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. If you grow ferns in containers and want to put your plant in a new container, move up to a container that is one to two inches in diameter larger than the container it was in at the nursery. If I do this: If the inside of your house doesn’t provide the right conditions, allow your ferns to go dormant and store them in your garage, basement, or outdoor building where the temperatures don’t dip below 55℉. Taking care of a dormant Boston fern is no big deal. Make sure there is no light accessing the plant; they’re sleeping! Keep the plant thoroughly watered, but limited. That means watering once or twice per month.

How to grow Boston fern - BBC Gardeners World Magazine How to grow Boston fern - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

By their nature, Boston ferns are tropical. This means that they’re more likely to survive hot weather than freezing winter nights. 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?Despite its associations with New England, the Boston fern originated from a tropical plant, Nephrolepis exaltata, which is native to Florida, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. In those habitats, the Boston type can grow to 7 feet tall, but probably won’t surpass a height of 3 feet in a container. Can I just bring it in when the Weather gets cold? And hang it in the sun? I want some plants in my home… And my Boston fern has graced my porch the whole growing season . Do I have to do anything to it at all? Hardy only in USDA zones 10 through 12, the plant generally grows in containers elsewhere. Boston fern care outdoors is easy, as proved by the luxuriant specimens suspended under porch roofs in hanging baskets every summer. However, Boston fern care indoors—in low-humidity air-conditioned or heated homes—can prove challenging. The plant’s sword-shaped fronds bend as they mature and can reach 3 to 4 feet long under optimum conditions. Care for Boston fern will require that you care enough about yours to make extra efforts to keep it happy over the winter. Otherwise, it might be best to treat it as an annual. Types of Boston Fern

Garden Guides | How to Care for a Hanging Boston Fern Garden Guides | How to Care for a Hanging Boston Fern

For Boston fern indoor care, place your plant where it will receive bright light but no midday or afternoon sun. Morning sun from an east window usually is mild enough to suit the plant, or you can place a sheer curtain between a south or west-facing window and the plant. The Boston fern isn’t immune to a lot of plant diseases and pests, and adjusting the growing conditions will only take you so far if you don’t know how to protect it. Boston ferns aren’t drought-friendly plants; they need plenty of water to survive. The soil should stay consistently moist but not soggy or waterlogged. Standing water is never a good thing for your plants. Those living in dry climates need to mist their plants on hot days because the humidity is required for proper growth. In some cases, it’s not really a serious issue, and you can just prune the disease parts and call it a day. To intentionally propagate this way, all you need to do is spot the viable runners at the base, remove them, and pot them separately to get a new plant established.It’s best to prune your ferns before wintertime. Leave only newly sprouted fronds on your plant; this is especially true if you bring your plant inside because it prevents your plant from dropping all of its old leaves. Depending on how large your fern is, you can either divide it into one-eighths clumps, quarters, or equal halves.

Boston Fern Care 101: Mastering the Most Finicky Fronds - Bob Vila Boston Fern Care 101: Mastering the Most Finicky Fronds - Bob

As is the case with any pruning session, if you’re using garden shears or snips, make sure they’re sharp and clean to save yourself the hassle. 6 – Boston Fern Nutrition: Needs Growing-Season Boosts Only Pale leaves could be a sign that your plant need watering. It could also be in too bright a spot or it needs feeding. Alternatively, you can also grow the Boston fern in the ground next to wishbone flowers. They’re suitable for zones 2-11, and they won’t mind the shade at all. Boston Ferns as Ground CoversGather a sheet of paper, a jar, potting soil, and pots (for indoor plants), or compost and peat (for outdoor plants). 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. However, if the dryness and discoloration are extensive, it could indicate an underlying problem with over fertilizing, irrigation with hard water, or low humidity levels. Root Rot Just remember to use distilled or filtered water. Using hard tap water can bring down the plant’s vitality and cause burned tips with all the extra salts. 5 – Boston Fern Maintenance: Periodic Trimming Pays off Well