beech fern

Watering a beech fern should be done on a regular basis to keep its soil consistently moist. Water the soil completely, ensuring all the roots are soaked. Allow the excess water to drain away. Generally, water the plant every 5 to 7 days. If the environment is particularly warm and the area is well lit, the fern may need to be watered more often. When temperatures are cooler, waterless frequently. Monitor the soil and if it feels dry near the surface, it's likely time to water again.

Beech fern prefers moderate sunlight, and does best when exposed to around 2 to 4 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. It should be placed in a location which receives morning, or afternoon sun, as the intense heat of midday sun can damage the plant. Additionally, the soil should be kept moist but not soggy, with water being added if the top of the soil starts to dry out. When the temperatures rise, it can tolerate partial shade with indirect, filtered sunlight.

When pruning a Beech Fern, it is important to look closely at the type of growth the specific specimen exhibits. Beech Ferns, or Phegopteris decursive-pinnata, generally do not need much, if any, pruning as they usually hold their shape relatively well. However, if overgrowth does occur, pruning can be performed when the new fronds have completely unfurled. This is usually during the late spring and summer seasons. Pruning can be done with hand pruners or scissors, and it is important to make sure the cut is even. Care should be taken to only remove the sections that are overgrown. It is typically recommended to prune the Beech Fern by no more than 1-third of its entire height, and no more than 2-thirds of its fronds. If this amount is exceeded, the fern may not recover and could potentially die. Beech Ferns are quite resilient and could require pruning once or twice a year. Other than overgrowth, there is usually no need to prune this species of fern.