The Lace Fern, with its delicate foliage, is a favored choice for indoor growers seeking a tropical aesthetic. This plant’s finely cut, arching fronds create a soft, billowing texture. Despite its fragile appearance, the Lace Fern is resilient and can thrive indoors when its specific environmental needs are met. Understanding its natural origin helps replicate the conditions necessary for this plant to flourish in a container.
Defining the Lace Fern
The true Lace Fern cultivated as a houseplant is Microlepia strigosa, a genuine fern species belonging to the family Dennstaedtiaceae. It is sometimes known as the Hay-scented Fern or Palapalai, and is native to tropical and subtropical regions across Asia and the Pacific, including Hawaii. Its natural habitat is the humid, shaded forest floor, where it grows vigorously beneath a dense canopy of trees.
This terrestrial, medium-sized fern is characterized by short, creeping rhizomes that form dense, clumping colonies. Its fronds can reach up to three feet in length and are highly divided, giving the plant its lacy appearance. Confusion arises because Asparagus setaceus is often marketed as a “Lace Fern,” even though it is not a true fern. Microlepia is distinguished by its true fern structure and specific cultural requirements.
Essential Care Requirements
The Lace Fern performs best in bright, indirect light, such as an east-facing window or a few feet away from a south or west exposure. Direct sun exposure, especially during the hottest part of the day, can quickly scorch the delicate fronds. Optimal indoor temperatures range between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the plant must be protected from cold drafts or sudden temperature fluctuations.
Consistent moisture in the growing medium is necessary, and the Lace Fern should never be allowed to dry out completely. Water thoroughly when the top one to two inches of soil feel barely dry, ensuring excess water drains completely. Avoid waterlogging the soil, as this leads to root damage and fungal issues. The fern requires an ambient humidity level between 40 and 70 percent to prevent frond crisping.
Standard household air is often too dry, making supplemental humidity necessary for long-term health. Misting offers only a fleeting benefit and is not a substitute for sustained solutions.
Humidity Solutions
Placing the container on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water.
Using a small room humidifier placed nearby, especially during dry winter months.
The growing medium should be well-draining yet capable of retaining moisture. A mix containing peat moss, perlite, and composted bark provides a slightly acidic environment with both aeration and water retention. Lace Ferns are light feeders, and over-fertilization can lead to root burn. During the active growing season (spring through early fall), apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength once every four to six weeks.
Addressing Common Growth Issues
Browning and crisping of frond tips is a common symptom of insufficient humidity or inconsistent watering. When the air is too dry, the fern’s delicate tissues desiccate, causing the lacy tips to turn brown and brittle. Correcting this requires immediately increasing ambient moisture and ensuring the soil remains evenly moist. Frond death can also occur if the plant is exposed to temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Lace Fern is susceptible to common houseplant pests, primarily sap-sucking insects like mealybugs and scale. Mealybugs appear as small, white, cottony masses typically found in the joints or along the veins. Scale insects are immobile, brownish bumps that attach firmly to the stems and fronds, feeding on internal fluids. Both pests excrete honeydew, which can attract sooty mold.
To manage a localized infestation, remove pests by dabbing them directly with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. For widespread issues, apply an insecticidal soap or horticultural neem oil solution.
Fungal problems, such as root rot, are usually a consequence of overwatering and poor drainage. Root rot manifests as wilting, yellowing fronds despite a wet growing medium. Treating root rot involves trimming away any dark, mushy roots and repotting the fern into fresh, well-aerated soil.
Propagation and Display
Propagating the Lace Fern is easily accomplished through division of its rhizomes. This process is best done during spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing, and it also serves the purpose of repotting an overgrown specimen. To divide the fern, gently remove the entire plant and separate the clump into smaller sections. Ensure each new section possesses a healthy cluster of roots and at least one viable frond, then plant it in fresh, well-draining soil and kept consistently moist.
While propagating by collecting spores is possible, it is complex and better suited to experienced growers. The Lace Fern’s gracefully arching growth habit makes it ideal for display in a hanging basket. Placing the fern in naturally humid areas, such as a well-lit bathroom or kitchen, can simplify care. This fern also excels in larger, open terrariums, which offer the stable, enclosed humidity it requires.