How to Care for Foxtail Ferns

Foxtail ferns belong to the species variety called Asparagus sprengeri 'Myers,' which is a type of asparagus fern. Foxtail ferns have 2- to 3-foot-long, cone-shaped fronds that grow upright with tiny pine needle-like rosettes. The foxtail fern is a low-maintenance foliage plant that's easy to grow outdoors or in a container and can survive all kinds of poor growing conditions.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose or watering can
• Pruning shears
• All-purpose plant fertilizer
• Containers for repotting
• Well-draining potting soil

Instructions

1. Plant your foxtail fern in partial shade, but not in full direct sunlight, which can cause the foliage to yellow. You can plant the foxtail fern in any soil type, but the plants grow best in soil with good drainage.

2. Water your foxtail fern only when the topmost layer of soil feels dry to the touch. Provide water until it begins to drain from the bottom of the container. If you're growing the foxtail fern in the ground, water it deeply once each week during times of drought or prolonged dry spells. Like other asparagus ferns, foxtail ferns are extremely tolerant of drought conditions.

3. Trim back the old fronds on your foxtail ferns in early spring. Doing so encourages new, healthy growth, especially if winter temperatures drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold winter weather tends to burn back the foxtail fern's foliage.

4. Feed your foxtail fern once every month or two from spring through summer with an all-purpose plant fertilizer. Follow the application and dosage instructions on the fertilizer label.

5. Repot your foxtail fern in the spring if the plant begins to outgrow the container. Foxtail ferns have large roots and organs for water storage below the soil level, so the plants can easily become crowded in containers over time. Select a container that's the next size up when you repot the foxtail fern.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're growing the foxtail fern in a container indoors, plant it in a well-draining potting soil and place it beside a bright window with direct morning sunlight. Water the foxtail fern when the topmost soil layer begins to feel dry to the touch. Provide water until it begins to drain from the bottom holes in the pot to keep the soil evenly moist.

• Beware of foxtail ferns crowding other plants. If you're planting the foxtail fern in the ground, ensure that it has adequate space to grow between other plants. Foxtail ferns typically grow to a height and spread of 1 ½ to 3 feet, but their root systems can grow rather large and obstruct drainage in the soil around other plants. Space the foxtail fern at least 12 inches apart from other plants.

References

• Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service: Asparagus Ferns
• LSU AgCenter: Consider Growing Asparagus Ferns

Resources

• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Foxtail, Myerii, Myers Fern