Watering A Boston Fern Learn About Boston Fern Watering Needs

Water. To successfully grow Boston ferns, it is key to keep the soil lightly moist (but not soggy) at all times. If the soil begins to dry out, the fern's foliage can quickly dry out and drop off the plant. During the fall and winter months, slightly reduce watering, as the plant is not actively growing.

How often do you water Boston ferns?

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.

Do Boston ferns require 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.

How much water does a fern need a day?

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.

Do Boston ferns like to be misted?

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 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.

Can Boston ferns take full sun?

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 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.

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.

Should you mist ferns?

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. Humidity can be increased in the vicinity of the plants when pots are set on trays of moist pebles or on damp sand.

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.

Is Epsom salt good for Boston ferns?

Ferns grown indoors may not need Epsom salt, but if the foliage turns yellow or lower fronds turn yellow between the veins, the plant needs sulfur or magnesium, respectively. Mix two tablespoons of Epsom salt in one gallon of slightly warm water. Once dissolved, water the fern.

Why are the leaves falling off my Boston fern?

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: ... Lack of watering – Boston ferns need water and plenty of it.

How do you save a dying 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.

Do ferns like Epsom salt?

Mix 1 teaspoon with 1 gallon of water and apply when watering the plant. Ferns – Epsom salts work wonders on ferns as a liquid fertilizer helping the leaves have a rich, deep dark green color. ... Apply as a drench mixing 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts to 1 gallon of water.

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.

Do ferns do better in sun or shade?

Perennial plants that grow in nearly every country around the world, ferns provide interesting color and texture and a lush, woodsy feel to the garden. Although most ferns are woodland plants that prefer moist, shady areas, some hardy types tolerate sunlight with ample water and protection from intense afternoon light.

Do ferns like wet soil?

Many ferns tolerate wet areas and thrive at the edge of ponds, including: Cinnamon fern. ... Painted fern. Marsh fern.

Can you revive a dried out fern?

Can you revive a dried out fern? You can revive a dried out fern if you create the favorable conditions for growing. Most ferns are hardy plants so they revive back in a few weeks after you correct the problematic conditions.

Do ferns like to be root bound?

Fern plants don't like containers that are too large for their size, but they can become pot-bound as the roots grow and develop. ... It's possible to salvage a pot-bound fern, either by division or by transplanting it to a larger pot.