Hello friends, we have so far seen some of the prerequisites of having fern either as house plant or Garden tree. One popular variety that is synonymous with word fern is “Boston Fern”. It is also called as sword fern or Ladder Fern .This variety grows in all warm and humid tropical areas around the world. Boston fern doesn’t need high level of sunlight. As a result it is most sought as a house plant. The foliage arches gracefully as they become old and retains its lush green color. This fern doesn’t grow fast and thrive well when planted in spring. Extreme temperature is their first enemy. Boston ferns are best suited for hanging basket also
Table of Contents
Why is it called Boston Fern ?
Two major schools of thought prevail to this day about origin of the name “ Boston” for this sword fern
- Boston fern came to limelight during the shipment made from Philadelphia to Boston during 19th Century . There were totally 200 plants received by Mr. F C Becker, the Massachusetts florist. He began to propagate it in 1894. It became popular in the Victorian-era as a parlor plant, hence the name Boston.
- Anther theory is that the name came from famous nurseryman John Soar, who sent the plants to his friend in Boston as documented by David Fairchild
Boston Fern – Specifications
Common Name : Boston Fern, Ladder Fern , Sword Fern
Botanical Name : Nephrolepis exaltata
Plant Type : Herbaceous & Tropical vascular plant
Plant size : 3-4 feet tall . Fit for Indoor/house Plant & Basket Plant
Sunlight Requirement : Filtered Sunlight only. No direct light
Flowering Pattern : Flowerless and seedless
Nativity : Central and south America , Mexico, Africa , Polynesia .
Best Season to plant : Spring and Early fall.
Hardiness Zone : USDA – (10-12)
Is Boston fern hard to care for?
Always remember that Boston ferns are tropical in nature . As result they prefer high humidity and moisture. However never allow them to go dry.
- Take care in fertilizer. Do not apply excess. Avoid during winter.
- Never allow water-logging as it will result in rotting of roots
- Water frequently to retain moisture in soil .Take care that the water is at normal temperature. Let it not be extreme.
- For outdoor ferns , water it twice a day during summer.
- Do not bother much about growth as Boston fern have slow growth , more so during winter.
- Boston ferns are planted in pots with high level of peat moss. It is necessary to hydrate the peat mass of the pot .
Do Boston ferns need full sun?
They are the perfect porch plant. Morning sun with angular rays is ideal Boston ferns thrive in lots of indirect light. House plant Boston should be placed near a window, but not in direct sunlight.
- Water frequently to keep the soil evenly moist.
- Prune when the plant looks scraggly or if it experiences defoliation
- Provide indoor Boston ferns with additional humidity as needed.
They are best suited for Sunrooms, bright kitchens, and guest rooms Boston ferns are now one of the most prominent , common and sought after houseplants..
How to Choose the Best Pot ?
Many Boston ferns are very popular and sold as hanging baskets. They flourish well in both plastic and terracotta pots of fairly large size . This will allow the fern to grow without confining as Boston ferns will grow as large as the pot allows.
- Another advantage is that these pots take longer time to dry . As a result the moisture is retained for a longer time which is beneficial to the plant.
- These types of pots take longer to dry out, making it easier to maintain the plants.
Following is the basic ingredient for a proper pot preparation
- Soil – 1 Part
- Fibrous peat – 1 part
- Pumice – 1 Part
- Pebble/Gravel – 1 Part
- Tree leaves , wooden chips – 1 part
Make the pot with loose medium.
- Indoor /House Ferns thrive well on humidified environment. The pot should be kept damp through a layer of clay with moistened marble stones /pebbles/gravels . At the same time take care that the roots do not get stagnated with water which is not good for them
- Spring time is the ideal season for re-potting of ferns. During re-potting , cut off any damaged frond. Also this is the time for splitting and making more fern plants.
Ensure that the roots and spread throughout the pot and well established. If not, only the top layer of compost is to be replenished.
Where should I place my Boston fern?
- Place Boston ferns indoors in bright environment near a window , away from direct sunlight ..
- Do not place them near heaters or kitchen stove which radiate direct heat and spoil the fronds
- Boston ferns don’t withstand extreme temperatures. Never expose them to direct sunlight for longer duration.
- Boston grow and thrive well temperature between 65 and 75 deg. F. Temperature above 95 deg. F and below 35 degrees can harm the plant , They do well in humidity levels of above 80 percent. Also, regularly mist the plant. If the humidity is not enough , the tips of the fronds may turn brown.
- Set the pot on trays filled with pebbles and gravels with water . This will help the terracotta pot to always absorb moisture.
- During winter , protect potted ferns from freezing temperature .During winter there could be some defoliation. Prune it accordingly.
Interesting and Unique features about Boston fern:
- Boston ferns give their best with respect to general health and rate of growth during spring and summer.
- Easy to grow and maintain. So well suited for beginners and amateurs
- Regular watering with proper draining is must to maintain the fern healthy .
- In total, there are more than 50 varieties of Boston fern. However the most popular and sought after is Florida Ruffle. These grow on Sabal palmetto trees.
- Most favorable temperature is 60 – 75 deg F. Some varieties can withstand s as low as 45 deg F for shorter spell.
- Boston ferns are highly resistant to pests and diseases. Sometimes they get affected by mealy bugs which can be treated.
- Overwatering will result in forming yellow tinge and wilting of fronds .
- Turning brown could be on account of poor drainage, soil not rich and insufficient water or humidity. Exposure to direct sunlight too can cause the damage Adding continuous fertilizer without leaching can also give similar undesirable results on the fronds
- Ferns are known to detoxify our home off toxic substances like Formaldehyde, Tolune and Xylene . Among the fen varieties , Boston ferns are top with respect to such detoxifying performance
- It maintains and improves the humidity level of air .
- Last but not the least , Boston ferns are non-toxic to Humans and pets like dogs and cats . This goes a long way in using this as houseplant and also in garden
What are the varieties of Boston Fern ?
Based on appearance and other minor characteristics, following are the various types of Boston fern.
Boston Fern :
It is the standard type , popular as a elegant house plant since Victorian
Florida Ruffle :
It has a feathery ruffled fronds which are curled nicely.
‘Dallas’ Fern :
This was developed to tolerate lower light and drier air conditions than the common Boston fern. This variety has shorter fronds.
Golden Boston Fern :
These varieties are characterized by the Yellow-green fronds adorn this variety.
Kimberly Queen Fern :
Unlike the standard Boston fern , Kimberly queen is less sensitive to low humidity. As a result, this variety can adapt well to unfavorable environment too.
Tiger Fern ;
This type of Boston fern exhibits marbled foliage in gold and green. This variety has large leaves that can get quite long.
Rita’s Gold Fern :
‘Rita’s Gold’ is a lovely variety with stunning golden foliage that is bright on new fronds.
Fluffy Duffy : This is a small, dense fern, it has finely textured, feathery fronds.
Boston ferns are the most popular fern both in case of house plant as well as basket type. Kindly post your comments.. Thanks