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. Boston ferns prefer to grow in partial or full shade, but dappled, filtered light works as well. If you have any shady, damp areas, Boston ferns are an excellent option to give some color to these areas. That’s why many people grow Boston ferns on covered patios that receive little to no sunlight. In your home garden, you’ll need to mimic that by providing around two hours of indirect sunlight every day. Keep in mind that the early morning and late afternoon sun works best. Although Boston ferns make spores on the undersides of their fronds, as most ferns do, some cultivars are sterile and others don’t come true from spores. Fortunately, the plants reproduce on their own via runners called stolons, which root themselves wherever they touch the soil. 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.

Boston Fern Care Guide (Everything You Need to Know) Boston Fern Care Guide (Everything You Need to Know)

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 WellKeep in mind that you’ll have to watch the transmission to nearby plants if your fern is rooted directly in the ground. Pests 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 Covers Water-soluble options with a boost in nitrogen and potassium can get the job done, but you’ll need to dilute it by half. Similar to 'Golden Boston,' Nephrolepis exaltata'Rita's Gold'also grows yellow, almost chartreuse, fronds. It shimmers in the sunlight and compliments impatiens and begonias in a container setting.

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

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. If you don’t see these indicators, fertilizing throughout the season is still a smart idea; every six to eight weeks is an appropriate space. Feed the plant with either a water-soluble fertilizer or add a slow-release fertilizer in the spring. Watch for Pests 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. If you’re still planning the landscape, you can grow it in a taller plant’s canopy. Alternatively, you can prop up a slatted garden awning whenever you don’t have the flexibility of moving the fern around.The plant prospers in bright, indirect light or with only morning sun, but shouldn’t be exposed to the midday or afternoon sort. Q: Do Boston ferns clean the air? The division method works best for potted Boston ferns because it requires removing the plant from its medium.