Maidenhair Fern Houseplant

These soft, gorgeous ferns have a fan shape and feather-like quality. And they can be incredibly easy to care for if you just remember to water them plenty! They love water so much that it’s almost impossible to overwater them. And they are non-toxic to cats and dogs, making them a lovely addition to your home. Adiantum capillus-veneris, or Southern Maidenhair Fern also goes by Black Maidenhair Fern and Venus Hair Fern.

Best Locations For Growing Maidenhair Fern Houseplants

This is a great plant for any room, but will do especially well in a location with lots of humidity and bright indirect light like a bathroom or kitchen. You needn’t worry about keeping this plant away from pets and children—it’s non-toxic!

Maidenhair Fern Houseplant Sunlight Requirements

This plant thrives on bright indirect light. Avoid harsh or direct rays, as the delicate leaves can burn easily. However, too little light can lead to poor growth or yellowing fronds. A northern window is ideal.

Maidenhair Fern Care

This plant prefers a more alkaline soil pH. Add some ground limestone to the potting mix to help with this. Your Maidenhair Fern dislikes repotting and prefers small containers. The Maidenhair Fern thrives in moist, well-draining potting soil. Adding moss or other organic matter to the soil will help it to retain water.

Watering Maidenhair Fern Houseplants

It is almost impossible to overwater your Maidenhair Fern, but doing so will lead to root rot. Make sure to provide drainage to avoid this. Keep soil moist, as it does not like to dry out. Your best bet is to provide it with multiple water sources. Consistently moist soil is a must. Water your fern daily or every other day, never allowing the soil to dry out.

This plant is also intolerant of low humidity, so either mist it daily or keep it close to a source of humidity like a wet pebble tray or humidifier. This also makes a great shower plant.

Feeding Maidenhair Fern Houseplants

You don’t need to fertilize your Maidenhair Fern. However, you can feed it with a diluted blend of fertilizer once a month if you’d like to provide your plant with some extra nutrients. Avoid any fertilizer that contains too much nitrogen because this can cause the leaf tips to burn.