A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The House Plant Forum Dry fern.. please help

Hello everyone,
I've bought a fern plant in November and it's been doing fine up until the point I started having the heater on in the room where I keep the plant. It's on the other end of the room, in a shady place, but I suppose the dry air still affects it as it's dry and its leaves are falling off. I water it twice a week, the ground is almost always moist, and I also spray it, but nothing seems to be helping!
Should I repot it? I've cut the dry leaves off a couple of inches off the ground as well.

Please, if anyone's got any advice, I'd very much appreciate it. Thank you :)
[img]https://imgur.com/oqH7jau[/img]

Welcome CactusLady.
Can you relocate the plant to a moister room? At least through the dryer months? There are a few other things you can try as well. Like a tray full of gravel of something under the pot you fill with water.
I live in the desert and I feel your pain.

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, all of the rooms in my house are air-conditioned, and if I was to move it to the balcony, it would be exposed to the sun. I didn't know about the tray of gravel trick. Might give it a go, thanks! :)

I didn't have much luck with ferns because of this very problem, but not too long ago, I was thinking of starting up my plant collection again. Ferns love bathrooms and kitchens or rooms with higher humidity. Someone gave me one of those little fountains, wonder if you ran that in the same room if it would help? The other thing you could try is increasing your plant collection in the same room (well watered of course, that may help to raise the humidity in the room somewhat? Filling pottery bowls with decorator rocks and water and placing around the room may help. The soil you use can make a difference, so it doesn't dry out as quick. Make sure it has plenty of humus. If you want to make your own, 1 part top soil, 1 part humus and 1 part horticultural coarse sand. Best of luck.

All very good ideas, ladies. I think I would also try misting the ferns.

I would also think your small fountain would help, Daisy.

The high humidity rooms work really well.

I read it in a blog:
"Avoid south and west-facing windows, as the intense sunlight may scald the leaves or fronds of the ferns, depending on the intensity of the light. Or they may dry out faster or scald the leaves if there is low moisture in the soil or air."