Today, Boston fern is still one of the best options for indoor and outdoor use. But, because Boston fern can grow 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, it is often a better choice for outdoor situations. In zones 9-11, Boston fern can be planted directly into the ground. Here is a plant that lives up to its name.
Boston ferns are most often grown as a houseplant because these plants prefer to grow outdoors in hot, humid climates. The best USDA areas for Boston ferns are 9-11; these are the only areas where they can be planted outdoors as perennials in the ground. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exalta) is commonly grown as a houseplant, but can also be planted outdoors. Boston fern likes cooler temperatures, constant humidity and higher humidity.
Boston fern is a low-maintenance plant, making it a popular fern for both indoor and outdoor use. Planting this fern is easy because it doesn't require any special potting mix or treatment. Whether you're planting your Boston fern in a container or in the ground, make sure the soil drains well and that the fern can stay moist evenly at all times. Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) are members of the sword fern family that are native to tropical areas of the world.
Boston ferns have fronds that arch downwards. The original fern was discovered in a plant shipment from Philadelphia to Boston in 1894, hence its name Boston fern. Boston ferns are the perfect porch plant as they thrive in plenty of indirect light. The morning sun is ideal, as the afternoon sun can burn the fronds.
In humid and subtropical areas of Florida (zones 10 to 1), Boston ferns provide an attractive medium-height vegetation cover in areas with mottled shade. They like constantly moist but well-drained soils. Boston ferns grown indoors should be placed near a window, but not in direct sunlight. Mix in the soil some organic fertilizer and plant the Boston fern to the same depth as it was planted in the container.
Ferns usually need to be watered once every 3-5 days, depending on how much light they receive and how warm they are in your home, but overwatering can cause leaves to turn yellow and roots soggy if you water too often. Equally at home, on a wrap-around porch or in the living room, Boston ferns are incredibly popular houseplants. Because the roots of potted Boston ferns have less protection from the cold than plants in the ground, potted Boston ferns should be brought indoors when nighttime temperatures drop to 45 degrees, or they can be damaged by cold. This plant grows best in well-drained but moisture-retaining soil or soilless potting medium (such as a mixture of peat and vermiculite).
Leave only freshly sprouted leaves on your plant; this is especially true if you bring your plant indoors because it prevents the plant from dropping all of its old leaves. It can be difficult to keep a large Boston fern watered enough when it grows on coir or in an unglazed container, in an unglazed pot, in a window pot, or in a hanging basket. If you live in a region where the temperature drops below 55 degrees in winter, you will need to grow your ferns in pots. If you notice a mild slug infestation, remove pests from the plant early on the move or late at night.
During the summer, ferns that grow outdoors often need to be watered both in the morning and in the evening. Whether you grow Boston ferns indoors or outdoors, here's what you need to know to keep them at their best. If your fern is in a small pot, replant it when it starts to look like it will split the sides of the container. Those who live in dry climates need to spray their plants on hot days because moisture is necessary for proper growth.
If you're heading to a warm climate, like Florida, you'll see hundreds of Boston ferns hanging from balconies. The sensitivity to cold of Boston fern hinders its healthy growth and proper formation of leaves, because this plant is simply not adapted to sudden drops in temperature. .
