The maidenhair fern is one of the prettiest plants I've ever grown. This beauty can be grown indoors. Though many people think that it is difficult, it has an amazing ability to bounce back from the dead.
One of my favorite plants is the maidenhair fern. Though there are many species of maidenhair ferns, I particularly like Adiantum capillus-veneris (genus name) for its arching delicate bright green foliage and the contrasting dark, almost black wiry stalks or stems.
Many say that this plant is only hardy to zone 7a, but I do grow it in my 6a garden. It’s somewhat sheltered and near the house, so maybe there is a small microclimate that allows it to thrive. I also grow it in a pot on my back porch every year and bring it in for the winter.
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Inside, it sits in our dining room near the window with many other houseplants and some large grow lights. At first, it will brown up a little as it gets used to the transition.
All I do is cut back the dying foliage and it bounces right back with new growth.
I think this is where many people give up and think the plant is dead. Try cutting back the foliage and see if it doesn't regrow for you first. This works for me every winter and once when we were away and my daughter forgot to water it.
Scientific Name for Maiden Hair Fern
The name Adiantum capillus-veneris comes from the Greek “Adiantum” which means “not-wetting,” the Latin capillus for “hair,” and veneris for Venus, the goddess of love.
This came about due to two characteristics of the plant. One is the fact that the surface of the leaflets has a waxy layer that allows water to bead up, and the second refers to the shiny black stems that resemble a maiden’s hair. So Adiantum capillus-veneris became commonly known as Venus Maidenhair, and also Southern Maidenhair, as the plant is native to the southern parts of the U.S.
Caring for Southern Maidenhair Fern
Watering Requirements
This plant hates to dry out. I water mine about every 3 days. It also loves moisture and humid air which can be a problem in the winter. This is probably why some people grow them in bathrooms with a window. Another solution is adding a pebble tray underneath the plant or placing one in a terrarium to increase the humidity.
Interesting Fact
If you forget to water it and the maidenhair fern looks like it's dying, try cutting back any brown foliage. It has an amazing Lazarus effect of returning from the dead.
Note: Even though this plant loves water and high humidity, it does not like to sit in water. Most plants will suffer if left to sit in water. Make sure it's in a pot with drainage holes and drains well after watering and pour out any extra water left in the saucer.
Light Requirements
Like many houseplants, the Maidenhair Fern likes bright indirect light, not direct sunlight. This means you should have it near but not in a window or light source. If you have bright direct light use a sheer curtain to filter some of the light. If left in direct sun the leaves may burn. You can also use supplemental full spectrum lights
In summary, if you love the look of this pretty fern don't be afraid to try one in your own home. They are a little finicky but once you get them established you'll be good to go. And don't forget, if it looks like it's dead, try cutting back the fronds and see if it doesn't just bounce back.
More Houseplants To Grow
Debra Babcock
Question: why is the little new growth coming up brown? I would greatly appreciate an answer.
Debbie Babcock
[email protected]
Patti Estep
Deborah, typically for me the new growth is bright green. It's possible that it's turned brown because there was not enough water or some other plant problem. However, I have some other ferns in the garden that start out a little brown and green up as they grow so maybe it will work out yet.
Tracy
Hi Patti, I just got a maidenhair fern and have been watering it pretty religiously. Every other day. Yesterday I came home and noticed it was brownish so I thought it was drying out. So watered it immediately. I also noticed it is turning light green overall and not as dark and lush as when I got it. I read some articles around the amount of sun I should give and it's behind a shade all day so I am wondering if it's the water I'm giving. Wondering if you can tell me if watering it with tap water matters? Do I need to use distilled? I live in the Northeast. Thank you!
Patti Estep
Tracy, I don't think tap water is a problem. However, you may be watering it too much. I've killed many houseplants with too much watering love. Most of my houseplants are watered weekly. The maidenhair is the exception but it only gets watered twice a week. Instead of watering so often make sure you water it well. In fact, make sure water comes out the bottom of the pot. Just be sure to remove excess water in the saucer after 20 minutes or so. Also, I'm not sure what you mean by under a shade for light. The maidenhair does like a good bit of indirect light. Not direct blazing light but a bright spot. This also may be a problem. Cut off any brown foliage and see if changing the light and watering issues help.
