QUESTION:
Hi Judy, I bought this plant at my grocery store. It has just a generic tag saying “tropical plant, low light, moderate moisture, moderate temperature “. I have no idea what it is! Do you? The leaves almost feel like plastic. It’s a funky wee beast. Thank you for any help. Sincerely, Tracy
ANSWER:
Hi Tracey,
Your plant is called a Silver Lace Fern (Pteris ensiformis ‘Evergemiensis’ – Slender Brake Fern). Here are some care tips.
Light: A Silver Lace fern does well in bright indirect light, but NO direct sun. It will survive in medium light, but doesn’t grow very quickly.
Water: Keep the soil of a Silver Lace fern barely moist, but never soggy. When you water, water well enough so the water comes out the drip holes in the bottom of the pot. Never allow the plant to sit in the excess water that drains out the drip holes. Do not use water that has passed through a water softener (too salty) or has a lot of chemicals in it. If your household water contains a great deal of fluorine and chlorine, allow it to sit out over night before using it.
Plant Food: Feed monthly in spring and summer. Always dilute your plant food to 1/2 the recommended strength.
Humidity: A Silver Lace fern really needs high humidity. If the air in your home is very dry, consider setting your fern on a wet pebble tray. Fill a shallow dish with a 2″ layer of small stones or pebbles. Fill saucer with water until only top 1/4 of the pebbles are out of the water. Set the plant on the pebbles, making sure it is sitting on dry pebbles and not in the water. Replace the water as it evaporates into the air.
Temperature: These plants prefer warm temperatures 0f 55°-75°F (12.8°C-23.9°C). Keep the plant away from cold drafts, heaters, and air conditioners.