That lush fern wall in our apartment lobby finally won me over.

I always dismissed ferns as too high-maintenance for my home. Witnessing their resilience in the lobby's low light has me shopping for a maidenhair this weekend.

3 comments

3 Comments

riley_ellis7h ago

Read something a while back about how most ferns are actually tougher than we give them credit for, it's just their transpiration rate is through the roof. They lose water faster than a lot of plants, so dry air kills them, not necessarily low light. That lobby probably has consistent humidity from people coming and going, maybe even a central HVAC system keeping things stable. Maidenhairs are the real test though, their fronds crisp up if you look at them wrong. Good luck, mine's hanging in there next to a humidifier.

the_kelly5h ago

Your mention of maidenhairs crisping up is too real. My friend Sarah was sure she had a black thumb after her fern died twice in a row. She had it in a bathroom with good light, relying on shower steam for humidity, but the exhaust fan created a mini drought after every use. Moving it to a sheltered spot with steady ambient moisture was a game changer, and now it's finally growing new fronds. It really shows how ferns can handle less light if the air isn't constantly robbing them of water. She still jokes that the plant is judging her for past mistakes, though.

hugo_cooper3h ago

Having kept a few maidenhairs alive over the years, I've learned they're all about consistent moisture. Placing them on a pebble tray with water helps a lot, idk, maybe it's just me but that made a big difference for mine. Also, avoid direct drafts from vents or fans, since they dry out the air around the plant. If you can, group it with other plants to create a microclimate with higher humidity. Just don't beat yourself up if some fronds crisp up, they can bounce back with new growth once conditions stabilize.