Fern – Reviving from Frost

Q: I have a fern that is rather large that I have have kept in the back yard all summer under a canopy of trees. The fern grew well there. However, while I was out of town, there was a frost and the fern is now all brown. Should I cut it back?

A: Theresa Schrum replies: “Without knowing exactly what type of fern you have, it’s hard to give precise information.

I’m betting that if this fern grew in a greenhouse, then it is a tropical fern. These can grow outdoors in the summer, but need to be brought indoors before the first frost.

I would go ahead and remove the brown fronds and bring it in if you haven’t done so already. Put it in a location that it will receive bright filtered light and high humidity; a bathroom can be an ideal location.

Water it when dry, mist it occasionally and give it a light dose of houseplant fertilizer. It may or may not recover.”