{"id":7156,"date":"2026-05-09T07:48:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T14:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/learn-how-to-grow-ostrich-ferns\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T07:48:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T14:48:34","slug":"learn-how-to-grow-ostrich-ferns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/learn-how-to-grow-ostrich-ferns\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn How to Grow Ostrich Ferns"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Soil<\/h3>\n

The soil doesn\u2019t need to be anything special. So long as it isn\u2019t pure clay or pure sand, pretty much anything in between will do.<\/p>\n

Slightly acidic to neutral is ideal. A pH between 6.0 to 7.0 is about right. But again, these plants are adaptable.<\/p>\n

Water<\/h3>\n

These plants need moisture at all times. They\u2019d rather the soil be too wet than too dry, so take this into account when choosing a planting spot.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

In the wild, they thrive in soil that is shaded by trees and dries out slowly. You\u2019ll also find them in cool locations near streambeds.<\/p>\n

Maintain consistent moisture in the soil at all times and don\u2019t allow it to fully dry.<\/p>\n

Fertilizer<\/h3>\n

The best way to feed our frondy friends is to mimic their natural environment.<\/p>\n

In the forest, leaves and other organic matter is constantly falling from the canopy and biodegrading into the soil.<\/p>\n

Heap well-rotted compost around your plants (but not touching the plant itself) in the spring.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no need to apply additional fertilizer as this can cause the fronds to grow fast, making them weak.<\/p>\n

Where to Buy<\/h2>\n

There are a few cultivars out there, but they aren\u2019t extremely common.<\/p>\n

\u2018The King\u2019 aka \u2018Jumbo\u2019 is one of the most well-known. It looks just like the species except it\u2019s a bit larger at up to seven feet tall and more heat-tolerant.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, you\u2019ll usually find the species itself listed for sale.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Ostrich Fern<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

For example, Nature Hills carries<\/a><\/strong> plants available in #1 containers.<\/p>\n

Maintenance<\/h2>\n

The fronds are going to start looking sad by the end of the summer or early fall. By winter, they will die back to the ground.<\/p>\n

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You can mitigate this by keeping the soil moist throughout the season and by protecting the plant from wind, but you can\u2019t always prevent it from happening.<\/p>\n

Resist the urge to trim off the ragged leaves. The plant needs these to feed nutrients into the roots to help it grow the following year.<\/p>\n

Let them die to the ground naturally.<\/p>\n

Propagation<\/h2>\n

While they have different reproductive parts, ferns can be propagated in the same ways as other plants. Namely: by division, from plantlets, spores (seeds), and cuttings.<\/p>\n

If you want to start from spores you\u2019ll need special equipment and it takes some careful work, but it\u2019s so rewarding.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Division and digging up plantlets are the easiest and quickest methods. Underground, the roots will often form rhizomes and you can dig these up and replant them.<\/p>\n

You can also divide up the fibrous root mass and move a section of the plant somewhere else.<\/p>\n

Plantlets are little individual plants that can develop and you can tuck these into the soil where you want them.<\/p>\n

Cuttings work pretty well, too. They take a little longer, but it involves taking a piece of a frond and setting it in some soil.<\/p>\n

Whichever method you divide to go for, read our guide to propagating ferns for more information<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Pests and Disease<\/h2>\n

After a summer of dealing with problems on my roses<\/a><\/strong> (is that more black spot<\/a><\/strong> forming!?), all I want is a plant that isn\u2019t full of drama.<\/p>\n

And ostrich ferns fit the bill. They have no serious common pest or disease problems.<\/p>\n

Plus, these plants offer a lot more for wildlife than you may realize. Birds make their nests in them, deer will hide their fawns in patches, and moths and birds feed on them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n