How to Grow and Care for Foxtail Fern

Foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus) is a perennial evergreen herb with luscious, fluffy stems of pine needle-like leaves. Despite its name, the foxtail fern is technically not as fern; it uses seeds to reproduce, not spores. A member of the asparagus family, the foxtail fern produces small white flowers with red berries. It can be grown outdoors or as a houseplant.

Do note that all parts of foxtail fern may be toxic to both humans and pets, including the flowers and the berries.

Foxtail Fern Care

When it comes to caring for the foxtail fern, know that it's quite hardy and has easy care requirements. All this plant needs is bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. Make sure you give the foxtail fern ample room to spread out and trim the plant's spent terms occasionally too.

The foxtail fern is drought-tolerant because of its tuberous roots. Because of its strong root system, however, it can choke out smaller, more fragile plants in your garden, which is important to keep in mind.

You can also care for the foxtail fern as a houseplant if you keep it in pots. In colder climates, you can easily bring the foxtail fern indoors.

Light

When grown outdoors, the foxtail fern loves soft light, and to be planted in areas with filtered shade. A little morning sun is fine, just be sure your plant receives protection in the bright, hot afternoon. Indoors, place foxtail fern in bright, indirect light. Too much strong light will burn the leaves.

Soil

Foxtail fern can handle various soil types, so long as it drains well and doesn't get waterlogged. This will help you avoid root rot. It favors slightly acidic soil, but this is not a hard-and-fast requirement.

Water

As mentioned before, the foxtail fern has tuberous roots, meaning they store water, even when the soil is dry. This is why the plant is drought-resistant; but also easy to overwater. For a happy plant, water once per week; allow the top three inches of its soil to dry out completely in between waterings.

In the event there's a drought, you may need to water more often; just make sure to test the soil with your finger beforehand.

Finally, always allow for ample drainage when watering potted plants, and never let water sit in the tray. This can lead to waterlogging and root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

The foxtail fern thrives in hot, humid weather because it is native to South Africa. If growing indoors, make sure to provide a source of moisture, such as a pebble tray with water, for humidity. Also, mist these plants regularly.

If you'd prefer to grow your foxtail fern outdoors, you can do so year-round in Zones 9a to 11b. Do note that if you live outside of these USDA zones, in colder climates, you'll have to take your foxtail fern indoors during the winter.

Fertilizer

Start feeding your foxtail in the spring, and then continue monthly throughout the growing season (summer) using a 10-10-10 plant food at half strength.Foxtail fern responds well to both slow-release fertilizers as well as liquid fertilizers.

For outdoor garden ferns, you can also amend the soil annually in the fall with one inch of compost scattered around the plant topped with two inches of mulch.

Pruning

As with any garden perennial, foxtail fern requires the removal of stems at the base. This will help your plant look robust, while encouraging new growth. Periodically, you can also pinch one inch off the stems to spur growth. Depending on the thickness of your foxtail's stem, this may require shears.

Propagating Foxtail Fern

The easiest way to propagate foxtail fern is through division, and the best time to do it is in the spring. When dividing ferns, always use a sharp knife or spade to cut through the center of the plant. Once dug, make sure each divided piece has healthy greenery and roots. When replanting, the initial watering should be generous.

Here's how to propagate through division:

1. Gather a spade shovel, garden knife, or sharp garden shears, soil conditioner, compost, and mulch.
2. Dig up your large fern (or, for potted plants, tip the pot upside down to remove the fern from the pot) to expose the root ball.
3. With your garden knife or shears, divide the roots in half making sure to even out the greenery. Pull the two sides apart.
4. Dig two holes that are wider than they are deep and sprinkle in the soil conditioner. Water the holes and allow the soil to drain.
5. Place each root ball in the hole, taking care to fully bury the roots. Backfill with garden compost and soil. Water the ferns thoroughly.
6. Wait a day or two, and then spread compost, soil conditioner, or garden mulch around the base of the plant.

How to Grow Fox Tail Fern From Seed

Foxtail fern can also be propagated by the seeds contained in the plant's little red berries. This method works just as well as dividing a mature fern, but the resulting plants will take two to three growing seasons to fully mature.

Here's how to grow foxtail fern from seed:

1. Gather potting containers, a glass of water, plastic wrap, and potting soil with vermiculite.
2. In the fall, harvest the red berries from existing ferns. Soak the berries in a glass of water for 24 hours. The next day, choose the seeds that have fallen to the bottom of the glass (these seeds have the best chance of germination).
3. Fill each pot with potting soil and gently mist the top.
4. Peel the fruit off of each seed and make two small holes in each pot. Plant two seeds per pot. Mist the soil again with water.
5. Cover each pot with plastic wrap and locate them in a window that receives indirect sunlight. Mist them regularly for three to four weeks until they germinate.
6. Once the plants are three to four inches tall, pull the leggier of the two seedlings and place the pot outside, when it's warm, in indirect sunlight. Bring it inside at night for a few days until you are ready to relocate it to your garden bed.

Potting and Repotting

The key to growing a healthy potted foxtail fern is sizing your pot, or container, just right. A fern grown in a pot that is too large may hold excess water, causing rot problems. You will know when it is time to repot your foxtail when the plant's roots become bound (roots will begin to peek up out of the soil). When this happens, simply move your fern to a pot that is two inches larger than the previous one, or gently divide the plant, as if propagating, and transplant half of the fern into another container. Foxtail fern does best in porous stone or clay pots that absorb excess moisture and mimic the plant's natural habitat.

Overwintering

Foxtail fern goes through a period of dormancy each winter when grown both in a garden or in pots. After the first hard frost, remove dead and damaged leaves from your foxtail, and then spread a layer of mulch around its base. Refrain from fertilizing this plant during its dormancy, but do provide a good watering once a month.

For a potted fern, relocate the pot to a sunny indoor window and cut back all dead leaves and fronds. Similar to an outdoor fern, refrain from fertilizing it, yet still water it once a week or when the soil feels dry. When kept indoors, expect some significant, messy leaf drop.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Foxtails are not highly susceptible to bugs and pests, however, the mealybug and other scale insects could move in on a plant that is unkempt. If this happens, you may see lumps on the plant's leaves or stems indicating a sapsucker infestation. Spray your plant with organic neem oil to ward off the offenders and prevent them from coming back.

Fungal disease, powdery mildew, and crown rot are known to affect foxtail ferns that receive too much water. Overwatering, and hot and humid weather, make the perfect conditions for fungus to proliferate.

Common Problems With Fox Tail Fern

One of the most common problems with foxtail fern is moisture stress. Overwatering will cause leaves and stems to yellow, and the plant will eventually die. Due to the fern's taproot system, frequent watering is unnecessary. Water quality is also of concern, as tap water containing too much chlorine can damage houseplants. Foxtail fern can also suffer from inadequate light. If your indoor fern begins to yellow, and the moisture content seems spot-on, relocate your potted plant to a sunny window to see if things improve.

From: thespruce