How to Care for Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) Indoors
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Botanical name: Adiantum raddianum
Synonmy: Adiantum cuneatum
Family: Pteridaceae
Common names: Maidenhair Fern, Delta Maidenhair Fern
Maidenhair Fern Description
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) also called Delta Maidenhair Fern bears wiry, shiny, dark stems which resemble human hair.
The fronds in Maidenhair Fern are semi-erect in young plants but they droop as the plant ages. The fronds are small and have a lace-like appearance.
Maidenhair Ferns have a delicate constitution. They require moist air, warmth and bright indirect light, which make them ideal for growing in a terrarium or a warm, humid bathroom.
The genus name is derived from the Greek word adiantos, meaning "unwetted" in reference to the leaves ability to repel water without being wetted.
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) Size
The Maidenhair Fern can grow to a height of 2 ft with a spread of 1-2 ft.
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) Origin
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) is native to North America where they can be found growing on rocks and in between rocks around waterfalls where moisture seeping through sustains them.
Buy beautiful and healthy Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum raddianum) from Etsy.
Photo Credit: Nature Hills Nursery
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) Care Indoors
Maidenhair Fern Light Requirements
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) thrives in bright indirect light. Keep your Maidenhair Fern away from direct sunlight as it can scorch the fronds.
Turn the pot regularly to ensure even growth for your Maidenhair Fern. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
How to water Maidenhair Fern
For optimum growth of your Maidenhair Fern, keep the soil consistently moist at all times, never allow it to dry out.
Reduce watering for your Maidenhair Fern during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil if free-draining to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease.
Temperature for Maidenhair Fern
Average warmth between 18-250C is ideal for your Maidenhair Fern. A room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for this plant.
Protect the fern from draughts as it requires consistent warmth. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Maidenhair Fern
Maidenhair Fern requires high humidity inorder to thrive. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity. Check out these techniques on how raise humidity for houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding) for Maidenhair Fern
Feed Maidenhair Fern with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer once a month during the growing period.
Withhold feeding for your Maidenhair Fern during the cold season as growth is reduced at this time.
Avoid Nitrogen-rich fertilizer for your Maidenhair Fern as it can cause brown leaf tips. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
How to prune Maidenhair Fern
Pruning Maidenhair Fern is easy. Remove dead and damaged fronds from your Maidenhair Fern. As your fern ages, the older fronds turn brown. Cut them off at the base to maintain your fern looking neat and tidy.
Maidenhair Fern Repotting
Repot Maidenhair Fern at the beginning of the growing season when it becomes overcrowded. One sign of an overcrowded fern is wilting leaves. Failure to repot an overcrowded Maidenhair Fern can result in death of the plant.
Repot your Maidenhair Fern into a pot that is 1 size larger than the current one and one that has a drainage hole to avoid having soggy soil.
You can also divide your Maidenhair Fern into several sections and which can then be potted individually.
Soil for Maidenhair Fern
The best soil for Maidenhair Fern should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most multi-purpose potting mixes are ideal for Maidenhair Fern.
Buy quality Potting Mix for your Maidenhair Fern from Etsy.
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) Propagation
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) propagation can be done from spores or by plant division at the beginning of the growing season.
How to propagate Maidenhair Fern by plant division
Carefully remove the fern from its pot and divide into several sections. Ensure each section has adequate roots.
Pot these sections into individual pots. Place the pots in a warm shaded place and maintain the soil moist through out until the new Maidenhair Ferns are well established.
How to propagate Maidenhair Fern from spores
Spores are brown dots on the underside of the fronds of your Maidehair Fern. When they ripen, the cases open and tiny dust-like spores fall out.
Cut the Maidenhair Fern frond and place it on a piece of paper with spores side down.
Allow time for the spores to fall out of the cases onto the piece of paper. The spores can also be obtained by shaking the frond occasionally.
Thinly spread the spores on moist soil and cover the set up with clear polythene to maintain humidity and warmth.
Place the set up in a brightly lit area. The spores should sprout in 1-2 months.
Allow the new Maidenhair Ferns to be well established before transplanting.
Photo Credit: Flower Power
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) Problems Indoors
Maidenhair Fern brown dots or lines on the underside of fronds
Brown dots or lines on the underside of fronds are spores which can be used for propagation of new Maidenhair Ferns. They indicate that the frond is mature and healthy.
In their natural environment, these spores drop to the soil and grow into new Maidenhair Ferns.
Maidenhair Fern curled leaves, brown leaf tips, leaf drop
Curled leaves, brown leaf tips and leaf drop in Maidenhair Fern is dry air (low humidity).
Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity for your Maidenhair Fern. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Maidenhair Fern yellowing leaves
Yellowing leaves in Maidenhair Fern are due to soggy soil (overwet soil).
Ensure the pot for your Maidenhair Fern has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent the soil from getting.
Maidenhair Fern wilting leaves
Wilting leaves in Maidenhair Fern is an indication of overcrowding in the current pot resulting in underwatering of your fern.
Repot your Maidenhair Fern into a larger pot or divide it up for more ferns.
Maidenhair excessive leaf drop
Excessive leaf drop in Maidenhair Fern is indicative of underwatering.
Maintain the soil for your Maidenhair Fern consistently moist but not soggy. Do not leave the soil to dry out completely.
Maidenhair Fern brown shells scattered on the fronds
The brown shells scattered on the fronds of Maidenhair Fern is an indication of an infestation by Scales.
Isolate the affected Maidenhair Fern to avoid spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests.
Maidenhair Fern pests
Common pests in Maidenhair Fern are Scales and Mealy Bugs.
Isolate the affected Maidenhair Fern to avoid spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests.
Is Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) toxic?
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum) are non-toxic to humans and pets. The Ferns are safe to grow indoors.
