How often should I water ferns?

Ferns have fine roots and thin fronds that dry out quickly, and unlike most houseplants they should never be allowed to dry out completely.

Every 3–5 days
A starting point, not a rule — check the soil before each watering and let the top few centimetres dry out first.

Always confirm with the soil: water when the top 2–5 cm is dry, whatever the calendar says.

Light

Most indoor ferns, including Boston ferns and maidenhair, come from shaded forest floors and want bright, indirect light without direct sun, which scorches the fronds. A north- or east-facing window suits them well. Near a bright window in summer the calculator’s figure is every 2–4 days, more often than any other plant here.

Pot and soil

Plant in a moisture-retentive, peat-free compost with some bark or perlite so it still drains, and choose a plastic or glazed pot that loses water more slowly than terracotta. Water when the surface starts to feel dry to the touch, before the soil underneath follows. Never leave it standing in a saucer of water.

Through the year

In medium light the calculator starts at every 3–5 days in spring and summer, 4–7 in autumn and 5–8 in winter, or 6–10 days in low light in winter. Winter is less of a rest for ferns than for most plants, because central heating dries the air and the soil. Keep them away from radiators, and group them with other plants for humidity.

Too much or too little

Drying out is the usual problem: fronds go pale, then crisp and brown, and fine leaflets shed onto the floor; maidenhair fronds can shrivel within a day. Cut the dead fronds back and keep the soil damp, and new ones often come from the crown. Overwatering shows as yellowing fronds and a soft, rotting crown at the soil surface. True ferns such as the Boston fern are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

The plant watering calculator explains how the intervals are worked out for every plant on the list.

Frequently asked questions

Should I mist a fern?

Misting raises humidity for only a few minutes, so it does little on its own. A tray of damp pebbles under the pot, grouping ferns with other plants, or a steamy bathroom with good light does more to stop the fronds crisping. If you enjoy misting it does no harm in a well-ventilated room, but keeping the soil evenly damp matters far more.

Why is my fern turning brown and crispy?

Brown, crispy fronds mean the plant has dried out, either because the soil went dry or because the air is too warm and dry, often from a nearby radiator. Check the soil every couple of days, water before it dries out, and move the fern away from heat. Cut the dead fronds back to the base; healthy new growth usually follows from the centre.

Leaflet works out this schedule for every plant you own and reminds you.

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