Boston Fern
The classic porch fern, all soft arching fronds and Victorian charm. Pet-safe and lush, and the honest price is humidity: it wants moist soil and damp air, and it sheds when it does not get them.
A Boston fern in a hanging basket is one of the great houseplant looks, and one of the more demanding. It is not fussy about light or feeding. It is fussy about water, in the soil and in the air.
Keep both steady and it is a big, soft, pet-safe cloud of green. Let either slip and it drops brown leaflets across the floor until you fix it.
Light
Medium indirect light. A north window or a spot a few feet from an east one. Bright light is fine if there is enough humidity; direct sun scorches the fronds within an afternoon.
Water
Evenly moist, always. In summer that means checking every few days and watering before the surface dries. In winter, weekly. Never let the root ball dry out completely; the fronds brown from the tips and do not recover. Room-temperature water, and drain the saucer.
Soil and potting
A peat-based mix that holds water, with some perlite. Repot every two years in spring when roots fill the pot. Divide big plants at the same time.
Feeding
A quarter-strength balanced feed every six weeks in spring and summer. Ferns burn easily on fertiliser; less is more.
Propagation
Division in spring is the reliable way. It also sends out thin runners that root where they touch soil; pin one into a small pot and cut it free once it has fronds of its own.
In a hot, dry home
A hard plant in a dry house and an honest one to admit that about. It needs humidity above fifty percent, which indoors here in summer means a humidifier or a bathroom with a window. We keep ours in the bathroom and it is fine; in the living room it shed constantly.
Boston Fern varieties
Same care, different look. These are the named forms you will see for sale.
- Bostoniensis
The classic arching Boston fern.
- Green Flame
A compact form with dense, upright, slightly twisted fronds.
- Albo (Variegated)
Fronds streaked with cream. Slower; wants slightly more light.
- Lemon Button
Nephrolepis cordifolia Duffii: small, round leaflets on short fronds, lemon-scented when brushed. Compact and tougher.
- Kimberly Queen
Nephrolepis obliterata: stiff, upright fronds that do not shed. The best for dry rooms.
- Rabbit's foot fern
Davallia: lacy fronds and furry rhizomes creeping over the pot. Tougher than Boston; same care as blue star.
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Not a fern at all. Has its own profile.
Full profile -
Copper new fronds; tougher. Has its own profile.
Full profile -
Blue-grey lobed fronds; the easiest true fern. Has its own profile.
Full profile
Problems and fixes
Brown, crispy leaflets dropping everywhere
Likely cause: Dry air or the soil dried out
Fix: Raise humidity, water more consistently, and trim the dead fronds at the base.
Yellowing fronds
Likely cause: Overwatering with poor drainage, or too much feed
Fix: Make sure water drains freely, and feed less.
Pale, limp fronds
Likely cause: Too much direct light
Fix: Move to a shadier spot.
Boston Fern questions
Is the Boston fern safe for cats and dogs?
Yes. Boston ferns are non-toxic to pets, unlike asparagus fern, which is not a true fern and is toxic.
Why is my Boston fern dropping leaves?
Dry air is the usual cause, followed by the soil drying out. Ferns need humidity above fifty percent and evenly moist soil.
Can I keep a Boston fern in a bathroom?
Yes, and it is one of the best rooms for it if the bathroom has a window. The steam from showers gives it the humidity it wants.
