Indoor Plant Profile: Boston Fern
Once known as the classic parlour fern, the Boston fern is still one of our favourite indoor plants
If you’re an indoor plant newbie and love ferns, this is the plant for you. The Boston fern is easy to grow and relatively low maintenance, as long as you keep its potting mix moist and don’t position the plant in rooms with very dry air. Like the peace lily, this fern is said to be very good at cleaning the air of toxins, particularly formaldehyde. It’s also regarded as a natural air humidifier and its foliage is not toxic to cats, unlike some other houseplants.
Signature traits
Long, arching feathery fronds divided into narrow pinnae.
Who is it best suited to?
Inexperienced plant lovers will find the Boston fern the ideal starter house plant. They suit both traditional and contemporary interiors as long as they are not too hot. Rooms with more humidity such as bathrooms and kitchens are ideal. It also does well in sheltered, shady outdoor spaces where temperatures are not too cold. In South Africa, the Boston fern grows too well and is considered an alien plant.
Long, arching feathery fronds divided into narrow pinnae.
Who is it best suited to?
Inexperienced plant lovers will find the Boston fern the ideal starter house plant. They suit both traditional and contemporary interiors as long as they are not too hot. Rooms with more humidity such as bathrooms and kitchens are ideal. It also does well in sheltered, shady outdoor spaces where temperatures are not too cold. In South Africa, the Boston fern grows too well and is considered an alien plant.
Where is it best positioned?
In bright filtered light, but not direct sunlight. Boston ferns grow well in normal room temperatures (no lower than 10°C), but in warm spaces (above 21°C) you’ll need to mist the foliage daily and consider placing the pot on a bed of damp pebbles.
How much maintenance is involved?
Boston ferns are considered one of the easiest ferns to grow as indoor plants, as long as you give them the humidity they love by misting leaves regularly, and don’t place them in a hot or very sunny room.
In bright filtered light, but not direct sunlight. Boston ferns grow well in normal room temperatures (no lower than 10°C), but in warm spaces (above 21°C) you’ll need to mist the foliage daily and consider placing the pot on a bed of damp pebbles.
How much maintenance is involved?
Boston ferns are considered one of the easiest ferns to grow as indoor plants, as long as you give them the humidity they love by misting leaves regularly, and don’t place them in a hot or very sunny room.
When to water
Don’t allow your Boston fern to become dry at the roots. Water as often as necessary to keep potting mix moist. If temperatures drop below 12°C, reduce watering and allow the top third of potting mix to dry out completely.
How to fertilise
Feed with a weak solution of standard liquid fertiliser every four weeks during the warmer months (spring to early autumn).
How to repot
When the roots have filled the container, it’s time to repot your Boston fern. It’s best to do this in spring. If you want to keep it in the same container, trim off some of the outer roots. A standard peat-based potting mix is best.
Indoor plant profile: peace lily
Don’t allow your Boston fern to become dry at the roots. Water as often as necessary to keep potting mix moist. If temperatures drop below 12°C, reduce watering and allow the top third of potting mix to dry out completely.
How to fertilise
Feed with a weak solution of standard liquid fertiliser every four weeks during the warmer months (spring to early autumn).
How to repot
When the roots have filled the container, it’s time to repot your Boston fern. It’s best to do this in spring. If you want to keep it in the same container, trim off some of the outer roots. A standard peat-based potting mix is best.
Indoor plant profile: peace lily
Did you know?
In warmer areas where temperatures stay above 15°C consistently, Boston ferns can be grown outside or on sheltered patios and terraces like this one.
If you want to grow more of this plant, check out the furry runners that grow out of the central rhizome. Often small plantlets may form on the ends of these runners. You can grow these by cutting the runner off about five centimetres from its tip and planting in its own pot.
In warmer areas where temperatures stay above 15°C consistently, Boston ferns can be grown outside or on sheltered patios and terraces like this one.
If you want to grow more of this plant, check out the furry runners that grow out of the central rhizome. Often small plantlets may form on the ends of these runners. You can grow these by cutting the runner off about five centimetres from its tip and planting in its own pot.
Potential problems
Boston fern will drop its fronds if the potting mix becomes too dry. If this happens, cut back fronds to about five centimetres long and they will re-sprout. Low humidity can also result in browning of frond tips, which can usually be avoided by regular misting. Misting will also help keep scale and mealy bug at bay. Cut off fronds infested with these pests to avoid them spreading.
Tip: If planted outside, frost can knock back plants so they look dead but they’ll often re-sprout in spring.
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Boston fern will drop its fronds if the potting mix becomes too dry. If this happens, cut back fronds to about five centimetres long and they will re-sprout. Low humidity can also result in browning of frond tips, which can usually be avoided by regular misting. Misting will also help keep scale and mealy bug at bay. Cut off fronds infested with these pests to avoid them spreading.
Tip: If planted outside, frost can knock back plants so they look dead but they’ll often re-sprout in spring.
Your say
If you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts on your favourite houseplants below. Join the conversation!
More
Browse more gardening stories
Common name: Boston fern, also known as sword fern
Botanical name: Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’
Origin: The sword fern species is native to Florida, the West Indies, Mexico, Polynesia, Africa, South and Central America, where it commonly grows in swamps. The Bostoniensis variety is said to have been a mutation discovered in Boston in the late 1800s.
Plant type: Evergreen fern
Size: Boston ferns can reach a metre in height and spread, although there are a range of different-sized varieties available, some with curled, wavy or drooping fronds.
Looks best: In a pot to suit its size, ideally placed on a pedestal or some kind of height to properly display its arching fronds. Boston ferns are also lovely in hanging baskets.
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