Ferns aren’t just for woodland gardens—they look absolutely stunning in containers on a porch or balcony, too. But if you want your feathery friends to stay lush and green year after year, you’ve got to give them a little room to grow. Repotting is key, but there are a few tricks to doing it right without stressing the plant out.
Timing is Everything
Generally speaking, ferns are pretty low-maintenance potted plants. However, they can get a little “dramatic” when it’s time to move house. To make the transition as smooth as possible, you want to catch them before they start their big spring growth spurt. Aim to get your repotting done in February or March, right before those new fronds start unfurling.
How Often Should You Repot?
The “when” often depends on the age of your plant. If you’ve got a young, fast-growing fern, you’ll probably need to move it to a bigger pot every one to two years. For the older, more established veterans in your collection, you can relax a bit—every three to four years is usually plenty. The big exception here is the Sago Palm (which isn’t a true fern, but often gets grouped with them); these slow growers only need fresh soil every four to six years.
Step-by-Step Guide
Before you start, make sure you have the right gear. Since ferns are shallow-rooted, they actually prefer pots that are wide and shallow rather than deep and narrow. Grab some high-quality potting soil, and you’re ready to go:
- Start by adding a drainage layer of pebbles or coarse sand at the bottom of the new pot.
- Fill the pot about one-third of the way with your potting mix.
- Gently slide the fern out of its old home. Be careful not to tug too hard on the delicate fronds!
- Give the root ball a light shake to get rid of any old, exhausted soil.
- Place the plant in its new container and fill in around the roots with fresh soil.
- Press down lightly to settle the plant and give it a nice, long drink of water.
