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Autumn Fern Breakdown
Latin Name: Dryopteris erythrosora
Other Names: Japanese Wood Fern, Copper Shield Fern
Place of Origin: East Asia
Watering Requirements: Like to be kept moist
Lighting Requirements: Prefer shade
Humidity Requirements: Prefers moist air
Soil Type: Well draining
Autumn Fern Care Guide
As Autumn Ferns are most commonly found outdoors in nature and as part of your garden our care guide has been split into separate outdoor and indoor care guides.
Outdoor Guide
An Autumn Fern will make a beautiful addition to your garden. The Autumn Fern is an evergreen that puts out new fronds in the spring. The fronds grow in amazing oranges and yellows which will stand out starkly from the deep green of the older fronds.
Where To Plant An Autumn Fern
Just like other ferns, the Autumn Fern is a great solution for shadier areas of your garden. So if you have a canopy of bushes or trees this fern can add depth closer down to the ground and can give you an added pop of colour against the green backdrop.
Try to avoid planting in direct sunlight as they do best in the shade.
What Sort Of Soil Should I Use?
These ferns will grow well in chalk, clay and sand soil types.
What Temperatures Can My Fern Tolerate?
Autumn Ferns can tolerate cooler temperatures but they will thrive better in warmer more humid environments. If your region gets very cold in the winter then you may find your fern dies back in the winter but will thrive again come spring time.
Do I Need To Water My Autumn Fern Outdoors?
Whether or not you’ll need to water your fern will depend on where you live. These plants do well in moist soil so if you live in a region that receives a lot of rainfall you probably will not need to water the Earth around your fern.
If you live in a drier climate and you notice the soil drying out then you will definitely need to water your ferns. Watch the weather and take notice of the moisture levels in the soil.
Indoor Guide
Autumn Ferns aren’t commonly kept as indoor houseplants but as all ferns are becoming more popular we wanted to include this section in case you were planning on adding an Autumn Fern to your collection.
Autumn Fern Light Placement
Just like our advice for outdoor care, an Autumn Fern likes to be kept in shadier spots so if you’re bringing it inside, make sure you don’t leave your fern somewhere they will be exposed to the full sun like a south facing windowsill.
Instead opt for a shady spot away from the sun’s harsh glares.
Indoor Soil Recommendation
If you are keeping your Autumn Fern indoors then we would recommend a general indoor potting mix, you can make the soil better draining by adding perlite.
Autumn Fern Misting Requirements
Autumn Ferns prefer a more humid environment, so if you live somewhere with drier air you may need to consider misting your Fern. If misting your ferns regularly isn’t something you want to do then a humidifier can provide the necessary moisture levels for your fern.
Our humidifer recommendation would be the Levoit humidifier that you can find on Amazon.
- 6L capacity
- Warm and cool mist
- Automatic sensor and adjuster
Autumn Fern FAQ
Now you’ve looked at the differences between outdoor and indoor care for an Autumn Fern, make sure you read our commonly asked questions.
Are Autumn Ferns Evergreen?
Autumn Ferns are evergreen ferns when kept in a warmer climate.
Can Autumn Ferns Take Full Sun?
Autumn Ferns really do prefer a shadier life. But if your climate isn’t too hot and they aren’t in the sun for long periods of the day they should do fine. It you live somewhere that receives a lot of sunlight and your plants are receiving too much light then you might notice that they don’t do too well.
If possible, your ferns would do much better if they were planted in partial shade to keep them protected from the sun’s rays throughout the day.
Do Autumn Ferns Die Back?
Whether they die back will depend on the climate they are planted in. If they are kept in a warmer region then they should be fine all year round. If you live somewhere colder they might die back in the winter but they will come back again in the summer months.
Is Autumn Fern A Perennial?
Yes, an Autumn Fern is a perennial plant meaning that although it dies away in the winter it will grow back in the spring time and requires minimal care from you.
fern has curled up but still green? of course a picture worth a thousand words but does not seem to be anywhere to do that on your site?
Regards
W Newman
Humidity is most likely off. The leaves curl back when a fern is in dry air. Either that or slight over fertilizing/over watering. Move it to a place with higher humidity and flush the soil one time and then keep it slightly damp at all times. Make sure it is in a lower to medium light situation. Make sure the soil has good drainage as well.
I have an autumn fern that is dying back. It sits in a row at the base of a wooded fence. Its direct neighbor seems to be doing just fine. What might the matter be?
I have an Autumn fern,new last year.Planted in shady damp areain my town garden.It died back and currently has 1 inch of green growth.Will it regrow to a decent hight throughout the summer to give good display for Autumn,considering its so young.
Am thinking of adding Brilliance Autumn Fern to a shady spot in Denton Texas 8. Best time of year to plant here?
When is the best time of year to plant autumn ferns?