What Temperature Is Too Cold For Ferns?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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On the coldest end of the scale, hardy ferns can survive temperatures

down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit

. However, hardy ferns in USDA zones 2 through 6, tend to be semi-evergreen. In most cases, it is safe to leave many hardy ferns outdoors all winter long. A few, however, are only cold-hardy to USDA zones 6 or 7.

How cold can Kimberly ferns tolerate?

Kimberley queen ferns thrive in temperatures

between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit

, and they cannot tolerate frost. When grown indoors, this means you should keep your fern away from any drafty or cold windows. When grown outdoors, ensure that you bring the fern indoors if your area is expecting frost.

Can Kimberly ferns take cold?

Kimberly queen fern

doesn’t tolerate frosty temperatures

. If you live in a cold-winter area, you’ll need to treat this plant as an annual or move it indoors for the winter. Inside, it likes medium light with abundant humidity.

Can fern plants survive the cold?


Ferns grown in containers outdoors may survive the winter in very cold climates if you bring them indoors

. … Indoors, give your fern a medium level of indirect light, no additional fertilizer and a bit less water than you gave it during the growing season outdoors.

What to do with ferns when it gets cold?

  1. Warm up your fern.
  2. Bring your Boston fern indoors as soon as possible if the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. …
  3. Protect your floor from shed leaves.

Can ferns live in 40 degree weather?

If their leaves turn yellow, the plants are not getting enough humidity. Boston ferns thrive in temperatures in the 60s and 70s but

can tolerate an occasional blast of cold air of 40 to 50 degrees for a few hours

. Once a month in spring and summer, feed them a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer.

How do I protect my ferns from frost?

  1. Bring Potted Plants Inside. …
  2. Water Plants in the Afternoon. …
  3. Add a Thick Layer of Mulch. …
  4. Cover Up Individual Plants with a Cloche. …
  5. Give them a Blanket. …
  6. Wrap Your Trees. …
  7. Keep the Air Moving.

Should ferns be cut back for winter?

Lightly cutting back ferns in

autumn before winter

can help clean up your outdoor ferns in preparation for weathering winter conditions, but you don’t want to necessarily do a heavy pruning in fall or winter because the fronds that stay on all winter may help protect your fern in winter months.

Do ferns multiply?

Ferns are vascular plants that don’t reproduce by seeds, although

they multiply by producing spores

. On the underside of the fronds, or leaves, are dark, spore-producing structures called sporangia. When spores mature within the sporangia, they are released. … Fertilized eggs form zygotes, which in turn make plants.

Can ferns survive outside in winter?

Deciduous ferns do not stay green in the winter. However,

if you have chosen ferns suited to your zone, they will still survive the winter just fine

. When fronds start dying back in the fall, cut them back. Ferns can be kept warm with a mulch covering for the winter months.

Will ferns come back after a hard freeze?

When only the fronds freeze,

the fern will recover easily

, but if the roots freeze it has less chance of recovery. Check for frost-damaged roots after a hard long freeze. … Cut off the frost-damaged roots and repot in fresh potting soil. If the roots are black all the way through, the fern won’t recover.

Do ferns grow back if you cut them?

If you are not liking the look of your plant at all, you can cut it down to just above the crown, much as you do with an outdoor fern. Use sharp, clean scissors to cut off the fronds. The fern will grow back from the crown, if you let it remain.

Do ferns like sun or shade?

Ferns are a natural

inhabitant of shady areas

, most commonly found where they will get at least some sun during part of the day or where they will receive dappled sunlight most of the day. In fact most ferns will not grow that well in real dense shade, they need a bit of sun to grow their best.

How cold can ferns stay outside?

Tip. Boston ferns can survive outside temperatures of

46 degrees F

, but a sudden drop in temperatures may damage the foliage by causing misshapen fronds and crinkled leaflets.

Are ferns cold tolerant?

With winter temperatures down to -40 F (and -40 C), a lot of plants popular in warmer climates just can’t survive from one growing season to the next. Ferns, however, are one variety of plant that is extremely hardy and adaptable. …

Not all ferns are cold hardy

, but quite a few are.

What’s the lowest temperature for ferns?

On the coldest end of the scale, hardy ferns can survive temperatures

down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit

. However, hardy ferns in USDA zones 2 through 6, tend to be semi-evergreen.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.