Plumosa Fern; How to care for the Asparagus Fern indoors
The Plumosa Fern, also known as Asparagus Fern, is not an actual fern.
In-fact, this beautiful plant belongs to the Asparagaceae family, and the only thing it has in common with ferns it’s the fronds look.
Native to Southern Africa, the Asparagus Setaceus, is a perennial climbing herb. It’s certainly not a coincidence that in latin, the name setaceus means “hairy”.
We are so accustomed to see this graceful plant in our homes, that it seems hard to believe that it has become an invasive weed in those countries where it was introduced as an outdoor plant!
Quite easy to grow outdoors in tropical climates, (zones 9-12), the Plumosa Fern takes a little bit more effort to grow indoors due to its need for higher humidity levels. (However, this plant grows without effort inside closed terrariums or glass containers!)
But don’t you fret, in the following lines you’ll learn everything you need to know to grow a healthy and beautiful Plumosa Fern indoors.
plumosa fern light
The Plumosa Fern does relatively well in moderate light conditions, but it definitely thrives in bright, indirect light areas, as long as it is not exposed to direct sun!
North face windows, (as long as are not drafty and the fronds are not touching the glass panes), are ideal.
South and West facing rooms are great as long as the Plumosa Fern is far enough from the windows as to not receive direct sunlight.
It is important to know that if you are growing the Plumosa Fern inside a closed Terrarium or into any Glass Container, its care requirements are different, whether it’s light exposure or watering. For more on caring for the Plumosa Fern in Terrariums and Glass Containers, skip to the last paragraph of this blog post “Plumosa Fern Interesting Facts”.
Close view of a cluster of fronds. It is easy to appreciate the similarity to both the Asparagus plants and Ferns.
plumosa fern humidity & temperature
This plant loves high humidity and consistent warm temperatures.
This is why it is only grown outdoors in humid and tropical zones, (zones 9-12).
If like me, you live in a planting zone that is “galaxies” away from zones 9-12, (I am in zone 3, bordering with 2! 😣), you’re growing the Plumosa Fern indoors, and you better crank the heat too!!!
In-fact, this lovely plant, will be at its best at consistent temperatures ranging from 70F, (12C) to 90F, (32C) year round.
It is critical to keep this plant away from any air conditioning drafts in Summer, or cold windows and doors in Winter.
Provide as much humidity as you possibly can to both fronds and soil, without rotting the roots.
There are three ways to increase humidity levels around your plants:
- Using a plant humidifier. There are several products on the market, and you can find them all online. I personally like this ultrasonic cool mist one.
- Misting your plants. I regularly mist all those plants that thrive on high humidity three times per week; Marantas, Monsteras, Alocasias, Stromanthes, Calatheas, Fiddle Leaf Figs, Strelitzias, Ferns, Pileas, Peace Lilies, Hoyas, Anthuriums, and Norfolk Pines.
- Grouping your plants by species. Grouping plants together will help them raise the surrounding air humidity levels.
- Using a tray filled with pebbles and water. Filling a saucer with small pebbles and adding water so that it barely reaches the surface of the pebbles, helps maintaining higher levels of humidity around the plant. However, it is important that the bottom of the pot is not submerged in water with the roots stagnating in it. This will cause root rot in the long term.
- In the case of the Plumosa Fern, the best way to maintain high humidity levels, is to place it inside a glass container, whether it’s closed, like a Closed Terrarium, or open, like in the picture below.
For more information on misting indoor plants and its importance, click here!
Even if you cannot see it, The Plumosa Fern is still inside its plastic pot with draining holes. The pot is not touching the bottom of the glass container. I placed 1″ of pebbles at the bottom of the container to act as draining layer. This draining layer is also acting as a pebble tray filled with water, helping to maintain high levels of humidity.
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plumosa fern water & fertilizing
Watering the Plumosa Fern can be tricky as it has seasonal needs.
