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Ferns make beautiful backgrounds for your home. Whether you want to add some greenery to your interior or create a beautiful garden, these plants have it all.
They are interesting because they do not flower; They don’t sow either. Instead, they reproduce by producing spores.
Plus, they don’t look like most spore-producing plants because ferns have real leaves, stems, and beautiful, intricate leaves.
So it seems that when they seem to fit into a certain box, some other quirk makes them stand out.
Although very different from most other indoor and outdoor plants, these plants are relatively easy to grow.
And depending on the species you choose, plants can reach a height of 80 feet. Can you imagine?
However, for this to happen, you need to attend your appointment taking care of the plants.
And today we will discuss an interesting aspect of plant care: homemade fertilizers for ferns. Here it goes:
Contents
Why use homemade fertilizer for your ferns?
Ferns don’t require a lot of fertilizer and therefore won’t require a lot of inputs.
Therefore, ferns can thrive in the presence of natural household fertilizers, which also have the added benefit of enriching soil fertility.
Additionally, natural inputs also reduce dependence on chemical inputs, allowing plants to make do with what little they get.
It is also economical to use these tickets, since you can make them with scraps from your kitchen, as you will see later.
What do ferns need?
With hundreds of fern varieties, you might not know what your fern needs. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when growing a fern:
winter hardiness zone
It would help if you kept in mind that ferns are different. So what’s good for the goose may not be good for the goose in your case.
find out what rustic area your fern is better and try to create similar conditions indoors.
If you’re growing a fern outdoors, it’s best to stick with plants that can withstand the climate in your area.
Otherwise, the plant will not grow and no matter how much water and fertilizer you give it, things will not change.
Water
All ferns need water. However, they do not do well in soggy soils. As such, the trick is to strike a balance between water soaking and light sprinkling.
Try to moisten the soil so that the water dries out over the next few days.
Before watering, also check for moisture by sticking a finger a few inches below the top layer.
At this point, the fern should have adequate aeration and drainage to give the roots some room to breathe.
Shadow
You may have noticed that your fern does well in shady conditions. Depending on the species (which you should check), the plant may prefer full or partial shade.
A range of 60-80% is sufficient. During the cooler months there may be less shade.
However, during the summer and other hot months, you shouldn’t take any risks with this protection.
You can tell your plant is not shaded well if it overheats or stands erect with a light green tint.
Note that some ferns do well in full sun. However, these require regular water to keep up with the high evaporation rates.
Fertilization
The good news is that ferns don’t need a lot of fertilizer and can get by with what little you have. Using too many inputs on these plants can eventually cause them to fail rather than thrive.
If you choose to use commercial fertilizers, try to stick to 20-10-20 or 20-20-20 ratios. Micronutrients must have a nitrogen content of 200 ppm.
Anything more than this can dry out the plant, which would occur in the form of root and tip burn.
Keep in mind that when fertilizing it is best to use solid food on the ground rather than liquid food on the leaves.
Residues left on the leaves can negatively affect plant growth.
If you like this article, check out our article on What Are the Benefits of a Boston Fern?
Make homemade fertilizer for ferns
Ferns don’t need a lot of fertilizing and do well even with light inputs. Here are some ways to enrich your soil for better plant growth:
egg shells
what are you doing with yourself egg shells once you prepare a breakfast? Do you throw them away?
It turns out these shells can have a lasting positive effect on your soil because they’re packed with potassium and calcium.
Start by cleaning the shells to remove the components of the egg before grinding the shells into small particles.
Spread them over the base coat, then they will absorb over time. These nutrients go a long way in strengthening the cellular structures of the fern.
peel the bananas
The list gets better and better by letting you use items you would otherwise throw away.
Yes, your banana peels can end up in your compost or trash can.
These are rich in potassium and phosphorus, nutrients that strengthen ferns and protect them from pests.
Should we then throw the shell on the ground and leave it as it is? Really no. It is best to cut the husk and add it to the ground.
You can also choose to soak the shell in water for four days. The water traps the nutrients, giving you a good mix to sprinkle over the fern.
grass clippings
Mowing the lawn causes different reactions. Some people are eager to do this, while others prefer to delegate the task.
No matter how you think about it or how it’s done, it has a result: grass clippings. Did you know that these clippings can also be used as fertilizer?
They are packed with nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. And the good thing is that they contain these nutrients in moderate amounts that would not harm a fern.
Take the clippings and place them on the ground before covering them with soil. They will break down over time, releasing the nutrients into the soil.
Coffee
Brewed coffee begins to spoil after about five hours. Well, here’s a new way to use that old potion: pour it into the potted fern.
Coffee has the advantage of modifying the pH of the soil while increasing the nitrogen content.
Keep in mind that this fertilizer is acidic, so it’s best to move the pH down the scale.
As such, you may need to dilute it depending on the fern species you have in your home.
You can choose to work with the coffee grounds as is or dilute them with water for minimal effect.
Also note that coffee should not be used very often as it can raise soil acidity to dangerous levels.
Tea
Here is another acid starter that you can use to adjust the pH of your soil.
Thanks to its citric and tannic acid, this drink is not only a delight for your palate, but can also do wonders for your boat. You can use the tea in two ways.
You can use the tea leaves that were used to make the tea and treat it with the ground. Alternatively, you can soak the leaves in water and use the mixture on the ground.
The vinegar
When you see the need to adjust soil pH to be on the higher end of the scale, this article can be helpful.
Plus, it’s a great way to keep ants away and prevent weed growth. You have to be careful with this entry because it is quite strong.
Instead of using the vinegar directly on the floor, dilute one cup with two gallons of cool water.
Also limit the number of times you use it unless you need to change the acidity of the soil.
You may also be interested in: Why Does Your Fern Smell Like Fish and How to Fix It?
Homemade Fertilizers to Avoid for Ferns
In general, most natural fertilizers should be safe to use with your fern. However, you should always consider the effects of an entry before using it.
Take the example of coffee. Since it can lower soil pH, always monitor soil pH and measure it against ideal growing conditions for your fern species.
If it needs to be changed, you can use it. There’s nothing like a bad homemade fertilizer, as long as it can solve the problem.
Sometimes even the best input can have an unpleasant effect if the condition of the soil and the plant is not considered beforehand.
How often should you fertilize your ferns with homemade fertilizer?
If your ferns are growing outdoors, feeding them isn’t as important. They can make do with what they get from decaying matter in the environment.
However, indoor ferns will need some, albeit lighter, feeding.
Generally, you should use the supplies about four months after planting the fern. This expectation gives you plenty of time to adapt to your new environment.
However, if the plant begins to flower early, you can start feeding it with fertilizer in the first three months. After you start, you can use supplies every month during the growing season.
When growth slows during the colder months, skip a month before using the input.
It is imperative that you use this distance when working with commercial fertilizers, which are often very concentrated.
Be sure to water the fern enough after you fertilize it to prevent the soil and plant from drying out.
Also, don’t use the fertilizer at full strength. Instead, dilute it halfway through the mix as directed on the label.
Final Thoughts: How to Make Homemade Fern Fern?
With a natural fertilizer, you must alternate between the previous options, so that the plant gets all the nutrients.
Ferns aren’t that picky when it comes to fertilizing. But if you want them to grow strong and healthy, a little information here and there won’t hurt.
Be careful with the amounts, as too much fertilizer can harm the plant. Happy gardening!
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
How do you save a dying staghorn fern?
Can I grow ferns only in water?
How to grow asparagus ferns from tubers?
How to Stop Boston Fern Leaf Curling?
What is the ideal humidity for a Boston fern?