Frosty ferns are very misunderstood plants, both in name and care requirements. They frequently pop up in stores and nurseries around the holidays (probably due to their wintery name) but many buyers see them fail and die soon after they come home.
When growing frosty fern plants is that they need at least 70 percent humidity. This is much higher than the average home.
The “secret” to successfully growing frosty fern is to treat it like the tropical rainforest plant it is.
Frosty fern is actually more of a moss than a fern, and is commonly also referred to as spike moss or clubmoss. Its scaled leaves resemble conifer leaves. It can grow 4 to 12 inches in height. Its active growing season is mid to late summer, with the correct environment it actively grows year round.
In a commercial greenhouse environment, frosty fern is easy and inexpensive to propagate and grow. Temperatures are reduced to below 65 degrees to encourage the plant’s new growth tips to turn white.
It needs moist, well-drained soil, deep shade, temperatures between 68 to 84 degrees, and 77 to 88 percent humidity (please, no misting!).
