Not all ferns tolerate full sun. Houseplants such as the Boston fern, or the Japanese Painted Fern and Christmas fern grow best in shady areas while the bracken fern prefers light shade to full sun. Some fern varieties tolerate direct sunlight, but only if you plant them in consistently moist, fertile soil.

As you have probably already gathered, these ferns live out their entire lives as floating aquatic plants. Their most obvious feature are the pairs of fuzzy green leaves borne on tiny branching stems. These leaves are covered in trichomes that repel water, thus keeping them dry despite their aquatic habit.

Sensitive fern However, don’t assume that all ferns like wet feet. Some types, such as Christmas fern and wood fern, prefer dry, shady areas. Keep in mind that soil moisture is only one thing to consider when choosing plants for wet areas. Other important factors include light, soil type, and temperature hardiness.

Ferns generally grow in rocky soils, and their roots don’t need deep soil in which to grow well. Shallow containers are best for ferns in container gardens. Containers no deeper than six inches are bes. The fern should fit in the pot with an inch or two to spare around the edges for growth.

16 Fabulous Indoor and Outdoor Ferns

• Boston Fern. Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata), with their arching branches, are perfect for hanging baskets on porches.
• Maidenhair Fern.
• Silver Brake Fern.
• Lemon Button Fern.
• Ostrich Fern.
• Japanese Painted Fern.
• Cinnamon Fern.
• Kimberly Queen Fern.

Ferns are among the popular home plants due to their tropical-looking fronds. For families with children and pet owners, the cultivation of the plant requires caution. Ferns release spores that cause poisoning through oral ingestion. They only reproduce through the spores, which also contain toxins.

Invasive fern species are the bane of woodland managers who struggle to contain the plant before it chokes the native trees. Several types of house ferns aren’t as threatening but still need a strong hand to control their need for exploration.

Ferns are a plant type that can grow underwater ( submerged completely under the water including their leaves. While there are other plants that can grow in water only by submerging their roots.

Propagating ferns from cuttings Fronds can be bowed over and pegged down on the surface of a tray positioned next to the mother plant, then detached once rooted. Fern fronds can also be removed then placed and pegged to encourage rooting (facing upwards) on the surface of a tray of compost.

Give your ferns a position near a window that gets morning or late afternoon sun, and keep the ferns away from strong sunlight, especially during the summer. Direct sunlight will make them lose their leaves or turn their fronds yellow.

By September, before frost, it’s time to bring potted ferns indoors for the winter. Here are a few tips to keep them healthy and happy. Hose down each plant to clean the foliage and then inspect closely for insect that might be hiding in the foliage.

The fronds should be left on the plant unless they have died off and then should be cut back. The green fronds continue to produce food for the plant. Removing them before they have died off reduces the amount of food produced resulting in shorter and fewer leaves the following season.