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You braid a money tree by weaving three to five young, green trunks loosely together, then holding the top with a soft tie while the stems harden into shape. To braid a money tree, start with stems under about 1/2 inch thick, cross them gently like a hair braid, leave a little space between them, … Read more >>
If your Boston fern’s older fronds are fading to a washed-out lime color, the plant is usually reacting to too much light or a shortage of nitrogen. A Boston fern turning light green most often needs a shadier spot with bright indirect light, a light feeding, or both; pale new fronds alone are normal. The … Read more >>
Ferns live in damp places because water runs almost every part of their lives. Their sperm has to swim through a film of water to reach an egg, their thin fronds lose moisture fast, and their shallow roots dry out quickly. A cool, shady, humid spot keeps all of those weak points covered. That’s why … Read more >>
The best plants to grow with ferns in pots are shade lovers that want the same steady moisture: impatiens, begonias, caladiums, coleus, coral bells, miniature hostas, torenia, fuchsia, and golden creeping jenny. For most American porches and patios, I’d pair a fern with begonias or impatiens for flowers and a coral bell or caladium for … Read more >>
Ferns want three things above all: soft light, steady moisture, and humid air. Give a fern bright indirect light indoors or open shade outdoors. Keep its soil evenly damp but never soggy, and protect tropical types from cold and dry heat. With those basics in place, most ferns grow lush with very little fuss. To … Read more >>
Hardy garden ferns can ride out winters far below zero. Tropical ferns start to suffer in the 40s. Native hardy ferns like wood ferns, Christmas ferns, and ostrich ferns survive temperatures of -20°F to -40°F once they go dormant, while tropical ferns like the Boston fern get damaged below about 40 to 45°F and lose … Read more >>
To repot a money tree without shocking it, move it in spring into a pot just 1 to 2 inches wider with drainage holes, use a fast-draining peat- or coir-based mix, keep it at the same soil depth, water once, and then leave its light and routine alone while it settles. Most of the stress … Read more >>
Yes, you can grow ferns from spores at home with a clear lidded container, a sterile moist mix, and a lot of patience. To grow ferns from spores, sprinkle ripe spores thinly on the surface of a sterilized, damp mix, cover the container, and keep it at 65 to 75°F in bright, indirect light until … Read more >>
Both plants have glossy leaves that fan out like an open hand, so they get mixed up all the time at garden centers. The fastest way to tell them apart is the trunk and the leaflet count. A money tree (Pachira aquatica) usually has a braided, smooth trunk with 5 to 7 leaflets per leaf, … Read more >>
Ferns grow well outside in pots when you give them three things: a container with open drainage holes, a light, moisture-holding potting mix, and a spot with filtered shade and shelter from wind. To grow ferns outside in pots, pick a fern suited to your USDA zone, plant it in a pot only an inch … Read more >>