During the growing season, from Spring to Fall, this plant thrives on consistently moist soil, but not too damp that will cause root rot. Water it approximately every week and do not allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Even though this plant doesn’t go dormant during the Winter, it still slow its growth during the colder months between Fall and Spring. During these months, decrease the amount of water you provide to your Plumosa Fern, allowing the top soil to dry out.
Fertilize your plant once a month from Spring to Fall with a liquid fertilizer.
It is important to know that if you are growing the Plumosa Fern inside a closed terrarium or into any glass container, its care requirements are different, whether it’s light exposure or watering. For more on caring for the Plumosa Fern in Terrariums and Glass Containers, skip to the last paragraph of this blog post “Plumosa Fern Interesting Facts”.
I water this Plumosa Fern every time I notice the water level on the pebbles drops below the line where the bottom of the actual pot bottom is sitting. This way the soil will absorb the moisture trapped in the pebbles without sitting in water.
A few months later you can notice the growth on the fronds.
plumosa fern repotting & propagating
The Plumosa Fern is one of those plants that enjoys being pot bound.
When a plant enjoys being pot bound, it means it likes to have its roots crammed inside the pot. There are quite a few plants that enjoy this condition! For some, this is actually the right condition to bloom, (I am looking at you, Peace Lily!!!).
So don’t you rush to upsize your plant!
I still recommend you change all of your plants’ soil once a year in order to replace the nutrients depleted old soil with a fresh batch. For more or repotting plants and how to properly do it, check out this popular article I wrote a while back!
When your Plumosa Fern starts to triple coil roots around the bottom of its pot, it’s definitely time to repot it into a bigger container.
Ok, maybe I am exaggerating. You don’t have to wait until it triple coils. When you notice that roots are growing out of its pot’s draining hole, it’s time to repot.
Never repot a plant into a much bigger container. Always go one size bigger, (i.e. if your plant is in a 4″ pot, don’t go any bigger than a 6″ pot).
This will prevent too much soil to retain excess water that can clog and kill the roots.
Terracotta pots are too porous for Plumosa Ferns and dry out the soil too quickly. Opt for either a plastic pot or a glazed ceramic pot, as long as it has drainage holes! Proper drainage is critical for the health and survival of any plants.
As you can see I repotted my Plumosa Fern into a bigger pot that won’t allow me to fit pebbles around the pot. I did choose a terracotta pot rather than plastic or glazed ceramic simply because I am keeping the pot inside a glass container on top of draining rocks. These conditions allow for higher humidity levels and won’t dry out the terracotta pot too fast.
plumosa fern interesting facts
I have 3 Plumosa Ferns.
Interesting, right? 😜
What actually is interesting is that the healthiest one of all is the one growing inside my Closed Terrarium!
Yes, it is much easier for me to care for Plumosa Ferns in a Closed Terrarium than in the open air.
That’s because the Closed Terrarium creates the perfect environmental conditions a Plumosa Fern needs; consistent warmth and very high humidity.
For me it’s a no brainer too. The aesthetic composition of a Glass Terrarium is beautiful and the plants’ maintenance is minimal.
In-fact, once you’ve picked the right plants for Closed Terrariums, the small echo-system inside those glass walls is pretty much self-sufficient.
All you need to do is to add a bit of water once a month, and the rest is up to the plants.
If you want to learn more about Close Terrariums, how they work and how to build one, check out this blog post!
As far as propagating goes, the Plumosa Fern cannot be propagated by stem cutting like many other plants.
The best way to propagate the Asparagus Fern is by root division.
Simply remove the plant from its pot and divide the tuberous roots.
Depending on the size of the plant and how crammed the roots were in the pot, you may be able to easily pull the tubers and roots apart. On the other hand, if you find a tangled up mess, you will need to cut the roots with a sharp knife.
Divide the roots in the amount of plants you want to create.
It’s important to pick small plants when building a Closed Terrarium as the high humidity levels allow them to grow fast!
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