Q&A for How to Care for an Asparagus Fern

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  • Question
    Can an asparagus fern survive winter?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Yes, although care must be given in picking the location of planting to ensure the plant is insulated and protected.
  • Question
    How much sun does an asparagus fern need?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Asparagus ferns typically do best with good morning sun and shade in the afternoon.
  • Question
    How often do you water an asparagus fern?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Water them regularly once the seedling grows. They can survive through a drought, but maintaining good watering will bring about a healthier plant.
  • Question
    What do I do if my asparagus fern is turning yellow?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Yellow is an indication of too little water or too much sun. Water more frequently especially in hot weather and try moving your plant to a shadier location.
  • Question
    My dog ate a berry off of the plant. Will it make him sick?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It is a possibility that it will make him sick, the berries are considered poisonous. It would be best to consult a vet.
  • Question
    How should I water my fern?
    Mark Leahy
    Plant Specialist
    Mark Leahy is a Plant Specialist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the Co-Owner of Bella Fiora, a custom design floral studio, and SF Plants, a plant shop and nursery. Mark specializes in floral artistry and indoor plants including floral arrangements, terrace planters, office plantscapes, and living walls. Mark and his business partner have been featured in Vogue, The Knot, Today’s Bride, Wedding Wire, Modern Luxury, San Francisco Bride Magazine, San Francisco Fall Antique Show, Black Bride, Best of the Bay Area A-List, and Borrowed & Blue.
    Plant Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Ferns like to be watered thoroughly, so the way we do it is to lift up the leaves and dunk the pot into some waters until the bubbles stop. We do that every 5 days or so, but we don't let them dry out thoroughly, so we also spritz them a couple of times a week.
  • Question
    Can an asparagus fern be planted outside and come back in the spring?
    Community Answer
    My outside asparagus ferns do great in Texas! They come back much better than those I put in my greenhouse for the winter.
  • Question
    Is it okay to trim the fern back?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can trim the fern. New stems will grow back.
  • Question
    My asparagus plant is sagging and losing its leaves. How can I bring it back to full health without a lot of morning sun?
    Community Answer
    I had the same problem, mine was almost all brown, so I picked off all the brown, leaving the green. I repotted it into a larger container, placed it outside in the shade, and heavily watered it so the soil was always moist. Now it's all green and tripled in size.
  • Question
    My fern has round brown balls in the pot that I have just taken it out of! Are these seeds from the fern?
    Community Answer
    Not seeds, but part of the plant. They are tubers that help it to retain water. New plants can sprout from them, though.
  • Question
    My fern is getting a lot of brown leaves, but at the same time it is growing new branches?
    Community Answer
    Asparagus ferns grow fast, and they grow in conditions that are less than ideal. Try moving your plant to a less sunlit area and watering it more.
  • Question
    My fern has been outside all summer in full sun water only lightly. It has quadrupeled in size since I bought it. I want to bring it inside for the winter. Should I divide now or wait till spring?
    Community Answer
    It is best to wait until spring to repot it. Transitioning the fern from the indoors to outdoors can be traumatic for it, so spend 2 to 3 weeks slowly moving it to a new location.
  • Question
    Why is my asparagus fern turning brown?
    Community Answer
    It may not be exposed to enough sunlight, or it may not be receiving enough water. It could be a combination of both, so try moving your plant and watering it more.
  • Question
    What should I do when my fern is dying and turning brown?
    Community Answer
    Remove the brown leaves so only the green ones remain. It's best to do this as fast as possible because rotten leaves will attract diseases. If all the leaves are brown, then there is nothing more that you can do. What turns brown, stays brown.
  • Question
    Can I plant in fall in Minnesota? I have heard of a method of making a trench and laying plants.
    Community Answer
    It is recommended to plant the asparagus fern in early spring. The growing season for an asparagus fern is from March to August.
  • Question
    Is asparagus fern hardy in zone 5 for an outside plant?
    Community Answer
    Asparagus plants do best when they do not receive direct sunlight, and they prefer a moist environment. They are fast and easy-to-grow plants, however, so it is possible they will grow in zone 5 conditions.
  • Question
    What should I do if the leaves on my asparagus fern are getting yellow and dropping after I repotted it?
    Community Answer
    You should make sure that is it not receiving too much sunlight. The "needles" will scorch if exposed to too much direct sunlight. Also, be sure you are watering it regularly.
  • Question
    My asparagus fern plant is white, what does that mean? What do I need to do to it?
    Community Answer
    It sounds like mildew or a mold; does the white scratch off? If so, you may want to try an indoor fungicide or soap to help it.
  • Question
    Are asparagus fern stems edible?
    Community Answer
    No, all of the plant is considered somewhat toxic. Avoid consuming any part of the plant.
  • Question
    What would cause my asparagus fern plant to stop growing?
    Community Answer
    If the plant is in a pot that's too small for it, it will be unable to grow any further, so try re-potting it. Otherwise, the plant might need more sunshine or moisture.
  • Question
    Can I split the large fern into two pots without killing it?
    Community Answer
    Yes, just wash off all of the dirt until the roots are all exposed in your hand. Then gently tease them apart slowly (or in a bucket of water), and they’ll come apart. Go slowly, or you’ll damage the roots.
  • Question
    What do I do if my asparagus fern is turning yellow even though I water it every day?
    Community Answer
    If a plant’s leaves are yellowing, that is because it is getting too much water. Stop watering the plant so frequently. Try repotting it with new soil; the nutrients may have been washed away.
  • Question
    I would like to plant several asparagus ferns in the ground around my patio. It is mostly shade. Is the summer heat in Las Vegas too much for these plants?
    Community Answer
    The asparagus fern is native to South Africa, with the warmest temperatures only getting up to 75 F, the coldest getting down to 55 F. The desert heat of Nevada would probably not be suitable for this plant.
  • Question
    I bought two small asparagus ferns in three inch containers. Can I re-pot both of them into a six inch pot?
    Community Answer
    You can always repot a plant if you feel it needs more room. I usually wait until the plant becomes "pot bound" (when the roots have no more room and are cramped) to repot the plant. Otherwise, repotting in the spring is ideal, but since ferns grow rapidly, it doesn't hurt to give them more room. If you are asking if you can pot both the small ferns in the same pot, I would advise against it as they grow fast, and doubling the number of roots in the pot will mean you will have to repot them sooner. If you do pot them together, pot them in an 8 inch or 12 inch pot so you don't have to do it again until the growing season.
  • Question
    How do I determine whether an asparagus fern is being over or under watered?
    Martha Polhemus Stuart
    Community Answer
    You should water when the top of the soil is dry. It will turn yellow if underwatered and brown if overwatered. Make sure the soil is slightly acidic, and find a good place for your plant with a lot of light, but no direct sun.
  • Question
    Can I grow it from a piece that was broken off the plant?
    Community Answer
    No, asparagus ferns grow from tubers. You need the tuber in order to grow a new plant.
  • Question
    Can the fern tolerate below-30 temperatures?
    Community Answer
    Not likely, as they'll kill the above-ground growth. The plant may survive a light frost and regrow from the roots, but don't count on it.
  • Question
    What do I do with the sprouts that grow long on an asparagus fern?
    Community Answer
    It's new growth, so don't cut them. It does this if it doesn't get enough light, so the plant sends fronds out to find more light
  • Question
    How do I know if my asparagus fern can survive outside in the winter?
    Community Answer
    It cannot survive anything below 50 degrees outside. It cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. Bring it indoors if you have freezing cold winters.
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