When watering the Rocky mountain cliff fern, you should aim to use filtered water that is at room temperature. Filtered water is better for this plant, as tap water can contain particles that are harmful to its health. The reason that the water should be at room temperature or slightly warmer is that the Rocky mountain cliff fern comes from a warm environment, and cold water can be somewhat of a shock to its system. Also, you should avoid overhead watering for this plant, as it can cause foliage complications. Instead, simply apply your filtered room temperature water to the soil until the soil is entirely soaked. Soaking the soil can be very beneficial for this plant as it moistens the roots and helps them continue to spread through the soil and collect the nutrients they need.

Both overwatering and underwatering will be detrimental to the health of your Rocky mountain cliff fern, but overwatering is a far more common issue. When this species receives too much water, its stems and leaves may begin to wilt and turn from green to yellow. Overwatering over a prolonged period may also lead to diseases such as root rot, mold, and mildew, all of which can kill your plant. Underwatering is far less common for the Rocky mountain cliff fern, as this plant has decent drought tolerance. However, underwatering remains a possibility, and when it occurs, you can expect to find that the leaves of your Rocky mountain cliff fern have become brittle and brown. It is crucial that you notice the signs of overwatering as soon as possible when caring for your Rocky mountain cliff fern. Some of the diseases that arise from overwatering, such as root rot, may not be correctable if you wait too long. If you see early signs of overwatering, you should reduce your watering schedule immediately. You may also want to assess the quality of soil in which your Rocky mountain cliff fern grows. If you find that the soil drains very poorly, you should replace it immediately with a loose, well-draining potting mix. On the other hand, if you find signs that your Rocky mountain cliff fern is receiving too little water, all you need to do is water more regularly until those signs have subsided.

If your plant is in a pot. The most precise way to decide whether your Rocky mountain cliff fern needs water is to plunge your finger into the soil. If you notice that the first two to three inches of soil have become dry, it is time to add some water. If you grow your Rocky mountain cliff fern outdoors in the ground, you can use a similar method to test the soil. Again, when you find that the first few inches of soil have dried out, it is time to add water. During the spring and early fall, this method will often lead you to water this plant about once every week. When extremely hot weather arrives, you may need to increase your watering frequency to about twice or more per week. With that said, mature, well-established the Rocky mountain cliff fern can show an admirable ability to withstand drought.

When it comes time to water your Rocky mountain cliff fern, you should not be shy about how much water you give. With the first two to three inches of soil dry, this plant will appreciate a long and thorough watering. Supply enough water to soak the soil entirely. The amount of water you add should be enough to cause excess water to flow through the drainage holes at the bottom of your pot. If you don’t see excess water draining from the pot, you have likely underwatered your plant. But do not let the water accumulate inside the soil, which will be very dangerous to the plant as well. Alternatively, a lack of water draining through the pot could indicate poorly draining soils, which is detrimental to the health of this plant and should be avoided. If the plant is outside, 1 inch of rain per week will be sufficient.

The water needs of the Rocky mountain cliff fern can change depending on growth stages as well. For example, when your Rocky mountain cliff fern is in the first few years of its life, or if you have just transplanted it to a new growing location, you will need to give more water than usual. During both of those stages, your Rocky mountain cliff fern will put a lot of energy towards sprouting new roots that will then support future growth. For those roots to perform their best, they need a bit more moisture than they would at a more mature phase. After a few seasons, your Rocky mountain cliff fern will need much less water. Another growth stage in which this plant may need more water is during the bloom period. Flower development can make use of a significant amount of moisture, which is why you might need to give your Rocky mountain cliff fern more water at this time.

The Rocky mountain cliff fern will have its highest water needs during the hottest months of the year. During the height of summer, you may need to give this plant water more than once per week, depending on how fast the soil dries out. The opposite is true during the winter. In winter, your plant will enter a dormant phase, in which it will need far less water than usual. In fact, you may not need to water this plant at all during the winter months. However, if you do water during winter, you should not do so more than about once per month. Watering too much at this time will make it more likely that your Rocky mountain cliff fern will contract a disease.

It is most common to grow the Rocky mountain cliff fern indoors for any gardener that does not live in temperate and tropical regions. Those gardeners should consider the fact that soil in a container can dry out a bit faster than ground soil. Also, the presence of drying elements such as air conditioning units can cause your Rocky mountain cliff fern to need water on a more frequent basis as well. if you planted it outside. When that is the case, it’s likely you won’t need to water your Rocky mountain cliff fern very much at all. If you receive rainfall on a regular basis, that may be enough to keep your plant alive. Alternatively, those who grow this plant inside will need to water it more often, as allowing rainwater to soak the soil will not be an option.

Rocky mountain cliff fern requires about 3-6 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. However, it also needs some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sun damage. Morning sunlight is ideal for Rocky mountain cliff fern, but it can also tolerate some afternoon sun if the temperature is not too hot. To provide the perfect balance of sunlight, try planting Rocky mountain cliff fern in an area that gets partial sun, such as under a tree or on the east side of a building.

