Basic Asparagus Fern Care
We don’t often recommend the Asparagus Fern to more inexperienced plant parents because they can be quite sensitive to their environment and care and their delicate leaves can all turn brown even if the slightest thing is wrong.
Light is the most important thing to consider when caring for an Asparagus Fern. If they receive too much, it can burn the leaves and dry out the plant. Even just a day or two of too much light and you’ll have a very dry Asparagus Fern on your hands. The good news is that they can OK with most other light levels and although you may see slower growth in lower light areas, the risk of leaf burn is minimized.
Below you’ll find our complete Asparagus Fern care guide with everything you need to know to keep your Fern happy and healthy.
Detailed Asparagus Fern Care
Keep them out of direct light
Asparagus Ferns are happy in most lighting conditions, which is great news. One thing to note though is that it’s best if you keep your Asparagus Fern out of direct sunlight though as they can be prone to burning.
Be careful not to overwater your Asparagus Fern
Asparagus Ferns prefer a little and often way of watering, this keeps the soil moist but never wet and soggy. They can be prone to root rot so it’s important that you get the drainage right. Check out our guide to watering for more detailed information.
Asparagus Ferns love humidity
Being from the forest, Asparagus Ferns are happiest when there’s a little higher humidity than in the average home. Be sure to give your Asparagus Fern a mist every few days, or consider a pebble tray to keep things more consistent. You can find out more in our Humidity Guide.
Asparagus Ferns are poisonous to pets
Watch out if you have have a cat or dog around! Pets that ingest the leaves can develop digestive issues and struggle with breathing, so give this one a miss if you have a pet in the house.
Asparagus Ferns like slightly higher temperatures
Although it is possible for your Asparagus Fern to survive well in slightly cooler homes, they will thrive if the temperature is slightly warmer. Avoid placing them next to drafty windows and doors as the cool air from outside can be quite harmful over time.
Propagate your Asparagus Fern by division
The easiest way to propagate your Asparagus Fern is by dividing the plant. Make sure that you equally divide up the root system so that each plant has the best survival chance. We also recommend propagating your Asparagus Fern in spring ahead of the warmer growth months.
Asparagus Fern Care FAQs
How do I care for an Asparagus Fern?
There are three main things to get right when caring for an Asparagus Fern. Firstly, keep it away from any kind of direct light. It will dry out the leaves, causing them to turn brown in a matter of hours. Secondly, high humidity is a must so get into the routine of regularly misting your plant or using a humidifier.
And lastly, when it comes to watering, the last thing you want is root rot so use a little but often watering approach to prevent the potting mix from drying out whilst also avoiding waterlogged soil.
How often should I water my Asparagus Fern?
Asparagus Ferns like moist but not soggy soil and will struggle if it’s dry for long periods of time. This is why you need to adopt a little but often watering approach.
Should I mist my Asparagus Fern?
Yes, high humidity is key to keeping your Asparagus Fern looking fresh and green. Misting several times a week, using pebble trays and humidifiers or placing your Fern in the bathroom are great ways to stop brown leaves.
Are Asparagus Ferns toxic?
Yes, and you’ll seriously want to give this one a miss if you have pets in the home. Asparagus Ferns drop their little leaves very often which can be easily picked up by your furry friends so this one is for the pet-free households.
Common Issues for Asparagus Ferns
Although Asparagus Fern care can be quite easy, there are several common issues that happen if your plant isn’t fully happy with its care or environment. It is important to spot the warning signs so you know how to help nurture your plant back to full health.
Why is my Asparagus Fern turning yellow?
The most likely cause for yellowing on your Asparagus Fern is too much bright light. Try and move your Asparagus Fern to a more indirect spot and trim away any dead leaves.
Why is my Asparagus Fern turning brown?
Brown leaves on an Asparagus Fern is usually due to dry air and a lack of humidity. Give your fern a misting every couple of days, that should solve the problem. Trim away any dead leaves to conserve energy for new healthy growth.
Why is my Asparagus Fern turning white?
White areas on your Asparagus Fern is probably caused by sunburn. Move your Asparagus Fern to a shadier spot with no direct light and keep an eye on any further changes.
Why is my Asparagus Fern losing leaves?
There are two main factors that can lead your Asparagus Fern to lose leaves: inconsistent watering patterns and intense sunlight.
Your Asparagus Fern doesn’t like their soil to go from super dry to super soggy, they prefer even moisture in the potting mix. If their environment changes, your Asparagus Fern can start to drop leaves as a result.
High levels of direct light can also lead your Asparagus Fern to lose some leaves. This usually turns the leaves brown before they fall off the plant so look out for dry patches on the plant.
Why is my Asparagus Fern drooping?
Your Asparagus Fern can begin to droop if it’s not getting enough moisture. This is both in terms of water in the potting mix as well as humidity. The best way to check which is the cause of your Asparagus Fern drooping is to check the moisture levels in the soil. You can either do this by taking your plant out of its pot, or using a moisture meter or the chopstick test.
If it’s more humidity that your Asparagus Fern needs, we recommend misting the plant once a day and investing in a humidifier to stop your plant from drooping.
