Boston Fern Leaf Drop Why Leaflets Fall From Boston Fern Plants

More often, the cause of Boston fern losing leaves is something in the care the plant's receiving, and that can be changed overnight. Most often when leaves or leaflets yellow, dry up and drop, it's due to one of these common problems: Age of leaves – Older leaves will eventually dry and die. That's just how it goes.

How do you bring a Boston fern back to life?

If your Boston fern needs a larger pot, wait until it has recovered and is actively growing midspring. Trim the drooping fronds back to about 2 inches long and leave any healthy upright fronds in the center of the plant intact. If all fronds are drying and dying, trim them all to 2 inches.

How often should you water a Boston fern?

Water the fern when the soil becomes damp. Do not allow the soil to dry out. This may mean watering twice a week or daily in hot weather. The frequency will change depending on the temperature and moisture in your home.

How much light do Boston ferns need?

Boston ferns are the perfect porch plant, as they thrive in lots of indirect light. Morning sun is ideal, as full afternoon sun can burn the fronds. In humid, subtropical areas of Florida (zones 10 to 12), Boston ferns make an attractive mid-height groundcover in areas with dappled shade.

How do you know if a fern needs water?

One surefire way to determine if it's time to water a Boston fern is to touch the soil with your fingertip. If the surface of the soil feels slightly dry, it's time to give the plant a drink. The weight of the pot is another indication that a fern needs water. If the soil is dry, the pot will feel very light.

Should I cut the dead leaves off my fern?

Clip away any brown leaves or fronds with a pair of sharp garden clippers. Removing the dead, brown leaves makes the plant grow more quickly as it encourages new growth. Do this in late winter to early spring, before new growth begins.

Why are my Boston ferns dying?

The most common cause of a Boston Fern dying is overwatering or persistently waterlogged conditions. This results in root rot, that will quickly kill your plant. Low humidity, underwatering, overfertilizing, pests, or incorrect lighting can also lead to a decline or death of your plant over time.

Should you mist Boston ferns?

Boston ferns need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. When you care for Boston fern plants indoors, it's a good idea to provide additional humidity for them, especially in the winter. ... You can also try lightly misting your fern once or twice a week to help it get the humidity it needs.

Are coffee grounds good for ferns?

In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.

Can you overwater a fern?

Over-watered ferns may drop their leaves or the foliage may yellow. You may notice a green, mossy growth on the top of the soil or gray fungi may form. Over-watering ferns poses the risk of root rot and other fungal diseases.

How do you make Boston ferns bushy?

An ideal time for pruning is during repotting, when plants can be dramatically cut back. In fact, Boston fern responds well to severe pruning, which encourages more prolific, bushy growth and corrects dull, leggy growth. When pruning Boston fern always use clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors.

Do Boston ferns need a lot of water?

Keep the soil moist.

Just like sunlight, you want to provide your Boston fern with enough water, but not too much. Water it with lukewarm water so that the soil is completely damp but not soaked. During warm weather months, you'll need to water it more frequently.

Are Boston ferns toxic to dogs?

Boston ferns (Nephrolepis) are an enduring houseplant favorite, but their shaggy fronds might tempt cats and dogs to chew on them. The foliage is non-toxic to cats and dogs, so brighten up your guest room or bathroom with these lush plants. Boston ferns prefer humidity and lots of bright, indirect light.

How many times a week should you water a fern?

You need to water your ferns whenever the top 3 inches of soil feel dry. This may be once a week, or may be every day. Check the soil frequently to determine how often you need to water them.

Why do my ferns keep dying?

Some ferns prefer very wet soil while others like less moisture, but all need good drainage and slightly dried out soil between watering. Too much water and the plant will develop yellowing or droopy fronds, a sign of root rot. Too little water, and the fern's fronds will also begin to droop.

Do ferns need sunlight?

Ferns Need Plenty of Indirect Light

Most ferns prefer indirect light, which means you should avoid placing them where sunlight will hit them—their leaves can get scorched if you do, resulting in a dry, crispy plant.

Do ferns grow back if you cut them?

Cut back to the base if desired.

If you are not liking the look of your plant at all, you can cut it down to just above the crown, much as you do with an outdoor fern. Use sharp, clean scissors to cut off the fronds. The fern will grow back from the crown, if you let it remain.

How often should you mist a fern?

Using a mist spray three or four times a day will help to maintain luxuriant growth. Misting is good for broad-leaf ferns and those of simple-leaf forms. Use less spray on crinkled varieties, which tend to collect moisture and hold it, contributing to development of fungus.

Do Boston ferns grow back?

We've answered the question, can Boston ferns stay outdoors in winter. Overwintered plants resume growth in early spring and should be lush and full again in the second year.

Why is my fern turning brown and crispy?

You may see brown tips on garden ferns if the soil becomes too dry. When it feels dry to touch, water slowly and deeply. Stop watering when the water runs off instead of sinking into the soil. ... If your fern has brown tips because the humidity is too low, it's best to choose another plant for the location.

How do you revive a maidenhair fern?

If your maidenhair fern dries out and its fronds turn brown and die, there may still be hope. Cut the fronds off at soil level, and keep the soil moist. The plant may re-grow after a few months. Even under the best conditions, your plant will end up with dead leaves and fronds.