How to Plant a Boston Fern
The Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is an upright growing fern that can grow to about 3 feet long and 6 feet wide. It is native to the swamps and forests of Florida, but also grows in regions from as far south as South America to Polynesia and Africa. Boston ferns make attractive houseplants and are hardy in the USDA zones 9 to 11. Place Boston ferns indoors where they will receive filtered light, moist soil and high humidity. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Boston fern
- Growing media
- Planting container
- Pebbles
- Spray bottle
- Saucer
Instructions
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Place a 1- to 2-inch layer of small pebbles (quarter-inch to third-inch size) into the base of a suitably sized growing container.
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2
Scoop a good quality, humus-rich potting mix into the growing container until it is about half full of media. You can make your own potting mix by mixing together equal parts of peat moss, sterilized potting soil, leaf mold and vermiculite.
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Pack down the growing media until it's gently compressed. You can use your fingers, the bottom of another pot, or the base of your hands. Pour water into the container to dampen down and settle the growing media.
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4
Remove the Boston fern from its growing receptacle. To do this, turn the pot upside down and hold the Boston fern by the top of its root ball. Tap along the rim of the pot using a block of wood, or you can use a trowel. Once the pot starts to loosen, slide it off the root ball. Check the root ball of the Boston fern. If it appears highly compacted, or there are encircled roots, try to loosen the compacted, or encircled roots using your fingers.
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Set the Boston fern into its new growing container. Make sure it's sitting vertical and straight. Scoop in growing media until the container is about two-thirds full. Tamp down the growing media until it's gently firmed down.
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Scoop in growing media to fill the container. Pack the soil down gently one last time. Place a plant saucer or shallow plate under the Boston fern. Set the Boston fern where it will receive a high level of humidity, such as the kitchen or bathroom. Put a little water in the saucer often enough so the pebbles at the bottom of the growing container will remain moist. Water the Boston fern often enough so the soil remains moist, but never so it becomes soggy.
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Tips & Warnings
Floridata.com suggests misting a Boston fern every day to keep the humidity levels up. This is particularly important if the humidity drops below 80 percent.
Fertilize Boston ferns monthly using a 3-1-2 or 2-1-2 or similar fertilizer. Make sure you follow the directions on the label so you'll know how much fertilizer to use.
The ideal growing temperatures for growing Boston ferns is between 65 degrees Fahrenheit minimum and 95 F maximum.
