Can I Bring My Boston Fern Inside?   

Yes, you can! Boston ferns are extremely popular houseplants that look equally at home on a wrap-around porch or in the living room.

Here’s how to cultivate them:

Boston ferns can be grown inside in bright, indirect sunshine or outdoors in filtered shade.

Boston ferns are ideal porch plants since they thrive in bright indirect light. Morning sun is preferable to afternoon sun, which might scorch the fronds.

Boston ferns provide a lovely mid-height groundcover in dappled shade in humid, subtropical sections of Florida (zones 10 to 12). They prefer soil that is continuously moist yet well-drained. Indoors, Boston ferns should be put near a window but not in direct sunlight.

Can I cut stolons off Boston fern?

Boston fern propagation can be performed by the use of Boston fern shoots (also known as Boston fern runners) or by dividing Boston fern plants.

Boston fern runners, or stolons, may be removed from a mature parent plant by taking the offset whose runners have grown roots where they come into contact with the soil. As a result, the Boston fern shoots form a new plant.

Historically, early central Florida nurseries grew stock Boston fern plants in beds of cypress-covered shade houses, with the goal of eventually harvesting Boston fern runners from older plants to breed new ferns.

Once gathered, these Boston fern shoots were wrapped in newspaper, either bare-rooted or potted, and delivered to the market’s northern reaches.

Stock plants are still preserved in climate and environmentally controlled nurseries where Boston fern runners are harvested (or, more recently, tissue-cultured) for reproducing Boston fern plants in the present period.

Can I leave my Boston fern outside?

As a houseplant, Boston fern can be grown indoors. It also grows well outside in USDA zones 9-11’s warm, humid weather. When cultivated outside, this fern requires a lot of water.

Frost kills Boston fern completely, causing it to appear dead, but it grows back in the spring. The Boston fern grows well in partial to full shade or in filtered light. This makes the plant suitable for damp or shaded areas, and it adds a splash of color when it flourishes.

Boston fern prefers well-drained organic soils. To improve fern growth, supplement your soil with compost, mulch, or finely chopped bark.

These ferns would look great on the front porch. They flourish in regions with filtered sunshine. The morning sun is good, but the afternoon sun can burn the fronds off.

Boston ferns thrive in Florida’s subtropical environments. They create a lovely mid-height ground cover with dapples of shadow

Can I plant a Boston fern in the ground?

The Boston fern, which is native to Florida, Mexico, and Central America, was “found” in a consignment of plants shipped to Boston in the 1800s (and thus it earned its common name).

This attractive plant quickly gained popularity because it could withstand the cold, dark environment of Victorian sitting rooms. Boston fern’s elegant, arching fronds and rich, green hue further contributed to its popularity.

Boston fern is still a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor settings today. However, because Boston fern may grow to be 3 feet tall and 3 feet broad, it is frequently a preferable choice for outdoor application. Boston fern can be grown straight in the ground in zones 9-11.

Can a Boston fern live in a bathroom?

Ferns are excellent plants for the bathroom.

The Boston Fern is very effective in humid environments, and with so many different green tones, you can make your bathroom seem fantastic just by using Ferns. As long as they have excellent drainage, they will grow for many years.

Many houseplants will do well in a bathroom, but some plants are particularly suited to the task. Boston ferns are one ideal option for bathrooms.

They can thrive in poor lighting conditions, making them a good choice for many bathrooms. The plant requires little care and watering, so they are ideal for bedrooms as well.

Can a Boston fern live inside?

Many people consider it to be one of the easiest ferns to grow indoors. The only catch is that the soil must be kept continually moist and humidity levels reasonably high, or many of the fronds will turn brown and die.

The Boston fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata), often known as the sword fern, is a common fern found in many tropical places across the world. It is also widely kept as a houseplant, owing to its low light requirements. This fern’s foliage remains evergreen.

Its sword-shaped, blue-green fronds with numerous small leaflets grow tall and arch as they mature. The Boston fern, like many other fern species, grows slowly and is best planted in the fall or spring.

Can you clone a Boston fern?

Yes, you can.

Simply pull the Boston fern runner from the base of the plant with a gentle tug or cut with a sharp knife for propagating Boston fern plants. It is not necessary for the offset to have roots because it will form roots anywhere it comes into contact with soil.

If the offset was removed by hand, it can be planted right away; however, if the offset was cut from the parent plant, lay it aside for a couple of days to let the cut to dry and heal up.

Boston fern shoots should be put in a container with a drainage hole in sterile potting soil. Plant the stalk just deep enough to keep it upright and lightly water it.

Cover the propagating Boston ferns with a clear plastic bag and place them in bright indirect light at 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit (16-21 C.). Remove the bag when the branch begins to show fresh growth and continue to maintain damp but not wet.

