--- title: "Maidenhair fern, growing in LECA. This is the first maidenhair I’ve…" description: "Maidenhair fern, growing in LECA. This is the first maidenhair I’ve managed to keep alive, and not have it go all crispy on me, lol. I’m sold on LECA for these." url: "https://getplanta.com/community/OlSeW7UYSUWAjHlcxGdIQw/649c71a70385843f3a9f1a4a" community: "Show your plants" author: "Houseplant Heretic" published: "2023-06-28T17:45:11.847Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8XHNjNCUAQsNparrd6gXDPV3u-gxdGrKcOT1H1uHX_c/a00b15ffe63c4c189f038c141e8808c9.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Show your plants](https://getplanta.com/community/OlSeW7UYSUWAjHlcxGdIQw.md) # Maidenhair fern, growing in LECA. This is the first maidenhair I’ve… _Posted by Houseplant Heretic on 2023-06-28_ Maidenhair fern, growing in LECA. This is the first maidenhair I’ve managed to keep alive, and not have it go all crispy on me, lol. I’m sold on LECA for these. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8XHNjNCUAQsNparrd6gXDPV3u-gxdGrKcOT1H1uHX_c/a00b15ffe63c4c189f038c141e8808c9.webp?size=large) ## 12 comments ### rileigh commented on 2023-06-28 i’ve never been able to keep any kind of fern alive.. i might have to try this #### Houseplant Heretic replied on 2023-06-29 Do it!! I have a cotton candy fern that I brought back from the brink of death by transferring it to leca. It’s thriving now! #### Houseplant Heretic replied on 2023-06-29 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8XHNjNCUAQsNparrd6gXDPV3u-gxdGrKcOT1H1uHX_c/874de691a16d40dd919b61047d6644e4.webp?size=large) ### Nicole commented on 2024-07-03 Hello! I have a maidenhair fern, and i love it to death but i have no clue how to help it thrive. How much light should it recieve? I have a huge east south east window, would it thrive with that lighting? And how close should it be? How often should i water it? What is leca?? Your fern looks so vibrant and healthy i would kill for some much needed tips from you. Is my fern doing okay at the moment? This is what it looks like: ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/cFdM7crTlvtkMRGN28cp1w0a8vf2e-2vu7JQL26lsII/W5VTPcvjSO6vArSskWLOPw.webp?size=large) #### Houseplant Heretic replied on 2024-07-03 Hello! These ferns need a ton of humidity to thrive, and can do well in medium-low light. I would avoid letting it get direct sunlight, but bright indoor lighting could be fine. They are just a little more delicate than some other ferns. Yours seems healthy so far, but I would say the soil looks too dry. They like to stay pretty damp, or else they throw a fit and turn brown and crispy. They do bounce back well though, and I have had to cut mine all the way back to a stump before from letting it go too dry and shriveling up. It took a few months, but it’s now back and more full than ever! LECA is an alternative to soil that you can plant in. It’s little porous clay balls (no dirt) that wick water mixed with nutrients up from a reservoir. I have all my plants in LECA, as it tends to prevent a lot of pest infestations. I would recommend googling it to find out more detailed info, or if you’re on Facebook, there is a group called Lazy LECA Club that is fantastic for learning as you’re starting out. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions! I also have a Facebook page called Houseplant Heretic, and have posted a few videos of how I transfer my own plants to LECA. Hope this helps! #### Houseplant Heretic replied on 2024-07-03 Here is my fern currently! ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8XHNjNCUAQsNparrd6gXDPV3u-gxdGrKcOT1H1uHX_c/1r88TeO9TOuEqOpay2SSCQ.webp?size=large) #### Houseplant Heretic replied on 2024-07-03 And here is a good picture of what the LECA looks like. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8XHNjNCUAQsNparrd6gXDPV3u-gxdGrKcOT1H1uHX_c/5FZ9L-qDTkuKqu212m6dVg.webp?size=large) #### Nicole replied on 2024-07-04 Thank you SO much, this has been the most helpful thing i could get for this plant seriously. Would seven feet away from this window be good lighting for it? I was thinking of putting it underneath my bedframe for my room when i’m finished reconstructing it which will be a little under 7 feet away. I’ll totally buy the leca when my next paycheck rolls around, and how often do you water your fern? Do you mist it? If so, how often? Thank you! I will also be checking out your channel :) ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/cFdM7crTlvtkMRGN28cp1w0a8vf2e-2vu7JQL26lsII/NDaQjyKcTd6hU0r-rbbOxg.webp?size=large) #### Nicole replied on 2024-07-04 This is so freaking gorgeous by the way, i hope i can grow mines to this size this is really impressive _3 more replies in the app_ --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_