The Macho Fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) makes an ideal plant to grow for beginners as it is pretty easy to care for – whether used as a Houseplant or outdoors in the garden.
Be aware that they are not tolerant of all growing conditions (with heat, humidity, and space to grow a must), but a little effort will go a long way to overcoming any issues.
They can easily be grown indoors at home; they look especially great in a conservatory. Or you can grow them outdoors if you live in hot humid area.
If you live in a cooler area, then you will need to grow them indoors until the weather warms up, then move them outdoors in places with humid summers for use as a great ornamental plant.
Ideally, Macho ferns like to grow in an environment that is bright and receives indirect light. It is important to maintain a consistently moist soil.
As they are sensitive to dry air, they will also require high humidity. humid. This can be achieved indoors by misting the leaves using a water droplet spray, or more expensively running a humidifier.
As Macho ferns can reach about 4 feet (1.2) in height, be sure to provide them with plenty of space if growing them at home.
They will also require the odd dose of fertilizer during their growing period, to provide a steady supply of nutrients, this is especially important if grown indoors.
So, What is Macho Fern?
The Macho fern is also known as the Giant Sword Fern, Broad Sword Fern, and as Paku Larat. It is a popular fern species for growing indoors, and is native to the tropics.
The 'leaves' of ferns are known as Fronds, and the Macho Fern is beloved for its large fronds. These are lanceolate in shape and can grow up to four feet (1.2 m) in length, and are about six inches (15 cm) wide
Tips on Growing Macho Ferns Outdoors
If you live in a hot humid area (USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11), then Macho Ferns make a great plant for landscaping or use as specimen plants for the garden.
They will need to grow in an area that has partial to full shade (avoid full sun, as this will scorch the leaves). Provide a regular watering to maintain a moist rich soil, this soil should be rich in organic matter and also have good drainage.
It may be necessary to amend a heavy or clay soil. Do so using compost or peat moss; the importance of good drainage cannot be over stated.
When the ferns are in their growth stage, water regular (two or three times per week). Do not over-water as this can causes root rot and leads to yellowing leaves. Outside of the growing season, just water them once per week.
If soil is poor, then amend with organic matter. Then use a balanced fertilizer about every four or five weeks during the growing season; this should be at a ratio of (10-10-10 or 20-20-20).
You may wish to prune the fern's fronds (especially yellowing ones) to maintain a tidy look and maintain healthy tissue. Pruning will also help promote new growth.
Be on the lookout for pests such as slugs, snails, and spider mites; remove as appropriate – hot soapy water does the trick for many pests.
Can Macho Fern be Grown Outdoors in Cooler Areas?
As they are a tropical plant, Macho ferns are not cold-hardy.
If you would like them in your garden, then grow in containers indoors, and bring out in the summer. Be sure to locates in a shady area that receives indirect light. Water regularly.
At the end of summer, well before any chance of cooling temperature, bring Macho Ferns indoors for overwintering as houseplant (using the conditions described in the next section).
Tips on Growing Macho Ferns Indoors
Macho ferns make a great choice for indoor growing as an Houseplant. They are relatively easy to care for, can remove air toxins, and help to add humidity indoors.
Locate then in an area that has indirect light, though this area should still be bright. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.
If you want to grow them in a darker room, then you will need to supplement the natural light using LED or fluorescent grow lights.
As they can be fairly tall, it is recommended to use a pot or container of about 14 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) wide, and 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 cm) deep.
The pot should contain an indoor plant potting mix. This should provide the plant with good drainage and also be rich in nature.
If you prefer to make your own soil for Macho Fern then use a mix of normal potting soil, peat moss, and perlite.
As they are thirsty, water plentiful from above. Fully saturate the soil until it begins to drain from the bottom. If watered from below it is unlikely to receive the water it needs, as it will often dry out.
If you want nice looking green fronds, then you will need to grow in a location that has high humidity. This will usually require a daily misting of the fronds (or run a humidifier, but with the price of electricity nowadays…).
While in their growing season, feed them with a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 fertilizer about every five weeks.
Remove any decaying leaves, and trim readily to maintain an attractive appearance.
Indoors, Macho ferns may be affected by spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. Remove with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
A further issue with indoor grown Macho Ferns is that they may develop brown leaf tips or leaf drop. These conditions are usually due to lack of humidity, so be sure to mist your plants regularly.
Are Macho Ferns Expensive to Buy?
If you are buying a full-grown plant then Macho ferns from a garden center, then you may find that they are usually a little more expensive than other fern varieties.
Buying a younger and smaller plant will often reduce the costs substantially, and it's usually more fun watching your own plants grow up anyway.
Younger plants can cost as little as $10 or £10 to £20, while much larger ones can cost over $50, but typically $30 to $50 (£30 to-£50).
Do ferns produce seeds? Can you grow Macho Ferns from Seed?
Unlike regular flowering plants, Ferns do not produce flowers or seeds.
Ferns typically reproduce from spores (or sometimes vegetatively), that are usually spread by the wind.
These spores can be found on the underside of the leaves in a structure known as a sporangia. The spores will then be released into the air upon maturity.
How Do I Propagate Macho Fern?
Although you can grow Macho Ferns using their spores, it's not really worth the effort, as it can take years for them to develop.
That's why most people propagate further ferns through division.
First remove the plant from its pot. Next, separate the root ball into sections (you can typically get two to four from a plant, be sure that they each have a good amount of both frond and root). Finally replant the sections into separate pots, using the conditions mentioned in the 'Growing Macho Ferns Indoors' section previously.
References and Further Reading
Flora and Fauna Web – Nephrolepis biserrate overview: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/1/5/1554
The Spruce – How to Grow and Care for Macho Ferns: https://www.thespruce.com/macho-fern-growing-guide-5194295
Texas Master Gardener – Fern Macho: https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/plant-library/fern-macho/
RHS – How to Grow Ferns: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/ferns/growing-guide
University of Missouri – Ferns Make Durable Houseplants: https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2022/1/ferns-DT/
I hope that you have enjoyed this growing guide on the Landscape and House plant Macho Ferns, You may also enjoy some of my other growing guides such as How to grow Flamingo lily, Weeping Fig, and Sensitive plant.
