GROWING CONDITIONS: Asplenium trichomanes
Light
Shade to partial shade (filtered light). It hates direct sunlight, which yellows and burns the fronds. In a low wall or rock garden, it always seeks out crevices facing north or east.
Foliage
Evergreen to semi-evergreen. Retains its foliage all year round, but the oldest fronds may dry out in late winter.
Watering
Moderate. Unlike many ferns, it is drought-tolerant once well established, especially outdoors.
Keep the soil moist, but allow the surface to dry slightly between waterings. Drainage is essential.
Rusticity
Exceptional (down to -20 to -30°C). It is a garden plant of temperate climate, very resistant to frost.
Substrate / Soil
Very well-drained and mineral-rich. It thrives in a poor, sandy, stony substrate, often mixed with limestone or mortar. For cultivation in pots or terrariums, use a special fern mix to ensure maximum drainage.
Humidity
Low to Moderate. It does not require very high humidity, but appreciates a cool ambient atmosphere and should not be placed near a heat source.
Fertilization
Very low or none. An application of quality fertilizer specifically for ferns 6 times a year from spring to summer is sufficient outdoors.
Use
Rock gardens, dry stone walls, crevices, dry and shady undergrowth, or in mini-pots for closed or open terrariums (with good drainage).