Ferns handle hard prunes well, leading to bushier, healthier growth. If you want to prune your Boston ferns hard, cut off all of the old-growth in the early spring before it comes out of dormancy. Soon, your plant will be lush and full of new fronds. Overwinter Boston Fern Plants 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 However, if your outdoor Boston fern is rooted in the ground, you’ll need to get creative with proving the shade. However, it’s not obligatory to go heavy into the pruning. After all, some people love the full volume on a Boston fern.

boston fern care: how to keep them happy - The Indoor Nursery boston fern care: how to keep them happy - The Indoor Nursery

When you grow Boston ferns outside all summer, you might notice some shriveled, brown, or discolored leaves. Like many plants, ferns need to be pruned. Pruning gets rid of the fronds that are drying or discolored. It’s like giving your plant a good haircut, trimming off dead ends. 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. You can buy Boston ferns at garden centres and nurseries, but for more unusual varieties, buy from a specialist house plant retailer or online

Water-soluble options with a boost in nitrogen and potassium can get the job done, but you’ll need to dilute it by half. If you expose the fern to too much light, it’ll turn the leaves yellow all over. Meanwhile, excessive shade could lead to a droopy, sad look. The bushy fronds help warm up the roots during the winter and provide shade during the scorching summer. So, aim for a timeframe with a moderate temperature around 60-70°F. In most cases, boosting the nutrition on a monthly basis during the growing season (spring and summer) is enough.

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

Keep in mind that it could also be better to add a portion of water and then wait for it to get distributed before you go in with the rest. This can help the soil retain moisture better. 4 – Tame the Fern to Your Liking

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. 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

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

Whether you use containers or not, these plants prefer a rich, organic soil that is full of nutrients. If your garden soil is low-quality, add several inches of compost, leaf mulch, or finely chopped bark to increase the humus while also ensuring that the soil drains well. 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. If you head to a warm climate, such as Florida, you’ll see hundreds of Boston ferns hanging from balconies. The warm and humidity combination is ideal for these plants. These climates allow these plants to grow for years in these hanging baskets, but gardeners in the North typically only grow ferns in hanging baskets as annuals. How to Grow Boston Fern Plants Outside This variety of fern was first discovered in a lot of fern plants shipped from Philadelphia to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1894. Subsequently, the Massachusetts-based distributor started propagating this cultivar for sale, making it a popular houseplant.

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. By their nature, Boston ferns are tropical. This means that they’re more likely to survive hot weather than freezing winter nights.