How To Water A Birds Nest Fern
Water a birds nest fern slowly and allow the water to soak into the soil before adding more water. Try to water into the soil rather than directly on top of the plant in its nest.
How Often Should You Water A Birds Nest Fern
The frequency that you need to water your fern will depend on the climate you live in and the humidity in the air. However, a birds nest fern is a plant that likes to be watered regularly and responds well to being moist.
You only want to let the soil dry out slightly before watering your fern again. Do not allow the soil to become bone dry as this can cause damage to the plant. In summer you may find watering your plant once a week is sufficient but make sure you touch the top two inches of the soil to check the moisture before you water. If the soil is soaking wet then you can wait longer between waterings. Similarly if you check the soil midweek and it has dried out then you can increase the amount of waterings.
During the winter you should be able to water your plant less. However, with central heating many plants will dry out at a quicker rate than in the past so make sure you check the soil on a plant by plant basis.
If you struggle to gauge when to water your plants then consider investing in a moisture probe. This is a device that you can stick in the soil to check the moisture levels of your plant. The device has a display to show you how dry or wet the soil is so you can know exactly how much water your plant needs.
Can I Overwater My Fern?
Yes you definitely can. You can overwater almost any plant. Even though your fern likes it’s soil moist that doesn’t mean you want to let it sit in a soil that is wet. You need to learn the difference by touch. Picking up your plant pots and feeling the weight is also a good way to feel how wet your soil is. This might be something that is difficult at first but as you get used to the weight of your plant after a watering you’ll get to feel when it is very wet compared to when it is dry.
How Do I Know If I’m Underwatering My Birds Nest Fern?
Crispy brown tips is a useful indication that your fern is being underwatered. If you notice the leaves of your fern starting to crisp up and turn brown then you may need to water your plant more frequently. If this is the case then put your fingers in the soil and test out the moisture levels to find out if it needs a bit more watering.
How Do I Know If I’m Overwatering My Birds Nest Fern?
A sign of overwatering can be yellowing and wilting leaves. If this is mild then ease off the watering. However, if the wilting and yellowing is extreme then your plant may have a case of root rot and you may need to do some repotting in order to save it.
If you want to learn more about birds nest fern care then take a look at our next article: how do you repot a birds nest fern?
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