Silver Lace Fern Care Guide
Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Pteris
Botanical Name: Pteris ensiformis
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
Don’t let the dainty look of Silver Lace Ferns scare you away. They are a beautiful addition to your plant collection and are not the most difficult to care for. Their delicate, intricately patterned leaves make them a perfect plant to incorporate into your interior design! Let’s talk about a what your Silver Lace Fern needs from you!
Light
Like most ferns, your Silver Lace Fern will be more likely to thrive in a shadier area that receives dappled sunlight. Their delicate leaves will not do well in direct light and will burn. They enjoy a brief glimpse of morning sun because it isn’t harsh like daylight sun can be, so an east or north facing window is a great place for your Silver Lace Fern!
Water
Silver Lace Ferns are not a fan of dry or soggy soil. Give them a happy medium by letting the top inch of soil dry before watering. They will quickly let you know if they’re not getting enough water!
Climate
Warm temperatures and climates will be your best friend! Your Silver Lace Fern is not a fan of cold air or drafts. Keep temperatures at 55°-75°F. If you really want to keep them happy, give them a little boost with a humidifier and an occasional misting. They love humidity!
Soil
Soil choice really matters for your Silver Lace Fern because they like for the soil to stay a little on the moist side. A good way of making sure they’re getting proper drainage is to add peat moss or perlite to your potting soil. They do well in a peat-based soil that is rich and medium-moisture.
Pests & Diseases
Silver Lace Ferns aren’t typically bothered by pests, but they can be affected by mealybugs, spider mites, and leaf spot. You can treat pests, but once you notice leaf spots it can be difficult to get rid of them because ferns typically don’t recover from disease.
Tips
Use filtered water or let the water sit out over night before watering your plant to avoid potential contamination.
Silver Lace Ferns should be repotted every year.
Propagate when repotting by rhizome dividing!
Signs your plant is unhappy
Droopy + wilting: needs water
Dry + crispy: needs humidity
Yellow, dying + slowed growth: root bound
Propagation
The best way to propagate your Silver Lace Fern is by rhizome dividing in the spring when your plant needs to be repotted. Remove your fern from the pot and loosen the soil around the roots. You’ll notice the roots growing from thick rhizomes. Using a very sharp and sterile knife, cut away at least 2 inches of a rhizome. To increase the chances of your plant’s survival, make sure your rhizome has a healthy stem. Once you have cut your rhizome, pot it directly into pre-watered soil. Place it in a shadier area that gets dappled sunlight and stays warm and humid.
Fun Facts
Silver Lace Ferns are medium-fast growing.
They are a species of brake fern.
They’re non-toxic to pets!
They’re native to subtropical and tropical regions like Asia and the pacific coast.
Hardiness Zones
Silver Lace Ferns are not the most ideal outdoor plant, but they can survive in outdoor climates if you live in the right hardiness zone. As with most houseplants, it’s never a bad idea to overwinter your plants for the colder months.
The USDA Hardiness Zones for Silver Lace Ferns are 9b-11.
