Product Description:
Boston ferns are the perfect porch plant, as they thrive in lots of indirect light. Morning sun is ideal, as full afternoon sun can burn the fronds. The first thing you need to do for proper Boston fern care is to make sure that its in the right kind of environment. Boston ferns need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. When you care for Boston fern plants indoors, it’s a good idea to provide additional humidity for them, especially in the winter.
Light:
Boston fern does best when grown in a location with bright, indirect light.
Temperature:
Boston ferns prefer mild temperatures between roughly 65- and 75-degrees Fahrenheit. They can’t tolerate either extreme heat or extreme cold. Temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit can harm them, as can temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Water:
To successfully grow Boston ferns, it is key to keep the soil lightly moist (but not soggy) at all times. If the soil begins to dry out, the fern?s foliage can quickly dry out and drop off the plant. During the fall and winter months, slightly reduce watering, as the plant is not actively growing.
Fertilizer:
These ferns like organically rich, loamy soil with good drainage. Poorly drained soil can cause root rot and ultimately kill the plant.
Soil:
Boston ferns prefer soils that are light, loamy, and airy. We recommend adding amendments to your potting mix or compost for best results.
Humidity:
This fern also thrives in humidity levels above 80 percent. You can mimic these conditions by setting your fern on a tray filled with water and pebbles and by providing a regular misting.
Pruning:
The best time to prune an indoor plant is when you’re ready to repot it. Simply remove all browning leaves and clip back leafless runners. Next, give your fern a good haircut by trimming off the side fronds at the base with sharp shears. Don’t crop the top the plant, but rather trim around the edges to your desired shape.
Propagating Boston Fern:
- Gather a sharp pair of garden shears, a garden trowel (for indoor plants), a spade shovel (for outdoor plants), a pot, and potting soil (for indoor plants only).
- In the spring, carefully separate a section of your fern with healthy roots attached
- Fill a pot halfway full with potting soil.
- Plant your division into either the mix or the ground, taking care to fully cover the roots when you backfill the hole with soil.
- Water the new division, and keep the soil lightly moist at all times. Keep indoor plants in a warm spot away from drafts and temperature fluctuations, and out of direct sunlight.
- After a few weeks, gently pull on the base of the fronds.
