- Should you water this fern?
- Do you have to protect the lady fern in winter?
- Does the lady fern need fertilizer?
- What should you cut away?
- Should one divide the plant for rejuvenation?
- Do diseases or pests play a role?
They are finely pinnate, juicy light green and elegantly overhanging, the deciduous fronds of the lady fern. So that this fern sprout again every year and enhances its surroundings with its fresh color, it needs a portion of care.
Lady fern is very thirsty
Should you water this fern?
Similar to other ferns, the lady fern does not tolerate drought. He wishes to stand in a moist substrate. Regular watering is therefore the order of the day if you keep this fern in a bucket. Outdoor plants also need to be watered when it is hot and dry outside.
Do you have to protect the lady fern in winter?
What you should know:
- hardy to -40 °C
- in autumn the fronds fall off
- Rhizome overwinters in the ground
- Place the lady fern in the pot against the protective wall of the house and surround it with insulating material
- Like to cover lady ferns outdoors with leaves
Does the lady fern need fertilizer?
Lady ferns outdoors can be supplied with an organic fertilizer in the spring. Compost and horn shavings are well suited. (32.93€) These fertilizers are carefully worked into the soil. You should not use mineral fertilizers for the lady fern! Phosphorus-rich liquid fertilizers are suitable for potted plants and should be applied sparingly every 2 weeks.
What should you cut away?
You can simply cut off old fronds of the lady fern. Other fronds should not be cut. Cutting back all the fronds weakens the plant so much that it will not sprout again. In some cases, it could even die off.
Should one divide the plant for rejuvenation?
When the lady fern doesn't look as pretty as it did many years ago, maybe it's time to share it. The best time to do this is in spring or autumn. Dig up the mother plant, divide it in half and plant the sections in a different location!
Do diseases or pests play a role?
Usually the lady fern is not attacked by diseases or pests. It is only if you take care of this plant incorrectly that it becomes susceptible to pest infestation. Then, among other things, spider mites, fungus gnats and scale insects can appear on the fronds.
tips
Is your lady fern in your apartment? Then it is advisable to spray the fern with low-lime water from time to time.