These beautiful and incredibly popular houseplants are equally at home on a wrap-around porch or in the living room. Here’s how to grow large Boston ferns?
Boston ferns are a good choice for beginners because they are easy to grow and require very little space. They belong to the Nephrolepis genus and are also easy to care for.
Plant Boston ferns in Potting Mix. Water occasionally to keep the soil evenly moist. Feed your ferns with all-purpose plant food. Prune your ferns when they look scraggly or have dropped a lot of leaves.
Growing Boston ferns indoors provide an extra layer of humidity to your home. A porch is not complete until Boston ferns cover the ceiling and rafters. A sunroom, bright kitchen, and guest rooms also add more life when the ferns are living in these rooms.
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How to Choose the Best Pot for Growing Boston Ferns
Boston ferns will grow as large as the pot allows. Many Boston ferns are sold as hanging baskets in plastic pots, and it’s fine to leave them that way if desired.
When choosing a Boston fern pot, there are several things to consider. These include the pot size, the type of soil used, the amount of light that is required, and the amount of water that the plant requires.
Boston Ferns can be grown in a wide variety of containers. They can be grown in pots, hanging baskets, or even in the ground. I do not recommend growing Boston Ferns in the ground.
The type of Boston fern pot that you choose will be determined by the amount of space that you have available. A good pot should be large enough to hold a large amount of soil. If you have a small amount of space, you may be able to use a container that is smaller than the pot that you need.
Boston ferns don’t like clay soil; instead, they prefer a loamy, well-drained mix of potting soil and sand or perlite.
How to Plant Boston Ferns in Containers
Boston ferns are hardy plants that can survive in almost any environment. They are great for adding interest to a home landscape, and they are very easy to grow. In this section, we will show you how to plant Boston ferns in containers.
It is essential that you know how to control the soil moisture in your Boston fern containers. If you plan to grow your plants outside, place the bottom third of the container with a quality soil mix containing the Potting Mix.
After setting it down, put the plant into a hole that’s at least twice as deep as the diameter of the container. Add a bit more soil mix and fill around the roots with potting mix. Water and wait a few minutes, then move the plant into its permanent location. Repot Boston ferns when the root system has filled the container.
How Do I Care to Grow Large Boston Ferns?
Temperature
The suitable temperature to grow large Boston ferns is between 55 to 75 degrees. And if you live in the region of the united states where the temperature falls below 55 degrees in the winter, then you need to grow them into pots and containers and move them indoors to get a suitable temperature.
Also, it is recommended to not put your Boston fern pot near a vent or drafty areas as the temperature fluctuations will affect the health of your Boston fern.
Light
Boston ferns like to grow In shade where they can receive indirect light. Keeping your Boston fern plant in direct sunlight for long peak hours of the day will harm the plant. So it is recommended to plant them in a shady region.
Watering
Boston ferns like moist, loamy soil that offers excellent drainage. Depending on climate conditions water your ferns once or twice a week. Also, provide regular watering to the plant during the growing season. If yellow leaves start to appear, it means that you need to increase the watering schedule and never let the soil dry out between waterings.
Remember overwatering your plant will lead to the development of root rot. Don’t water your fern regularly during winters. Give it time to recover from the stress of the growing season.
Soil
As said Boston ferns prefer soil that is light, loamy, and airy. Moreover, to improve the airflow of the soil, add some peat, moss, and perlite. This will make the soil rich in all basic nutrients and your plant will flourish.
It should be noted that while adding peat or moss to the soil, keep the proportions in mind. Do not mix too much of either peat or moss.
Fertilizer
Feed your plant with water-soluble liquid fertilizer at half strength. Start feeding your ferns in April and feed till September every other week. Don’t feed your plant within 3 months of planting until the roots have time to establish themselves. Magnesium in the fertilizer will boost the growth of the plant.
Re-Potting
The size of the plant is majorly determined by the size of the container they are grown in. If the pot size was small while planting the ferns and now it has grown and look like it’s about to split the container, then repot the plant into another big pot. Always ensure that the container should have a drainage hole.
Humidity
If you want to grow your Boston ferns large, to their full potential, it becomes necessary to increase the humidity levels in the surrounding air. Basically, ferns originate in rainforests around the world that are full of humidity. So in order to give them a natural growing environment, humidity in the air is a must.
However, you can create a humid climate around your fern by using some pebbles and a drip tray. Place a layer of pebbles on the drip tray and then place the pot or container on the layer of pebbles. And then fill the drip tray with water. Now the water evaporates around the fern, providing more humidity to the fronds.
How do I propagate Boston Ferns?
You can propagate them by dividing them, or by separating runners from the plant. Runners are the tiny new shoots that grow out of the plant.
The most popular method for propagation of Boston ferns is root division. Simply dig up the fern, separate the roots, and then separate the new plantlets until they’re ready to be repotted.
Divide the plants until they’re at the right size, and then report the new plants all at the same time. Do your dividing work in the early spring, and give the roots of the plant the entire growing season to get stronger for the coming year.
Tips for Growing Boston Ferns Indoor
Boston ferns are beautiful foliage plants that can be grown indoors or out. They don’t require much care and they will tolerate a little shade. Put these beauties in full sun in a warm and bright location.
The best way to care for houseplants is to provide as much humidity as possible and carefully monitor the soil to ensure the plants stay consistently moist. You may also want to use a humidifier or mist the plants with room-temperature tap water.
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