Tracy
Thank you, Patti! What I meant was it is in indirect light most of the day. It is in a sunny spot but behind shades which creates filtered light. I've also moved it to a less drafty spot hoping that helps. Glad I do not need to use distilled water. Will try to water it less, I think I immediately panicked when I saw that it was turning brown and dry so thought it was under watered.... Thanks again! I'll keep you updated
Theresa
I love the look of this fern but am having trouble keeping it healthy. I used to have it in my kitchen, about 10 feet from a windowed door to our balcony that faces south. I then moved it to my bathroom, hoping a more humid location would help (also because it was getting hit with AC in the kitchen). It gets some very indirect sun through a windowed door next to the bathroom. In both locations it was on a pebble tray and got misted about once or twice a day. I was watering it with tap water but have since switched to distilled, and I water it roughly every one to two days, until it runs through the bottom. There are some leaves with browned edges, some that dry and shrivel up, and some that have both. There is still a lot of bright green in the plant but I fear it’s slowly dying. Any ideas on what I should change?
Patti Estep
Though Maidenhair does like more water than most houseplants I would cut back to 3 or 4 days on the watering. Also, feel free to cut any brown or shriveled stems near the base. The humidity is great. You may need more light? You could try adding some kind of artificial light source. You can buy all kinds of full-spectrum lights for plants on the market. Some are just the size of a regular light bulb that you can but into a lamp and place it near the plant.
Emma
Is it okay to trim back the maidenhair fern regularly? I am wanting this for a vivarium but it would need to be kept small.
Patti Estep
Emma, I have seen people creating bonsai with maidenhair ferns so I don't see why you couldn't try it. Let me know how it turns out.
Taylor
Oh no!!! My maidenhair was fine this morning when I misted it (and checked the soil) and I didn’t notice anything wrong when I was in the bathroom after work (around 6pm, and I think I misted my ferns again, but maybe I just got the kitchen plants), but at 10pm I went to brush my teeth and noticed that the leaves were drooping and starting to wilt! They’re still green, though. I drenched the now-dry soil with filtered water right away and let it drain, and I misted the leaves thoroughly. Will it recover?!? I can’t find anything on the internet about this except that they “die immediately, even after a few hours.” But these sites are also mentioning brown, dried up leaves, not soft green ones. This is such a large, bushy fern, I’d hate to lose the whole thing by cutting it all back. Please help!
Patti Estep
In my experience, it should bounce back. I've only had to cut the stems that were brown. Be careful to make sure that it has good drainage and don't over water.
Taylor
Thank you! ((Fingers crossed))
Nancy
I bought a tiny maidenhair, and sat it on the table, but didn't water it enough, I think, or maybe too much. It died. But I didn't toss it- nor care for it- for a year! Then I decided to try watering it again, and kept the humidity a bit more consistent...and it did indeed spring back to life. And I've kept it growing threw the summer, for about 6 or 7 months now. I was really impressed it came back after that long!
Patti Estep
Thanks for sharing Nancy. They are amazing plants.
Shawnee Penner
No! Ferns are terrible. I love them, but I just kill them. I have tried a Maidenhair and a Boston Fern, both died on me. I tried watering often, I tried watering a little, they just all turned brown and died. I'm guessing the house is too dry? But even misting every day didn't help.
Patti Estep
Hi Shawnee,
I'm sorry to hear that you have had such problems with ferns. It shouldn't be that hard but don't feel bad, maybe if you have some good light you would prefer succulents. You could even add lighting. They like the dry air and don't like to be watered much.
Cam
Mine s dying and i don.t know what to do to stop it from dying.
Patti Estep
Hi Cam,
What do you think could be the cause?
Is it very dry? If so, water it in the sink until you see water draining out the bottom. Then make sure all the excess water drains out. Cut back any dead stems. Hopefully it will spring back.
Is it getting to much sun? Do the leaves look scorched? Move it to a place where it will receive some sun but not directly baking sun. In this case you can also cut back any dead leaves and their stems.
Hope this helps.
Lauren
Hi Patti,
This is a terrific post! I was wondering if you add eggshells or any other alkalizing agent to your Maidenhair Fern?
