Switched from store-bought soil to mixing my own for my indoor ferns

I used to just grab whatever potting mix was on sale at Home Depot, but after my maidenhair fern turned yellow for the third time, I finally tried blending my own with perlite and orchid bark at a 2:1:1 ratio. Now that fern is putting out new fronds every week instead of dying. Has anyone else experimented with custom soil mixes for fussy plants?

3 comments

3 Comments

mianelson11d ago

Oh wait, ferns actually prefer a chunkier bark to perlite ratio for better drainage!

price.ray10d ago

Oh man, that makes so much sense! I've been struggling with my ferns and I bet this is exactly what I've been doing wrong.

harper91410d ago

Nah, perlite keeps things loose and airy, bark just rots too fast for ferns.

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