Boston Fern - Not Just for Your Grandmother's Parlor

 Boston Ferns are an old favorite when it comes to decorating.  Add quiet elegance to your room with a well cared for Boston Fern.

The Boston Fern, or Sword Fern, is one of the most common ferns you see in people's homes.  Ferns with their graceful, delicate fronds became popular plants during Victorian times.  With their quiet graceful beauty, they add a beautiful element to your room.


Lighting
The natural habitat of ferns is the forest floor under a canopy of trees.  Ferns are an excellent low light house plant and grow happily in the light near a northern window.  Care must be taken as the foliage will burn if put in direct sunlight.




Temperature

Boston Ferns do well in average room temperatures of 65- 75 ^o F during the day and slightly cooler at night.

Soil

Boston Ferns prefer soil with good drainage and high organic content.  Regular potting soil should be mixed with peat.  A soil-less potting mix is also a good choice.

Humidity

High humidity is a requirement for Boston Ferns.  Browning on the tips of the fronds is evidence of low humidity. The humidity around the plant can be raised by placing the pot on a tray containing pebbles and a small amount of water.  Regular misting a couple of times a week will help to satisfy the humidity requirements of the Boston Fern.

Watering

Boston Ferns require moderate to heavy watering.  The soil should be kept moist at all times.  In winter when the growth slows the soil can be allowed to dry slightly.

Fertilizing

Boston Ferns should be fertilized once a month from April to September with a liquid house fertilizer diluted to half strength.

Propagation

Although Boston Ferns can be propagated from the spores that form on the underside of the fronds, most propagation is done by plant division.  Ferns should be divided in the spring and repotted into a mixture of soil and peat moss or into a soil-less potting mix

Decorating and Placement Hints

The long delicate fronds of the Boston Fern add interest and texture to a room.  To help satisfy the humidity  requirements, bathrooms are an excellent choice for location.  As the fronds are quite delicate, the fern should be placed in an area away from the traffic to avoid damage to the plant.  

Boston Ferns should be groomed regularly by removing brown or dying fronds so that the plant may apply its efforts to producing new fronds. 

The Boston Fern can be displayed to good effect either as a hanging plant or on a sturdy plant stand.

Few houseplants can compare to the quiet elegance of the Boston Fern.

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