Have you ever wondered how to fertilize your ferns?Do you wonder why your ferns look so sad halfway through summer?I am going to show you the easiest way to get your ferns to stay as green as they were the day you purchased them!I am actually willing to bet your ferns will be so happy, they will be even more green than the day you brought them home.THAT MEANS ALL SUMMER LONG……AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH FALL for all of you zone 8 gardenistas out there in this world!Are you ready for my secret?Here goes nothing….. Fish Fertilizer!!!!!!Fish fertilizer is an excellent source of nutrition for your ferns. This fertilizer is safe around children and pets. It is also a low cost method of fertilization. This fertilizer strengthens the fern’s root system. And, it improves the organic matter in the soil. The results are immediate…… you will most likely see improvement within 24 hours.When spring has sprung each year, I pull all of my ferns out of the greenhouse. My first order of business is to give them a nice bath in some fish fertilizer. I repeat this process once a month the entire growing season my ferns are out of the greenhouse. I am a Texas Hill Country Texas gardenista. So, this time frame spans from the middle of March through the middle of November.Supplies5 gallon bucketwater hoseAlaska Fish FertilizerInstructions to Fertilize FernsWater ferns deeply before you fertilize so that you do not risk burning the roots.Make sure the lid to the fish fertilizer is on tight.Give the fertilizer a few heavy duty shakes to mix it up.Pour enough liquid fish fertilizer into the bottom of the bucket so that it completely covers the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket. I do not measure exactly. Caution: When I first pour it into the bucket the smell is noticeable, but it quickly subsides – or maybe I am just delusional from the smell. Actually, this particular brand of fertilizer contains a deodorizer that really helps diminish the smell.Fill the bucket with water.Do not turn the hose on full blast as this will cause the fertilizer to splash out and hit you in the face. This is not something you want to happen.The gentle water pressure from the hose will mix the fish fertilizer into the water. However, feel free to use a yardstick to give it a stir. A fallen branch from a tree works well in a pinch.Slowly pour this mix over each fern. One 5 gallon bucket will adequately fertilize three of my ferns. However, Fronda, my whopper fern, gets one bucket all to herself. Repeat this process depending on how many ferns you own. Currently, I own 12 ferns so I repeat this process five or six times depending on how big they have gotten over the last growing season.A Few Notes on J Dub’s Fern Fertilization ….….. I realize that you might be hesitant to try this because you are worried about the smell. I am telling you that the smell is more than worth it. And, it doesn’t last long. Your ferns will thrive on this liquid gold. You can almost see them turning a deep shade of green right before your eyes as you pour the mix onto them. The next day, neon green new growth magically starts to appear. I have found nothing else that works nearly as well as this fish poop.Need more proof on the smell fading fast….Some of my ferns are so large that I can not easily move them. Because of their enormous size, I have to fertilize them directly on my patio.The smell evaporates within the hour. And yes, you can enjoy sitting on your patio.P.S. This fish fertilizer works well on other green leafy container plants as well.Just do not fertilize them in the hot afternoon sun.
Questions on this post
Have a question about this project?