Decide its spot before you buy it: steady humidity, no draughts, no direct sun and no radiator nearby. It is markedly fussier than a Boston fern and will not forgive a dry week.
Care
Bright indirect light to part shade — direct sun crisps the fronds within days.
High — the compost must never dry out completely, not even once; a dried maidenhair loses all its fronds.
Peat-free, humus-rich, moisture-retentive houseplant compost with added perlite for air. It must hold water without becoming stagnant.
Cut out browned or dead fronds at the base whenever they appear. If the whole plant crisps after a dry spell, cut every frond to the base and keep the compost moist — it usually reshoots within weeks.
A dilute balanced feed monthly through the growing season, at a quarter to half the stated strength — ferns are easily scorched and this one is the most sensitive of the common houseplant ferns.
Divide the crown at repotting in spring, keeping generous pieces with plenty of roots — small divisions of a maidenhair often fail. Spore propagation is possible but is a long, exacting job better left to specialists.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilRepot and divide if the plant fills its pot, using an open, humus-rich compost. how ›
- JuneCheck the compost every couple of days through summer — this is the plant that punishes a single missed watering. how ›
- NovemberMove it away from radiators and draughts for the winter; dry heated air is its main enemy indoors. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilRepot and divide if the plant fills its pot, using an open, humus-rich compost. how ›
- JuneCheck the compost every couple of days through summer — this is the plant that punishes a single missed watering. how ›
- NovemberMove it away from radiators and draughts for the winter; dry heated air is its main enemy indoors. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchRepot and divide if the plant fills its pot, using an open, humus-rich compost. how ›
- JuneCheck the compost every couple of days through summer — this is the plant that punishes a single missed watering. how ›
- NovemberMove it away from radiators and draughts for the winter; dry heated air is its main enemy indoors. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchRepot and divide if the plant fills its pot, using an open, humus-rich compost. how ›
- JuneCheck the compost every couple of days through summer — this is the plant that punishes a single missed watering. how ›
- DecemberMove it away from radiators and draughts for the winter; dry heated air is its main enemy indoors. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Fronds dry and brittle, often all at once.
What to do. Usually one episode of drying out or dry air — cut everything back to the base, keep moist, and raise humidity.
How to spot it. Fronds shed after being moved or repotted.
What to do. It dislikes change; settle it in a stable spot and avoid moving it about.
How to spot it. Brown limpet-like bumps on the stems.
What to do. Wipe off by hand; avoid harsh sprays, which damage the delicate fronds.
Questions
Maidenhair fern: is it hardy?
H1c: Tender, needs above 5°C. It survives above 5 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes — a houseplant by definition, and it does well in a bathroom or any room with steady humidity.
Maidenhair fern: when do you prune it?
Cut out browned or dead fronds at the base whenever they appear.
When do you feed it?
A dilute balanced feed monthly through the growing season, at a quarter to half the stated strength — ferns are easily scorched and this one is the most sensitive of the common houseplant ferns. Feeding months, UK: April–September.