Maidenhair ferns DO NOT require “high” humidity to thrive.
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1️⃣ Here’s a thriving maidenhair fern living on a rock face at the Omaha Zoo’s Desert Dome. Let me repeat: THE DESERT DOME! Except at this little stream, the rest of the environment is filled with sand, rocks, and cacti…it’s a desert!
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2️⃣ #whatmyplantsees – and what kind of light do you think this Desert Dome gets? The roof is slightly tinted so we’re not getting the quite the same strength of sun as outdoors but it’s strong enough to keep cacti living well. If you don’t live in a glass dome, then by the “see as much of the sky as possible” principle, you need to put your plant right up against whatever largest window you have – light (sky + sun) is the driver of plant life.
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The key is soil moisture: given that the plant is working (getting the right light), the roots need to be kept evenly moist at all times. And this is not a guarantee that every frond will remain perfect forever: 3️⃣ even in a humid conservatory (Allan Gardens in Toronto), older fronds will die off.
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So how does humidity factor in? Lower ambient humidity increases the rate of transpiration (evaporation from the leaves), which uses up soil moisture faster. If the soil reaches a critical point of dryness, the maidenhair fern will abort its fronds in an effort to stay alive and wait for wetter conditions – a few (or all) fronds will dry up but the roots are still alive. It’s much the same way that deciduous trees abort their leaves for the winter and re-grow them in spring. So higher humidity does help to slow the rate of transpiration but in the case of maidenhairs growing in desert-like conditions, consistent soil moisture (and good light) is all they really need. Therefore, focus on light and consistent soil moisture, humidity optional.
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