On the other hand, you’ll need to winter the plant to get to survive the dormancy. Most people opt to bring the fern indoors during the colder months, but if you want to keep it outdoors, make sure to mulch generously to keep the roots valid for the next growing season. Can Boston Ferns Be Planted in the Ground? Boston ferns are most often grown as a houseplant because these plants prefer growing outside in warm, humid climates. The best USDA zones for Boston ferns are 9-11; these are the only zones where you can plant them outside as a perennial in the ground. However, it’s not obligatory to go heavy into the pruning. After all, some people love the full volume on a Boston fern. Ferns often will shed foliage and/or spores when brought indoors for the winter, so it’s best to place them in an area with easy-to-sweep and scrub floors. Positioning them above your new easily stained white carpet is probably just asking for trouble. Potential Pests and Diseases That said, your Boston fern might be better prepared to handle winter if it’s been established as an outdoor plant from the get-go. Meanwhile, potted indoor plants could be more susceptible to fading during the cold months.

Grow Boston Fern Plants Outside - Gardening Channel How to Grow Boston Fern Plants Outside - Gardening Channel

For instance, you might want to keep your Boston fern in a south or west-facing window during the fall and spring at a distance of around 2-5 feet. This will give a healthy dose of filtered sun daily. When you prune, make sure to cut the leggy stems at their base, leaving around four inches peeking from the soil. Just try your best to avoid cutting the top of the fern. The beauty of growing ferns in pots and baskets is that you can easily adjust the temperature and sunlight exposure by moving them around.There are two ways that you can grow Boston ferns in the ground. Choosing between them depends on the available space and whether you want to keep companion plants in the same spot. Outdoor care of Boston fern differs in zones where it is perennial, since ferns growing in fertile ground generally don’t require feeding. However, you may want to add a 1/2-inch layer of compost beneath their mulch. Setting the Temperature and Humidity If you live in a subtropical zone that doesn’t frost or have freezing temperatures, overwintering Boston ferns outside is possible. Only those living in USDA zones 8b-11 can attempt to do so without killing their plants. Just keep in mind that you might not need to use commercial liquid fertilizer in combination with the Epsom salt soak. This nutrient overload may be a bit much for the fern. How to Propagate Boston Ferns

Boston Fern - The Spruce How to Grow and Care For Boston Fern - The Spruce

Ferns reproduce through spores (the tiny yellow-brown dots along the underside of leaf blades) rather than flowering, which means the easiest way to propagate them is through plant division. Spring is the best time to divide your plants, as well as repotting. First, let the soil dry out and remove the plant from its pot. Using a serrated knife, cut the roots apart. Plant each of the divisions into a new pot with fresh potting soil amended with compost and water deeply to help the roots establish in their new home. Prune Your Outside Boston Ferns Just keep in mind that it’ll grow taller and bushier than the typical options, like junipers and mondo grass. Usually, you can get an average coverage of three-by-three feet from each fern. Are Boston Ferns Susceptible to Diseases? Care of Boston fern also requires regular feeding in spring and summer. You can fertilize your plant every two weeks with a balanced plant food such as 20-20-20 used at half strength. For example, if the label calls for 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water for houseplants, cut that amount to 1/4 teaspoon per gallon instead. Once growth slows in autumn, avoid feeding your plant until spring.Keep in mind that you’ll have to watch the transmission to nearby plants if your fern is rooted directly in the ground. Pests If you decide you want to move your plant’s location, don’t do so abruptly. Environmental changes need to be gradual. Growing on pebble trays and using manual misters once or twice every week are also possible fixes, but they rarely suffice on their own. Some people might even use the natural humidity around kitchens and bathrooms to boost the plant’s growth. 4 – Boston Fern Watering Needs: Moderate Meanwhile, there’s also such a thing as over-watering a Boston fern, and it’ll turn the leaves yellow and wilted. Plus, it’ll increase the risk of root rot, especially during the winter when the plant goes dormant. It’s possible to keep potted ferns and hanging baskets outdoors, too. In that case, it can be easier to move the plant to a shaded part when the sun gets too intense in the warmer months.