Ferns are beautiful plants that are popular to own they are easy to care for, but in summer they require significantly more water or they can quickly become crispy and brown. Although ferns are tropical plants, many people mistakenly believe they thrive in heat, when in fact they are native to rainforests and require a great deal of humidity to survive.
British homes tend to be very dry during the summer, as fans and open windows cause ferns to lose moisture rapidly, which can lead to stress, damage or even cause them to die. It is important to keep their soil consistently moist, but Maria, a houseplant expert and founder of Growing Joy, advises that this does not mean you have to water them constantly.
Maria said: “Ferns want their soil to stay evenly moist, not drying out completely between waterings. I keep them in high-traffic areas where I can see them every day.
“I also use self-watering pots and add a layer of sphagnum moss on top of the soil to help retain moisture.
Sphagnum moss grows in swampy environments is naturally very aborbant and is known to retain a lot of moisture which helps keeps ferns watered for longer.
It will slowly release water into the soil and helps rise the humidity around the plant which helps keep ferns healthy do mater how dry and warm your home is in summer.
This moss is also antibacterial properties which helps keep mould and pests away from houseplants.
This is a simple and sustainable soil topper that keeps ferns watered throughout the hot weather so the plant is protected throughout July and August.
How to keep ferns healthy and hydrated throughout summer
To add sphagnum moss to a potted fern you need to soak it beforehand. Simply place the moss in a bowl of water and leave it for 30 minutes until it is completely saturated.
The moss should feel damp but should not be dripping. Squeeze out any excess water if there is any moisture leaking from it.
Next, remove any dead leaves or debris on your fern and dig the top soil slightly so it is less compact.
Then, all you have to do is take a handful of moss and spread a light layer around the soil. Be careful not to pile any moss around the base of the stem this can cause too much water to pile up at the centre of the plant.
Mist the moss occasionally to stop it drying out and your fern should stay vibrant green and fully upright throughout summer.