Can you hang a Boston fern?

Boston ferns are exceptionally hardy plants. They can appear to be on the verge of death, only to resurrect rapidly with a little care. This fern belongs to the Nephrolepsis genus and became well-known after its discovery in 1894 among a group of Sword ferns.

Unlike Sword ferns, which have leaves that stand straight up, the Boston species has fronds that arch beautifully. Boston ferns, when compared to other varieties of ferns, provide gardeners with easy maintenance and good growth during the spring and summer seasons.

The size of your plant is the most important thing to consider when planting and exhibiting your Boston fern. A hanging basket is a common display option.

The long fronds of the fern arch from the basket in this configuration, giving the plant the appearance of floating in the air.

In hanging baskets, the fronds can grow to be around a foot long, so keep this in mind when planting your fern.

Can you revive a Boston fern?

Underwatering, low humidity, and excessively hot or cold weather are the three most typical causes of this fern dying.

To resuscitate a fern that has lost its leaves, it is necessary to improve the climatic conditions by increasing humidity, watering more frequently so that the soil is continually moist, and keeping the temperature between 65- and 75-degrees F. New leaves should begin to sprout.

Using a humidifier, raise the humidity to 50%. The most effective technique to boost humidity around your fern is to use a humidifier, and some humidifiers allow you to set the exact humidity so that you can accurately simulate the greater humidity conditions of the fern’s tropical original environment.

Mist your fern every day and place it near other potted plants. If you group many plants together, you can create a humid microclimate that is more conducive to the survival of your dying fern. Misting helps to prevent water loss from the leaves, allowing your fern shoulder to begin to regenerate.

Water the fern as needed to keep the soil constantly and evenly moist. There is no general suggestion for a watering regimen for ferns because watering varies depending on the size of the fern and the humidity of the space.

To revitalize your fern, keep the temperature between 65°F and 75°F during the day and slightly cooler at night. Higher temperatures produce increased evaporation, increasing the danger of leaf drop, while low temperatures harm tropical ferns.

Keep your fern away from heat sources, air currents, and drafts. The proper degree of humidity is required for your fern to revive, therefore keep it away from draughts and away from artificial heat, both of which can sap moisture from the leaves.

How big does a Boston fern get?

Besides being an easy-care houseplant, a Boston fern continues to grow and expand while it lives inside. It needs no sunlight and it’s great for the kitchen window sill. It grows to a Mature Height of 6-8″ and has a Mature Foliage Span of 24-31″.

How do I get rid of Boston fern bugs?

Caterpillars, mealybugs, false spider mites, scales, and thrips are the most common insect pests of Boston fern. Infestations of mealybugs and scales are often the result of bringing infested plant material into the greenhouse.

Moths (adult caterpillars) and thrips can fly and thereby enter the greenhouse from weeds and other afflicted plants outside.

Mealybugs occur as white, cottony masses in leaf axils, on lower surfaces of leaves, and on roots. Honeydew and sooty mold are common, and affected plants grow stunted, with severe infestations causing plant sections to perish.

Systemic materials are preferred for control. Insecticide drenches in the soil are used to control root mealybugs. When pesticides are sprayed to the soil, it is critical to ensure that the pots have adequate drainage and that no saucers are attached, or phytotoxicity may occur.

How do I know if my Boston fern is dying?

If the plant dries out, then leaves turn yellow and stop growing, it is dying. It may lose its leaves and produce new leaves that don’t grow.

Poor soil, insufficient drainage, a lack of water or humidity, too much light, too much salt, or just mechanical harm can all cause Boston fern browning which lead to dying. If your cat chews on the leaves, the tips will darken and die.

Alternatively, if you fertilize too frequently and don’t leach the soil, the salt buildup will discolor the fern and this may lead to dying of the fern precautions are not taken.

How do you keep a Boston fern alive indoors?

Boston ferns thrive in indirect light because of their natural environment of dappled shade. They prefer regular room temperature, 55 to 75°F (13 to 24°C), but do best at the lower end of that range, so keep yours in the coldest part of the house.

Boston ferns enjoy humidity, but the typical 10 to 15% humidity of most homes is far from the 50%-or-higher humidity that these plants require.

Keep your fern in a steamy bathroom, place it on a water-filled pebble tray, use a humidifier, and/or mist daily. Brown leaf tips and yellowing are symptoms of insufficient humidity.

How much sun and water does a Boston fern need?

Boston fern thrives with water and light requirement as follows:

Water: It is critical to keep the soil mildly damp (but not saturated) at all times when growing Boston ferns. If the soil dries up, the fern’s leaf will quickly dry out and fall off the plant.

Watering should be reduced significantly throughout the fall and winter months because the plant is not actively developing. However, if you observe the fronds drying out, increase the amount of water you give the plant.