If Rocky mountain cliff fern is exposed to too much direct sunlight, its leaves may turn yellow, dry out, or even burn. You may also notice that the plant wilts or becomes stunted. To prevent sun damage, make sure to give Rocky mountain cliff fern some shade during the hottest parts of the day. You can use a shade cloth or plant Rocky mountain cliff fern near taller plants that can provide some natural shade.

If Rocky mountain cliff fern doesn't get enough sunlight, it may grow tall and lanky, with sparse foliage. The leaves may also turn yellow or pale green, indicating that the plant is not producing enough chlorophyll due to lack of sunlight. To remedy this, try moving Rocky mountain cliff fern to a sunnier spot, or prune nearby foliage to allow more light to reach the plant.

Rocky mountain cliff fern prefers cooler weather, and has a specific temperature range you can keep it within to maximize growth. For Rocky mountain cliff fern to be as healthy as it possible can, you could keep them between the temperatures 65~75℉(18~25℃). Rocky mountain cliff fern can handle higher and lower heat levels, but whenever possible, try to keep the area you grow them in within several degrees of 65~75℉(18~25℃). If you can’t keep Rocky mountain cliff fern precisely within that range, it doesn’t mean they will stop growing. Rocky mountain cliff fern can handle a higher and lower range before they begin to suffer damage or reduced growth. On the higher end, that temperature would that would fall between 75~85℉(25~30℃). On the lower end, Rocky mountain cliff fern can handle temperatures as low as 5℉(-15℃). The higher temperature range is the most important to observe, as Rocky mountain cliff fern prefers cooler environments. Letting temperatures get above the upper range may cause growth to slow, and having Rocky mountain cliff fern above 85℉(30℃) could result in the plant dying.

Too much heat early in the growing stages of Rocky mountain cliff fern may give it an unhealthy appearance, so it's important to keep your growing space between 65~75℉(18~25℃). You’ll want to stay in the colder part of this range as Rocky mountain cliff fern, but make sure not to go below -5℉(-20℃). Extremely cold temperatures can hinder growth at any stage for Rocky mountain cliff fern, though they aren’t nearly as damaging as extremely hot temperatures. If temperatures are kept high during the budding stage, Rocky mountain cliff fern may not flower at all.

Tip #1: Grow in the Coldest Room of Your Home If you plan to grow Rocky mountain cliff fern indoors, make sure to choose the coldest room of your home. This will usually be on the side of your house that doesn’t experience the harsh heat that the sun can produce in the middle of the day. At the same time, you’ll need to ensure the room does get a healthy amount of sunlight. While you’ll want to spare your plants from the brightest and hottest part of the day, zero sunlight can drastically reduce Rocky mountain cliff fern ability to grow. Tip #2: If Rocky mountain cliff fern Doesn’t Flower Properly, It May Be Too Hot The growing season for Rocky mountain cliff fern, spring and early summer, can occasionally come with high temperatures. These fluctuations can negatively affect the growing stage of Rocky mountain cliff fern, causing flowering buds to change into non-flowering buds. These buds will open partially, or in some cases not at all, causing Rocky mountain cliff fern to lose some of its aesthetic quality. It's important to stay in the range of 65~75℉(18~25℃), for that reason, so your Rocky mountain cliff fern can flower to its full potential. Tip #3: Avoid Frost While Rocky mountain cliff fern can tolerate lower temperatures, as low as -5℉(-20℃), it will not do well if it encounters significant frost. If left out in the colder temperatures of late fall or winter, Rocky mountain cliff fern will begin to show the signs of frost damage. To recognize the signs of frost damage, you’ll look for several key aesthetic changes. First, parts of Rocky mountain cliff fern will begin to wilt. Then, those sections will start to become discolored, eventually turning brown or black as they die. Any parts of Rocky mountain cliff fern that turn these colors cannot be saved, and will have to be pruned if you intend to keep the plant alive.

It's important to keep the temperature of your growing area steady regardless of season. If you live in an area with harsh winters or very hot summers, it may be best to put your plants inside. That way, you can keep them in a cool room where Rocky mountain cliff fern would be able to grow in the best possible conditions. If you do leave your plants outside, make sure to observe the temperature closely. If the summer’s get especially hot in your climate-zone, make sure that your plants aren’t exposed to temperatures above 85℉(30℃). This will dehydrate and damage Rocky mountain cliff fern quickly, and before long, they will begin to die.

If you intend to place Rocky mountain cliff fern outside, you’ll want to make sure that it has shade from the heat of the midday sun. While Rocky mountain cliff fern does need plentiful sunlight to grow to its full potential, direct sunlight can cause a rise in temperature and damage certain elements of the plant. Choose an area that has shade providing structures or tall trees that can shield Rocky mountain cliff fern from the hottest parts of the day. If your climate isn’t appropriate for Rocky mountain cliff fern or you don’t have the proper space in your garden, you can also plant them inside. Controlling the temperature is much easier indoors, and having proper fans, ventilation, or an A/C unit will allow you to stay within the optimum range of 65~75℉(18~25℃).