my parents tried to split it into two pots for some reason and it seems that the one on the right is still living but the one on the left seems to be struggling to stay green. any advice on how to help the left plant? ideally nothing risky because this plant means a lot to my father. minimal watering from what i understand, but i will clear this up with my parents. it is in the kitchen area which has relatively large windows granting eastern sunlight (in this photo, the leafing parts of the plants are facing the windows due east)
by iamdongle
10 Comments
Assuming that the roots are okay, which you’ll probably have to look at, you can chop off everything dead and it should regrow.
First you need to get rid of all the dead growth. That’s going to cause a rot problem if you’re not careful. Then you’ll want to look at its soil and roots. It seems like there’s a watering problem already so check to make sure nothings died or rotten. Then it needs to be closer to the light source, more humidity, and to be regularly rotated to regrow its foliage properly.
Honestly shoutout to whomever kept it alive that long cus I can’t keep a fern alive past 1 week 🥲
What I do with ferns like this is stick them outside all summer amid my hosta beds. I water them regularly and spray them with the hose. They like moisture and humidity, and they like the same sun conditions at the hostas.
After about six weeks, you’ll see lots of new growth..
It doesn’t appear to be a root rot issue, rather it looks bone dry. I would recommend trimming off the dead parts, and make this a hanging plant facing the window to allow ample sun for the living roots to regrow out its leaves. Especially now that it’s getting hotter, make sure to water at a minimum once per week, best way to tell when to water is to depress ur finger in the soil inch in depth, if it feels damp then you can wait to water, dry soil at an inch depth is not ideal and needs more watering. Also, when was the last time you fertilized/repotted? If the plant is that old, it could have utilized all of the soil nutrients and needs repotting, which if it’s been several years, would be better than fertilizing.
Epsom salt
Try an Epsom salt and water mixture or (and) banana peel water. Don’t know where you live or have the option available to you, but whenever it rains, I put my ferns out in the rain and let them bathe in the rain. Some much appreciated sunlight might help as well, but not too much, especially if you live in a really sunny and hot place like myself or they’ll burn.
In all reality if the roots are healthy ferns can be cut all the way back to the point of no leaves and still bounce back. I used to do that at the nursery I worked in if a fern was looking a bit wonky. Just make sure you’re giving it water and sunlight. And they love water.
It’s super dry. Depending on overall temperature and humidity where you live, if you can put it outside in a semi shaded area (or it’ll get sunburn) at least for a few weeks do that and then move into a little more sun at a time, but most of them are OK with mostly indirect light. If they’re outside, they’ll generally dry out quicker with the heat so keep an eye on watering.
What has seemed to work well for me with ferns is putting one of those watering globes in it. Keeps it more evenly watered.
100+ year old fern? Hmmm