Plant group
Ferns and shade plants: soil, pH and plant guides
Woodland plants that want damp, open, leafy soil. Living Soil has guides for 16 plants in this group, built from published references.
Every plant in Ferns and shade plants
- American ginseng
- Asparagus setaceus (asparagus fern, plumosa)
- Bird's nest fern (Asplenium)
- Boston fern
- Button fern
- Crested bear's paw fern (Polypodium aureum)
- Crested polypodium (E.T. fern)
- Davallia (rabbit's foot fern)
- Ferns indoors (general)
- Goldenseal
- Hart's tongue and rustyback ferns
- Maidenhair fern
- Skeleton fork fern (Psilotum)
- Staghorn fern
- Sweet woodruff
- Tongue fern (Pyrrosia lingua)
Mixes for ferns and shade plants
Good to know
- pH: the references give 5.5 to 6 for ferns and shade plants in general.
- The mistake to avoid: Over fertilizing, which burns the tips of the fronds.
Questions
What soil do ferns and shade plants need?
Woodland plants that want damp, open, leafy soil. Living Soil has 1 mix for this group, each from a published reference, and guides for 16 plants.
What pH do ferns and shade plants need?
The references give pH 5.5 to 6 for ferns and shade plants in general. Each plant's own guide adds its notes where the references give one.
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