Complete guide to fern care

Ferns are a great addition to any home or office. They're easy to care for and can bring a touch of nature to any space. Here are our top tips to keeping your ferns happy and healthy:

• Typically ferns prefer their soil moist, just make sure you let any excess water drain away
• Ferns will be happy in most light conditions
• Mist your fern a few times a week - they really love humidity

There are lots of different ferns to choose from, but they tend to enjoy the same conditions - moist soil and lots of humidity. Our houseplant ferns include Bertie the Boston fern, Gus the asparagus fern, Pele the bird's nest fern, Venus the maidenhair fern and Toby the blue star fern. Although it's very tempting, try to resist touching their fronds as they really don't like it and it might turn them brown.

Ferns need to be watered regularly, but not too often. Check your fern weekly and water when the top inch of soil is dry. If you water too often, the soil will become waterlogged and can cause root rot. Make sure you let the water drain fully through the nursery pot whenever you water your fern.

Ferns will do just fine in most light conditions and will be quite happy in partial shade - they're used to the forest floor after all. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves and cause them to turn brown.

Ferns need a soil that is well-draining and nutrient-rich. A good soil mix for ferns is one part potting soil and one part perlite or sand.

Ferns can to be fertilised every two weeks during spring and summer, the growing season. Use a balanced liquid fertiliser and dilute it to half strength.

Ferns prefer temperatures between 18-24°C. If the temperature is too hot or too cold, the leaves may turn brown and die.

Ferns need high humidity, so mist the leaves regularly or place a humidifier nearby. They'll thrive in a naturally humid spot like a kitchen or a bathroom.

Prune your ferns to keep them looking neat and healthy. Cut back any dead or dying leaves and stems with clean scissors. Once the leaves have turned brown and crispy they won't return to green, so it's best to chop them off.

Following these tips will help you keep your ferns healthy and looking great. With proper care, your ferns can last for many years.