Maidenhair Fern

Description

The light, elegant fronds of this fern fully deserve their reference to the hair of Venus, goddess of beauty. The small, delicate wedge-shaped leaves, of a beautiful soft green, contrast with the glossy black of the very slender stems that support them.

Cultivation

Unfortunately the maidenhair fern is a plant as beautiful as it is difficult to keep thriving. Like all ferns it wants diffused light and dislikes direct sunlight. It needs a constant, high temperature, otherwise it loses its aerial part, which will grow back in spring only under optimal conditions. To try to reproduce its original living conditions, the rhizomes must be given a substrate rich in peat. It prefers a small pot; repotting is done in spring without breaking up the root ball. Watering should be abundant in summer and more limited during the winter rest period, and should aim to keep the soil cool and moist. Spraying the foliage, always welcome, becomes essential in rooms with low humidity. It is advisable to give the plants a little fertiliser once a month.

Propagation

Adiantum capillus Veneris is propagated by dividing the clumps, which may be done in spring at repotting time.