Almost every plant issue (including brown leaves) is a sign of stress that the plant is going through. But saying "this is due to stress" is not gonna help gardeners diagnose their plants.
I have been growing ferns for a long time, as they are a beautiful green addition to my landscape. I have seen my fern leaves turning brown multiple times.
Some of the times, they were natural, and I knew I didn't have to worry at all, and some of the times, I was concerned and took steps to recover my ferns.
In this article, I will talk about why fern leaves are turning yellow sometimes and what to do to cure it.
Note: Before you start looking for "why my fern leaves are turning brown?", it's important to know if your fern is getting ideal growing conditions. If they are not getting it, start to work on that. Only this step can recover your plant mostly.
You will find what ferns need to stay green and healthy, and then I will talk about the major reasons that cause brown leaves on ferns.
All the pictures are taken by me. I love to travel, and a few of the pictures were taken while I was travelling. The rest are from my home garden.
Why are fern leaves turning brown, and how to cure them
Most of the ferns like to grow well in indirect sunlight or partial shade. But ferns are available in almost every environment on Earth.
You should check the type of your fern and the growing conditions for your fern.
It may become a long article, so I have organized the necessary info in a single chart.
| Climate Type | Fern Examples | Soil & Water Preference | Cold Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical |
|
Rich, peat-based mixes. Keep constantly moist and give it high humidity (60%+). Avoid dry air from heaters. | Tender Needs 50°F to 60°F (10°C to 15°C) minimum. |
| Hardy / Temperate |
|
Loamy, leaf-mold rich soil. Can handle seasonal dampness and requires a winter dormancy period to perform well. | High Survives down to -22°F (-30°C). |
| Epiphytic |
|
No soil. Needs high-drainage media like bark, moss, or wooden mounts. Water via misting or soaking the root ball. | Varies Best above 55°F (13°C). |
| Aquatic / Bog |
|
Can grow fully submerged in tanks or in saturated, muddy soil. Constant water access is mandatory. | Moderate Varies; typically 64°F to 82°F (18°C to 28°C). |
Now, you can check if your fern is in its ideal growing conditions or not.
Fern leaves are turning brown due to underwatering
In most cases, fern leaves turn brown due to underwatering and cold stress.
You can spray water on the leaves twice or thrice a day, along with proper watering. Most ferns love the water spray. (Especially the tropical ferns like Boston, bird nest, blue star fern).
Due to underwatering, the fern leaves may look like this. Browning from the tips.
Fern leaves are turning brown due to cold
If the temperature is colder than the ideal growing temperature, the leaves gonna start turning brown. The leaves are going to become crunchy.
See this picture.
In winter, you can witness this (Especially on tropical ferns).
As per my personal experience, they don't die back completely. They regrow in spring with dark green leaves.
Note: Due to direct sunlight, the fern leaves might turn yellow, and the tips may turn brown.
Just like this:
If your fern is getting direct sunlight exposure, bring it under a tree to give it only indirect sunlight. You can also place it on the porch under the shade.
Brown spots on fern leaves
If you see something like this (Brown patches or spots on the fern leaves), it might be due to low humidity or chemical damage.
Again, I would say spray water on the plant and avoid chemical fertilizer for a few weeks.
If you see one side of your fern leaf turning brown like this one, you need to take action as early as possible.
I have seen the same with dwarf pine.
This is mostly due to a lack of nitrogen in the soil. You can use a nitrogen-based fertilizer and feed your plant twice a month.
Do not overfeed your plant. It will cause more damage.
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