Thank you!
Patti Estep
Hi Lauren,
No. I normally don't use much on my houseplants. Once or twice a year I'll give them all a little all purpose diluted fertilizer to keep them happy but your eggshell idea sure is interesting.
Mira
Hi Patty,
I have a Maidenhair fern and will be moving into a room with nearly no natural light. I know that they fair well with shade, but will it be okay with almost no natural light? Can I substitute natural light with anything else?
Thanks!
Patti Estep
Hi Mira,
Maidenhair ferns do ok in low light but if you find that it is not doing well and don't want to move it you can buy a full-spectrum light bulb and hang it nearby.
Sofy
Hi Patti I just bought a maiden hair fern but it is almost all brown! It has new growth in the bottom but should I cut all of it? Thanks!
Patti Estep
Hi Sofy,
Yes, cut back the brown and keep an eye on the watering and it should bounce back. They like it a little on the wet side but make sure they do not sit in water. I usually water mine 2x a week as opposed to once a week or less for all of my other plants. This may vary depend on the humidity and light in your home.
Hope this helps,
Patti
Martha
I love maidenhair ferns - probably my favorite plant, HOWEVER I have killed too many to count. I think it has to be an indoor plant here in CT, I since we get below freezing temperatures in winter. The first time I saw this plant was in CA, and the woman who had it told me it was hard to grow. She had it indoors. Since I normally have a green thumb, I couldn't wait to get home & buy one. But, as I say, I have killed far too many to count. Now I am encouraged to give it yet another try. i didn't realize that if I cut back the dead ferns it would come back to life! Thank you!
Patti Estep
Hi Martha,
Yes, this has worked for me. It does seem to like water or a humid environment but when I've had times where the fronds turned brown I just cut them back to an inch from the soil and new fronds grew. This happened to me a couple of times. Especially when I was moving it from outside to the indoors for winter. The one in the garden is in a protected spot and it does get very lush. I should probably dig it up next year and plant it in a pot.
Good luck and thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Karen
This is so encouraging, Patti. I bought a Maidenhair fern at a garden show a couple of years ago. I was smitten by it's gorgeous, delicate-looking foliage. Sadly, it didn't survive my haphazard care. I was so disappointed, but you've encouraged me to try again. I probably failed to water it enough. My research afterwards pointed to that.
I'm kind of yearning for some green in the house about now, anyway. Thanks for sharing your beautiful fern.
Patti Estep
Hi Karen,
Yes, the maidenhair does seems to love water but it really seems to back bounce well even when it looks like you've kill it. Last year when we went on vacation my daughter was supposed to water mine but forgot so it looked really bad but then I cut back all of the browning branches and it started producing new fronds. I'd definitely recommend trying it again.
Happy New Year!
Patti
Sandra L.
Gorgeous! Me and plants are enemies. I could actually kill a plastic plant. lol! Whether it's out on my balcony which gets nice warm sunny days in the summer or inside near a window in the winter. I kill it. But I vowel not to give up and each year I purchase a plant that is sworn not to die even in my deadly hands. Then family and friends all take bets on how long it will take me to kill it. The longest was just shy of 2 weeks. I am in awe and a tad jealous of people with green thumbs. But a home needs plants so I just buy artificial ones that look really real or create beautiful ones from card stock. Maybe I will give one of these ferns a try.
I miss the frigid Pa., winters and snow.
Patti Estep
Hi Sandra,
You should definitely give this guy a try. It likes a fair amount of water but as I said, if you find it's browning out just cut it back and it will spring back to life. I also think it like humidity. I think I've read where it makes a good bathroom plant. Also, most people kill a plant or two. I certainly have and most have been houseplants. I forget if I watered them and often water too much which will certainly kill them. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by,
Patti
Carole West
This fern is a favorite of mine. I love how delicate it is. Great information, house plants that is an area where I fail. I guess it's because our warm weather out numbers the cold. Great post.
Carole @ Garden Up green
Patti
Thank you Carole. Don't give up on the Maidenhair. Just cut it back and give it lots of water. Houseplants can be difficult but it is so nice to have some fresh greens in the house during the frigid winter we have here in PA.