotes both water retention and drainage to maintain the ideal soil moisture levels. You can also create your own by combining equal parts potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark for optimal drainage and aeration.
Top Ferns for Your Indoor Oasis
Now that you know how to create a fern-tastic habitat, let’s explore some of the best beautiful yet low-maintenance ferns to grace your home:
- Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): A classic and popular choice, the Boston Fern has lush, arching fronds that cascade beautifully from hanging baskets. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and enjoys regular misting, especially in dry climates.
- Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum spp.): Delicate and airy, the Maidenhair Fern adds a touch of elegance with its fan-shaped fronds on graceful black stems. Keep this humidity-loving fern happy with a pebble tray filled with water under the pot and frequent misting.
- Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus): This architectural wonder has unique, glossy green fronds that unfurl from a central rosette, resembling a bird’s nest. It flourishes in medium, indirect light and prefers evenly moist soil. A mister and a well-draining pot are your secret weapons for this beauty.
- Staghorn Fern (Platycerium spp.): A conversation starter, the Staghorn Fern is an epiphyte, meaning it grows on other plants in nature. Mount yours on a driftwood or cork plaque and provide medium, indirect light and moderate watering. This unique fern adds a touch of the exotic to your indoor jungle.
- Kimberley Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata): Compact and bushy, the Kimberley Queen Fern is a great choice for smaller spaces. New fronds emerge in a stunning bronze color, maturing to a vibrant green. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and appreciates consistently moist soil.
Bonus Tip: For a pop of color, consider the Silver Brake Fern (Pteris cretica) with its stunning silvery-white undersides, or the (Athyrium niponicum) with its delicate green fronds brushed with shades of pink and purple.
Maintaining Your Indoor Eden
Ferns have a reputation as challenging plants because of their need for water and humidity. But, with a solid care routine, you may find them simple and satisfying to care for! Remember to keep their soil (or root ball, if you’ve mounted your fern) evenly moist, and to mist your fern daily (or even twice daily) or set up a humidifier nearby.
Whatever you do, keep ferns out of direct sunlight. Most fern varieties do well in bright, indirect sunlight or even lower light. Fertilize monthly with a little Indoor Plant Food to provide the nutrients your fern needs for growth, and you’ll be good to go!
More Houseplant Resources
Looking for more houseplant info? We got you! We highly recommend our super informative (and FREE!) Houseplants for Beginners Webinar. Check out our community of other plant lovers in our Facebook group. And if you’re looking for handy go-to reference for all your houseplant needs, check out our The Last Houseplant Book You Will Ever Need.
