Am I misting too much?
Leaves are turning brown 😭 I’ve been bottom watering because the soil was getting white on the top. Not sure what’s going on
3ft to light, indirect
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 year ago
9
@Cjpeters26 Misting is not a particularly effective method of adding humidity and even pebble trays are not considered to be effective but it can depend on the air temperature and area involved.
Usually, brown leaves is more an issue with the watering of the fern. Often this can be the result of overwatering but it can also be due to irregular or underwatering.
Here are some possible causes
https://www.plantsforallseasons.co.uk/blogs/fern-care/why-does-my-fern-have-brown-leaves-and-how-to-solve-it#:~:text=Underwatering%20or%20inconsistent%20watering%3A%20Ferns,may%20turn%20brown%20and%20crispy.
Usually, brown leaves is more an issue with the watering of the fern. Often this can be the result of overwatering but it can also be due to irregular or underwatering.
Here are some possible causes
https://www.plantsforallseasons.co.uk/blogs/fern-care/why-does-my-fern-have-brown-leaves-and-how-to-solve-it#:~:text=Underwatering%20or%20inconsistent%20watering%3A%20Ferns,may%20turn%20brown%20and%20crispy.
@Seymour Hmm so that article confuses me because it mentions frequent misting as an adequate source of humidity. I water once a week but I do bottom water it (I let it sit in water for 15 minutes and then let it drain for a bit until it’s not dripping). Should I be increasing the time I am soaking it? I feel like when I top watered it I didn’t have this issue but it was getting to be a bit powdery looking
@Cjpeters26 I know and misting and pebble trays are commonly recommended for misting. Do you know what the humidity level is in that room ? Research shows they are largely ineffective but as I say I don’t think that’s the issue as much as a water issue.
I know some suggest bottom watering and soaking however I prefer to top water, in part as it is easier to check the top inches of soil for when it needs another watering. This is consistent with my approach:
“Moist, yes, but never soaked. The best way to check if your indoor fern needs watering is to dig the tip of your finger 1cm deep into its potting soil — if the soil is dry, give it a light and even watering. Remember that this drying out is necessary, as constantly moist soil can cause root infections”
https://www.allgreen.com.au/garden-advice/how-to-care-for-ferns
I know some suggest bottom watering and soaking however I prefer to top water, in part as it is easier to check the top inches of soil for when it needs another watering. This is consistent with my approach:
“Moist, yes, but never soaked. The best way to check if your indoor fern needs watering is to dig the tip of your finger 1cm deep into its potting soil — if the soil is dry, give it a light and even watering. Remember that this drying out is necessary, as constantly moist soil can cause root infections”
https://www.allgreen.com.au/garden-advice/how-to-care-for-ferns
@Cjpeters26 you say the soil is going powdery? Can you get a pic of it? It might be mould or fungus, which points to overwatering
@Araceae it’s not there currently (I sprayed with hydrogen peroxide) - it definitely was the start of some mold! In researching it it said it was fairly normal but did point to it being over watered (which is why I started bottom watering and less frequently) but the soil was getting so dry which these guys don’t like so it feels like a lose lose
@Cjpeters26 hmmm, dry as in a dry surface or the whole rootball getting dry? Also what's you substrate?
@Araceae I have it in indoor potting soil in a plastic pot with drainage. When I bottom water, the top inch or so of the soil stays dry honestly I’ve never been able to get it to moisten with bottom watering!
@Cjpeters26 ight, last ditch attempt [apart from possibly underwatering]; what's your humidity level, an what is that black thing in the photo of the plant card, and do you spray anything other than water on the leaves?
Here in my country, Asplenium nidus, the bird nest fern, a relative of Asplenium scolopendrium, grows mainly in trees where humidity can reach the 70s to 80s due to the fact that we are an island nation, plus monsoon rainfall practically half the year. Even those on the ground are barely planted in it, they are just on the soil or fell from a tree.
Basically, what could happen here is:
1. Your fern has not enough humidity
2. The rhizomes is is suffocating [unlikely]
Here in my country, Asplenium nidus, the bird nest fern, a relative of Asplenium scolopendrium, grows mainly in trees where humidity can reach the 70s to 80s due to the fact that we are an island nation, plus monsoon rainfall practically half the year. Even those on the ground are barely planted in it, they are just on the soil or fell from a tree.
Basically, what could happen here is:
1. Your fern has not enough humidity
2. The rhizomes is is suffocating [unlikely]
@Araceae I really think it may not be getting enough humidity so you are probably right! It has been a bit dry where I live as we are coming into the colder months. The black thing in my plant card is our Amazon Alexa 🤪