Ferns in pots. To feed or not to feed???

That is my question. I have several ferns in pots filling up my dark corner that NEVER gets a ray of sunshine. I've always assumed if a plant was in a pot it will eventually need food but as ferns like poor soil (I think?) I was wondering if they should be fed and if so what with?

 

How big are the pots and the ferns, how long have they been in the pots and have they grown well this summer?

Fertiliser might be a good idea if the plants are not growing well after checking that the other factors such as moisture or being very root bound (unlikely with ferns) is the reason. In a reasonably large container they probably will not need much in way of fertiliser for a fair few years.

I have never used any fertiliser on mine, not outdoors nor indoors plants. The main factors for thriving plants seem to be moisture and humus rich soil. (Then again, the poshest and most demanding and delicate fern Adiantum grows self spored between the stones of the wells in Pompeiji, under the blazing Italian sun. Not a drop of water nor soil, but they thrive )

 

@Selleri
Thank you. I should have posted a pic. Id say they grow ok and have been in their pots for about 4yrs. Never really known if or when to cut back so just been removing bits as they die.

 

I love this little beauty growing out of my wall.

 

The PlantAssassin, that’s a lovely small display of plants you have growing there, they look so healthy ( so you are not living up to your name!)
I only have one fern in a pot, and I sprinkle a bit of Growmore on it round about now.

 

@ThePlantAssassin those are beauties. My son loves his ferns and since he's parked with me for a few months, I've seen him give "Harry" a feed, a light one, every month. Harry is happy and he is not very close to a window at to the moment so he is very forgiving. Nothing lives on just water forever... I think