Most ferns are shade-tolerant plants that grow vigorously under brighter scattered light. But different ferns are very different. Some ferns are extremely shade-tolerant and can grow well in full shade; but some ferns require strong light to grow well. Ferns of different seedling ages require different light. Adult plants need strong light, and a lot of spores will be induced under higher light，the seedlings do not require high light intensity. Both spore germination seedlings and newly transplanted seedlings need weak light. If the light is too strong, the plants are short and the leaf edges gradually wither and shrink. Most ferns are suitable for growing in light-scattering environments, but if they are grown under excessive shading, their plants will become weak until they die. Therefore, ferns are suitable for indoor foliage plants.


If it is planted indoors, the room should not be directly irradiated by sunlight. The east facing room can receive the morning sunlight, and the temperature rises earliest, which is more suitable for fern growth; the north facing room is also more suitable; the south facing room needs to be shaded when it is exposed to direct sunlight; the west facing room receives afternoon sunlight, which is very suitable for fern growth in winter, and if the light is too strong in summer, it is unfavorable for fern growth and should be properly shaded.

If it can be placed in a modern swimming pool or bathroom, where there is a certain humidity and good light, it is best. Temperature is an important environmental condition for plant growth, and ferns like a warm environment. Ferns in tropical and subtropical regions, including those suitable for growing in cold conditions, especially hardy ferns are the same. Most ferns grow well at 18~24℃.   

Most ferns prefer higher air humidity, dry air will make many ferns' leaves turn yellow, shrink, and even die. Relative humidity of 60%-80% is most beneficial to their growth, and some special ferns even require 100% air humidity. There are also some desiccation-resistant ferns. In drought, the leaves will shrink and wither, and they will stretch and grow new leaves when the water is sufficient.                                                  
There are many ways to increase the air humidity. The most effective method is spraying. A spray device can be installed in the greenhouse and sprayed 1-2 times a day. Watering with spray is also very effective. Sprinkling more water on the ground in the greenhouse and repairing more storage tanks can increase air humidity. In addition, the humidity can also be increased through group planting. For ferns with high humidity requirements, they can be planted in glass jars or in closed glass boxes. However, continuous high air humidity will also make ferns grow weak and prone to disease, so ventilation is needed to adjust.                                                                               
The root system of most ferns grows in the soil. The texture, physical properties, pH and fertility of the soil all affect the growth and development of ferns to varying degrees. There are many types of ferns, and they have different requirements for potting soil. The basic requirements of ferns for soil are looseness, water permeability, good air permeability, strong water and fertilizer retention capacity, rich humus and suitable soil pH. 

The soil is loose and air-permeable, which is conducive to the normal growth and development of the root system; water-retaining and rich in humus soil can provide sufficient water and fertilizer for ferns. Good drainage, can avoid root rot caused by standing water; suitable pH can affect the physical and chemical properties of soil and ensure the normal development of ferns. Because it is difficult to find a matrix that can meet all the above conditions, mixed media are often used. Commonly used potting soil is mostly a mixture of vegetable garden soil, sand, leaf mulch, peat soil, etc. In order to make the culture medium more aeration and water retention, broken bark, charcoal, sawdust, perlite, vermiculite, coal cinder, fern root, sphagnum moss, etc. can also be added. In addition, depending on the acidity and alkalinity of different ferns, lime or sulfate can be used to adjust the pH of the culture medium.

Potted ferns only need some fertilizer during the growing season, and a small amount of fertilizer must be applied frequently. Base fertilizer or topdressing can be applied. In the preparation of mixed culture soil, mix basic fertilizer, such as bone meal, superphosphate, etc., the release of basic fertilizer is slow and the maintenance time is longer. However, potted fertilizers are limited and cannot meet the demand during the fern growth period. It is necessary to apply quick-acting fertilizers, especially foliage top-dressing, to supplement nutrients in time.