My local nursery's 'expert' told me to water my new fern every day...

I tried that for a week and it started to yellow, but the simple 'finger test' from a book I found at the library saved it. How do you guys figure out the right watering schedule for fussy plants?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade2711mo ago

Actually, that daily advice sounds totally reasonable for a new fern trying to establish roots. A week of yellowing could just be transplant shock, not overwatering. Sometimes you have to trust the process and the local pro who sees your specific conditions. Sticking a finger in dirt is a crude method that ignores what's really happening below the surface.

eva_owens1mo ago

Totally agree with @jade271, sometimes you just gotta listen to the person who can actually see the plant, right?

walker.rowan4d ago

Trust the process" sounds nice but come on, a week of yellowing is a pretty clear sign. I get what @jade271 is saying about trusting a local pro, but sometimes basic advice like checking the soil yourself is just common sense. It's a fern, not a mystery plant, and you can learn a lot by just feeling the dirt. Making it super complicated feels like overkill for a houseplant.