You should place ferns in my home near east-facing windows or 3 to 5 feet back from south and west windows. Ferns thrive in bright indirect light with high humidity and stable temps. Bathrooms with windows make great spots for most fern types. Avoid spots near heating vents or drafty doors that will dry out your plant fast.
Fern placement indoors takes some testing to get right. I spent months moving my Boston fern around before finding the sweet spot. My first choice by a sunny south window burned the fronds within days. Moving it to a dark corner made it leggy and pale. The spot that worked best sits 4 feet from an east window where it gets soft morning light but no harsh afternoon sun.
Your eyes play tricks on you when judging indoor light levels. A spot that looks bright to you might not give your fern enough energy to grow. Light meters measure in foot-candles and most ferns need 100 to 500 foot-candles for healthy growth. That sunny corner that feels bright to your eyes might only measure 50 foot-candles which is too dim. Phone apps can measure light if you want to check your spots.
East-facing windows give the best location for ferns in most homes. The morning sun is gentle and does not burn leaves like afternoon sun does. If you only have south or west windows you can still grow ferns well. Just keep them several feet back from the glass or use sheer curtains to filter the light. North windows work too but only for low light ferns like Bird's Nest or Holly fern.
Humidity changes from room to room in your home. Bathrooms tend to run 40 to 60% humidity thanks to showers which is perfect for most ferns. Kitchens also stay more humid from cooking and running water. Living rooms and bedrooms often drop to 20 to 30% in winter when the heat runs. Pick rooms that match what your fern species needs.
Stay away from heating and cooling vents no matter which room you choose. I killed a beautiful Maidenhair fern by placing it on a shelf right above a floor vent. The hot dry air blew straight up and crisped the fronds in less than a week. Air vents push out dry air that sucks moisture from leaves faster than you can replace it. Keep ferns at least 6 feet from any vent.
Drafty spots cause problems too even without active air flow. Doorways that open to the outside let cold air rush in every time someone enters. Windows with poor seals leak cold air in winter. These temperature swings stress ferns and cause brown patches on fronds. Feel around your chosen spot for drafts before you commit to it.
Your fern light position might need to shift with the seasons. Summer sun comes in at a higher angle and winter sun sits lower in the sky. A spot that works great in June might blast your fern with direct rays in December. Check on your fern through the year and move it if the light changes too much. A few inches can make a big difference in how much sun hits the leaves.
Group ferns with other plants to boost humidity around them all. I keep three ferns clustered on a tray of wet pebbles in my living room. The plants release moisture through their leaves and create a small humid zone together. This trick lets me grow ferns in a room that would be too dry for a single plant. Add a small humidifier nearby for even better results.
Read the full article: 8 Expert Tips: How to Care for Ferns Indoors
