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I'm killing a fern!
I don't usually post here, but I thought you ladies would be the ones to ask: I'm killing a fern my grandmother gave me as a gift. I'm usually pretty green, but everything I have is hand-me-downs from cuttings or just chunks of things like ilacs and hostas...
It's an indoor plant, and it was getting crowded in its 10" pot, so we replanted it in a gigantic ceramic urn with a whole bag of potting soil. (per the recommendation of the nursery guy...) but it's not doing too well. Any advice on soil composition, or should I have gravel in the bottom half of the pot, then soil on top? For specifics, it's browned at the tips of the leaves, definitely smells like it's got some root rot/"wet feet" and still has green leaves but is on the fritz in general. Any advice is greatly appreciated, because this ostrich fern seems to be the only thing that our pets will leave alone,and I'd like to have one live plan inside the house.
Re: I'm killing a fern!
There should be only one type of potting media. Don't put a layer of gravel or anything else in the bottom of the pot.
If it is rotting because of constant wet feet, you're watering too frequently.
Hate to contrdict the last poster, but I always but a layer of rocks or gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainge. I almost killed my favorite pothos when I repotted it without rocks in the bottom.
better drainage.
The rocks are for keeping your plant out of the "water". It gives the plant somewhere for the roots to grow without killing so much of the plant. It heps "irrigate". Think of it like bambo, it has rocks right? where are the roots? in the rocks. Try it, at the worse you can always repot. Good Luck.
I've also heard misting the foliage with a fine mist helps with the root rot, happening. then your plant can absorb moisture without the wetness of it all. Good Luck!!