Fern Lighting Conditions

Lighting

• Almost all ferns grow best in shady locations. A few, like ebony spleenwort, prefer light shade with partial sunlight, but most grow best with dappled to full shade. Ferns to grow in shade include common maidenhair, lady fern, southern wood fern and Christmas fern.

Indoor Growing

• Their preference for shade makes ferns ideal for growing indoors, but they do need some sunlight. Most ferns do well in the light provided from a north-facing window, where sunlight is less intense. Sunlight filtered through curtains or drapes is ideal. Avoid placing ferns near an east- or west-facing window, especially in summer.

Ferns For Sunny Spots

• If you are looking for a ferns for a sunny location, a few are capable of thriving in the sun. Southern shield fern and Florida shield fern are among the most sun-tolerant, and they are also a bit more tolerant of dry soil than the average fern. Cinnamon fern and royal fern also can grow in full sunlight, but they cannot tolerate dry soil and will need ample water in such a location.

Other Conditions

• Ferns grow best in moist to wet soil. They do not grow well in flooded locations where the soil becomes over-saturated with water, but they thrive in moist, moderately well-drained soil. They do not respond well to drought, though Christmas fern, broad beechfern and a few others can stand some drought. Most ferns grow best in deep, fertile, mildly acidic soil.