Are you trying to figure out how to winterize ferns? If you are, you’ll be glad to know that the entire process isn’t as complicated as others might have thought it would be. However, it largely depends on the type of fern that you’re trying to grow and your location.
Learning the proper way of winterizing ferns is crucial to their survival over the winter season. Those who fail to do this properly won’t be able to see their ferns flourish again when spring comes.
What You May Not Know About Ferns
You can find these types of plants in moist valleys, as well as lush and cool glades. Whether you grow them indoors or outdoors, the fern’s green leaves won’t fail to provide you with a sense of calm. Although many of its varieties thrive in shady and humid conditions, most of them are known to grow well in a wide range of environmental conditions.
For example, some fern species naturally grow in forests, deserts, meadows, alpine, as well as in wetland ecosystems. It’s also important to note that not all types of fern look ferny. This means that some of them don’t have the usual tiny pinnae on their fronds that are usually present among most fern varieties.
Ferns have always been present since ancient times. Unlike other plants that produce flowers to reproduce, they do so through spores.
As a houseplant, ferns like to be exposed to bright yet indirect light. Also, indoor ferns prefer to be planted in soil that’s dried out between watering. Furthermore, they like it best when they’re root-bound.
Ferns also love high levels of humidity. However, since indoor ferns aren’t exposed to much air moisture, it’s best to make it a point to spray their foliage with water several times per week. You can raise the humidity around your indoor fern if you place pebble trays with water underneath your plant.
What are the Types of Ferns That Can Easily Grow Indoors?
As mentioned earlier, there are plenty of fern species out there. However, most of them are classified as deciduous or evergreen. Providing them with care during the winter is great, but the kind of care they need depends on the type of fern you have, as well as your gardening zone.
For example, different kinds of deciduous ferns won’t survive in certain zones. Likewise, some types of evergreen ferns flourish in areas where the weather is mostly cold (zone 3).
Tips on How to Winterize Ferns Properly
To make sure that your ferns will be able to live through the winter season, check out these tips on how you can properly winterize your deciduous and evergreen ferns.
Deciduous Ferns
If there’s one thing you need to know about deciduous ferns, it’s the fact that they don’t stay green during the winter. But if you’ve managed to grow ferns that thrive well in your gardening zone, you won’t have to worry about them in the winter.
Tip #1: Cut the dying fronds back
In the fall, you need to keep an eye out for dying fronds. Once you spot them, make sure that you cut them back. You can expect to find new fronds growing in the springtime.
Tip #2: Keep them warm
Don’t forget to keep your deciduous ferns warm. You can do so by adding mulch covering right before winter comes.
Evergreen Ferns
Evergreen ferns are those that never fail to stay green throughout the entire duration of the winter season. For this reason, they’re often used to provide greenery to various flower arrangements during the holiday season. A good example of which is the Christmas fern which thrives in zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
However, it’s important to note that evergreen ferns won’t be able to stay green in winter if they’re not grown in zones that are suitable for them.
Tip #1: Plant the right kind of fern
Some fern species don’t thrive in other gardening zones. If you want yours to flourish, you have to make sure that you’re planting the kind of fern that’s appropriate for your gardening zone.
Tip #2: Trim them back in the spring
For your evergreen ferns to give you the lush kind of greenery that you want throughout the winter months, you have to make sure that you trim them back in the spring. The right time to do this is when you spot new fronds that are forming and old fronds that begin to look scraggly.
Tip #3: Keep the soil moist
The only way to keep the ground from drying out is for you to water it. However, make sure that you don’t water the fronds.
Grow Your Plants Inside a Hobby Greenhouse!
One of the best things that you can do to step up your gardening game is to grow your plants inside a hobby greenhouse. Here are some of the reasons why trying your hand at greenhouse gardening makes a whole lot of sense:
You’ll protect them from harsh weather conditions
Since inclement weather is unavoidable, plants that are grown in outdoor gardens usually bear the brunt of Mother Nature’s whims. Unless you’re willing to make the necessary emergency preparations to protect your outdoor garden from heavy rains, strong winds, and other harsh weather conditions, choose to keep them safe in a hobby greenhouse instead.
You’ll keep those pesky bugs and vermin at a distance
The constant threat of pests and destructive animals is something that traditional outdoor gardeners deal with. Keeping your precious plants inside a secure and enclosed space will make it easier for you to keep these creatures at bay.
Conclusion
Learning how to winterize ferns the right way is crucial to your plants’ survival through the winter season. Just follow the tips listed above to grow the most beautiful evergreen or deciduous ferns!