I finally gave up on store bought soil and mixed my own for my ferns

Everyone kept telling me to just grab the big bag from the garden center, but my maidenhair ferns kept browning after two weeks. So last Sunday I tried making a mix with peat, perlite, and some orchid bark. The difference was night and day, the roots finally stopped sitting in that heavy wet mud. Has anyone else had better luck making their own dirt for picky plants?

2 comments

2 Comments

tessa_kelly8d ago

Swapped to my own mix for ferns too and never looked back.

elizabeth4388d agoTop Commenter

oh wait so you're saying you mix your own soil for ferns? i've been using that miracle gro stuff but i swear my boston fern keeps getting crispy tips no matter what i do. what's your actual ratio? like are you doing more peat or more perlite? i've heard some people add charcoal but that seems extra.