How to Cut Fern Fronds

Most ferns send up new leaves from the center of the plant.

Whether you're cutting fern fronds for a bouquet of flowers or a corsage, or pruning an older fern that has dying outer fronds, they are easy to cut with scissors, a pruning tool or a sharp knife. You may even be able to revive a dying fern, by cutting it back completely and soaking it in water. Ferns can live for many years in the ground or in pots, and regular trimming helps keep them looking fresh.

Things You'll Need

• Sheet or newspaper
• Pruning shears, sharp knife or scissors

Instructions

1. Place the fern on a solid surface, or take it outside if you are trimming back dead fronds. You can also place the plant on an old sheet or newspaper, to collect the leaves and dispose of them when finished. The leaves on ferns fall off easily and can litter your floors.

2. Use pruning shears, a sharp knife or scissors to cut back the fronds. Start at the outside of the plant. Cut the fronds off just 1 inch above the soil line. Avoid touching the healthy fronds as much as possible when cutting the leaves. Some ferns are sensitive to the salts and oils found in skin, and the leaves may develop brown spots at the contact points.

3. Place the fronds in water, if you are using them as filler in a bouquet. If you are using the fronds for a corsage, place them in water until you are ready to make it. When pruning the plant, discard the trimmed fronds.

References

• Plant Care Guru: Ferns
• Gardening Know How: Pruning Boston Fern – How And When To Prune Boston Fern