Alpine Water Fern

Lustrous tendrils to jazz up a hanging basket or pot, which it will gradually spread to fill. The fronds are densely beset on each side providing a lush display. The new fronds can have a pink blush, you can cut them back to encourage the colour.

They can be grown outdoors in free draining soils in shady location that gets a regular supply of water. This is an Australian native that grows in southern grasslands and by streams.

SIZE (HxW): 10-20cm x 20-40cm

I SEE THE LIGHT: Bright, indirect light is ideal. You should be able to read during the day in their position in the room without turning on a light. The occasional rotation (an easy way to remember is to do this when you water) will result in fuller growth.

I NEED A DRINK: Water fairly freely spring/summer and less in winter – roughly every other week. The fronds will turn brown if they are lacking water (you can prune them off to keep the plant tidy) remedy the situation by soaking them thoroughly in a sink/bucket (wait until the bubbles stop) then allow the pot to drain, like a phoenix they should rise again. Brown leaf tips could also be a sign they need some humidity, you can do this by sitting the pot on a saucer with rocks and water, creating a microclimate with other plants, using a humidifier, move it to a bathroom, mist with a sprayer, or growing your plant in a terrarium. So many options!

I WILL SURVIVE: In pots or hanging baskets choose a good quality potting mix to ensure they have the drainage they need. Choose an option with drainage holes, or be promise to be careful with watering, they don’t like to sit in boggy soils. A diluted liquid fertiliser in spring and summer will keep them happy and healthy.

Repot in spring, only as they become overcrowd in their current home, or need a refresh, ensuring you keep the crown above the soil when you replant. They resent cold draughts or heating/air con vents and won’t last long near any of these. Give the leaves a wipe every so often to keep them free of dust.