Light: The amount of light required by Boston ferns varies according on the season. During the fall and winter, the plant benefits from bright, indirect light. It’s best if the plant can obtain at least two hours of indirect sunlight per day, especially in the morning or late afternoon.

When the sun shines brighter in the spring and summer, the light conditions of the Boston fern must change. The fern requires a semi-shady setting throughout the summer, such as a window with a northern exposure.

Avoid direct, bright sunlight from a window with a southern or western exposure unless it is shielded by a sheer curtain or shaded by a big outside tree.

How often should you water hanging Boston fern?

The first tip is that these plants adore water! Many people are afraid about overwatering their ferns, but Boston ferns demand water and require daily watering when grown outside, especially on hot summer days. It’s a good idea to water your fern twice a day on extremely hot days.

A simple approach to see if your hanging basket needs watering is to carefully pick it up and weigh it as an indicator of its need for water.

Light indicates that it requires water, while heavy indicates that it is not yet ready to be watered. Ferns prefer moist but not soggy conditions.

This is a terrific advice for any hanging baskets because the water requirements of plants vary depending on their size, variety, and weather conditions.

Is Boston fern an air purifier?

Yes, it is.

Phytoremediation is the use of plants as decontaminants. Plants produce their own biosystems around their roots, which comprise bacteria, fungus, and other microorganisms.

Pollutants enter the root biosystem via water, air, and gases, and are frequently translocated through the leaves.

Pollutants from the air and other sources, like nutrients, are broken down in the root’s biosystem and converted into a form that plants can use.

In their book “Working with Ferns: Issues and Applications,” Helena Fernandez, Ashwani Kumar, and Maria Angeles Revilla note that Boston ferns appear to be particularly adept at this process.

It is ranking 9 on NASA’s list of 50 air-purifying plants, and they were also found to be most efficient at removing formaldehyde.

Is Boston fern safe for cats?

Houseplants enhance the design and feel of your home by reflecting the style and horticultural prowess of a decorator. They absorb CO2 and release oxygen, improving air quality, and they provide humidity to dry air through transpiration.

Boston ferns are not poisonous to cats. According to the ASPCA, they are non-toxic to both cats and dogs. This means it is a non-toxic, non-hazardous plant to have in and around your home.

Many beautiful plants, such as certain fern species, are extremely toxic to pets and can cause serious illness or even death. Boston fern is not one of them.

What’s wrong with my Boston fern?

If left unattended, the Boston fern is going to die! If your plant suffers from insufficient humidity, lack of water, or dosages of fertilizer too high for the plant’s needs, it will wither and die.

Brown leaf tips and yellowing are symptoms of insufficient humidity. Poor soil, insufficient drainage, a lack of water or humidity, too much light (or not enough) can all cause Boston fern browning which lead to dying.

Why are my Boston fern leaves curling?

Because the Boston fern thrives in humid conditions, dry air can cause the leaves to curl.

This is a typical problem with indoor plants, so water the plant with a mist sprays a couple of times during the day during the summer and once a day during the winter if the leaves appear dry and wilted.

If the trunk is getting thin and the fronds are curling, it may be a sign that your plant is not receiving enough light.

You can bring it outside for a short period of time if the sun is out. Another option is to repot your Boston fern into a larger container with fresh potting soil to get more root growth.

Are Boston and sword fern the same?

Boston ferns (Nephrolepsis exaltata) are members of the sword fern family native to tropical regions around the world. The fronds of sword ferns are upright.

The fronds of Boston ferns arch downwards. The first Boston fern was discovered in a shipment of plants from Philadelphia to Boston in 1894, hence the name.

Zones 9–11 are suitable for the ferns. They are grown as houseplants north of zone 9. When grown outdoors, they can reach a height of 7 feet. They only grow 2 to 3 feet tall indoors.

Boston ferns thrive in well-drained soil. They prefer full shade or partial shade outdoors, and filtered sunlight indoors. They, like other ferns, lack flowers and do not produce seeds. They reproduce instead through spores that grow on the undersides of the fronds. In the summer, the spores are released.

Can Boston fern grow in water?  

To effectively grow ferns in water, keep the plant and its roots in a vase or a glass bowl filled with water.

Your fern plant in water will grow the best if it receives at least a couple of hours of soft morning sun and bright indirect light every day. Regularly change the water.

How Do You Grow Ferns in Water?

• While dividing the plant, choose a part. It must have roots and fronds.
• Submerge the roots in running water and gently remove any potting medium. Remove any damaged or decaying roots as well.
• Place the plant in a vase or a glass bowl. To hold the roots in place, add stones or gravel. This will also aid the plant to stay in place. Fill the container with non-chlorinated water!
• Don’t let the gravel cover the fern’s upper fronds and leaves.