Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis') Indoor Care, Propagation and Common Problems

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Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis' (Boston Fern) flourishes in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis') is among the popular fern plants with gracefully arching highly compound, fronds and leaves whose edges appear slightly serrate.

The spores in Boston Fern are warty and wrinkled. The fern spreads by means of an underground rhizome that is slim and tuberous.

Boston Fern is a mutation of Nephrolepis exaltata (Sword Fern), which was discovered in Boston about a hundred years ago and hence the name.

Boston Fern can be displayed on a pedestal, in a hanging basket, a tabletop, desktop, plant shelf, as a specimen plant or as a part of a grouping. It is one of the best plants for hanging baskets.

Botanical name: Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis'
Family: Nephrolepidaceae

Origin

Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis' is native to the tropical regions in America, Polynesia and Africa. It can grow both terrestrially or epiphytically.

Size

Boston Fern is a fast growing fern which can grow to a height of to 2-3 feet and upto 3 feet wide.

Are Boston Ferns toxic?

No. Boston Ferns are non-toxic to humans and pets as outlined by ASPCA. The ferns are safe to grow indoors.

Where to Buy

Boston Ferns are a pleasant addition to your plant collection, you may obtain them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy) or from Amazon (Link to Amazon).

Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis' Indoor Care

To care for a Boston Fern indoors, provide bright indirect light, warmth of 15-25⁰C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis' requires repotting every 2-3 years to provide adequate space for the growth of the rhizome and prevent plant death. Regular pruning is necessary to keep it neat as well as discourage pest and disease infestation. Keep reading for a detailed account on these growing conditions and how to provide them.

Light Requirements

Boston Fern grows best in bright indirect light. Position it infront of a well-lit window. Keep it away from direct sunlight or use a sheer curtain to filter it as it may scorch the fronds.

Too little light will result in reduced growth and yellowish leaves. If the natural lighting is insufficient, you may use a full spectrum grow light to increase it.

Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and to prevent lopsided growth.

Watering

For optimum growth of your Boston Fern, water it thoroughly in spring and summer while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out. Keep the soil evenly moist but avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf loss.

Cut down on watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time to keep the soil slightly moist. Do not allow it to dry out completely as underwatering can lead to wilting, drooping and leaf drop.

Use water that is at room temperature to prevent cold shock which can result in stunted growth and leaf fall. Only water with chlorine-free water to prevent browning of leaf edges.

Select a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging as it can result in rotting and death of the fern.

Temperature & Humidity

Boston Fern thrives in a warmth of 15-25⁰C Keep it away from drafty situations like hot air vents, AC units, windy doors among others to prevent sudden changes in temperature which can cause reduced growth and leaf drop.

Boston Fern blossoms in a humidity of 60-70%. Too low humidity for this fern will result brown leaf tips and leaf loss. To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.

The fern is ideal for humid areas in the home like a well-lit bathroom, kitchen or laundry area. It is among the best plants for the bathroom.

Fertilizer

Feed your Boston Fern with a liquid, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks in spring and summer. Do not feed in fall and winter to prevent fertilizer burn as growth is reduced at this time.

Potting Mix

The best potting mix for Boston Fern should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent waterlogging while providing the required nutrients. A blend of 2 parts of all purpose potting mix and 1 part perlite is perfect for this plant.

Repotting

Repot your Boston Fern every 2-3 years at the beginning of the growing season to provide adequate room for the growth of the rhizome.

One sign of an overcrowded fern is wilting leaves. Failure to repot an overcrowded fern can result in death of the plant.

Repot it into a pot that is 1 size larger and one that has drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy which can lead to rotting. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.

You may also be divide the fern into several sections during repotting and pot the sections individually to propagate new plants.

Pruning

Pruning Boston Fern entails removal of dead and damaged fronds to keep the fern neat and tidy. As it ages, the older fronds turn brown. Cut them off at the base to maintain the fern looking neat and tidy as well as discourage pest and disease infestation.

Boston Fern Propagation

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis') propagation is best done by plant division at the beginning of the growing season. It can also be propagated from spores but they are difficult to germinate.

Propagating Boston Fern by plant division

1. Carefully slip the Fern out of its pot and divide the rhizome into several sections. Ensure each section has adequate roots.


2. Fill small pots a thirdway with well-draining soil.


3. Position each section in the center of the pot and continue burying the rhizome while ensuring that you do not bury it too deep. Maintain them at the soil level they were at in the previous pot.


4. Place the pots in a warm, brightly-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.


5. Maintain the soil moist through out until the new ferns are well established afterwhich you ca begin routine care.

Boston Fern Problems & Solutions

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis') problems are leaf drop, brown leaf tips, yellowing, wilting leaves and pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Brown dots or lines on the underside of fronds

These are spores which can be used for propagation of new Boston Ferns. They indicate that the frond is mature and healthy. In their natural environment, these spores drop to the soil and grow into new ferns.

Excessive leaf drop

Leaflets drop from a Boston Fern is indicative of too dry soil. Maintain the soil slightly moist and do not allow it to dry out completely for an extended period of time.

Yellowing, brown leaf tips and stunted growth

Yellowing fronds, brown tips and stunted new growth on Boston Fern is caused by too dry air. To raise humidity, use a cool mist humidifier, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together.

Yellowing fronds

Yellowing leaves on Boston Fern are caused by soggy soil. Use a pot with a drainage hole and free-draining soil to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

Wilting leaves

Wilting leaves on Boston Fern is an indication of overcrowding in the current pot. Repot the Fern into a larger pot or divide it up for more ferns.

Isolated brown and yellow leaves

Browning and yellowing isolated areas on Boston Fern are a result of excessive salts in the soil either from watering or fertilizers.

Regularly flush out the accumulated salts by repeatedly running a steady stream of water thorough the soil and avoid overfertilizing in the future.

Brown shells scattered on the fronds

Brown shells scattered on fronds of Boston Fern is an indication of scales infestation. Isolate the affected fern to prevent spread to other plants and carry out control measures.

Pests

Common pests on Boston Fern are scale insects and mealybugs which are prevalent in dry conditions.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the infested plant to minimize spread to other plants.


2. Treat the affected plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.


3. Keep the plant well pruned to reduce the pests.


4. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together to raise humidity to decrease the pests infestations.

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