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Q&A for How to Care for Boston Ferns
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QuestionHow often do Boston ferns need to be watered?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.They need to be watered enough to keep the top of the soil from drying out.
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QuestionDo ferns need a lot of sunlight?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.It depends on the type of fern. The majority of the ferns out there do great in partial shade or casual sun.
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QuestionWhy are the leaves on my Boston fern turning brown?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.The leaves on your fern may be turning brown due to bad soil, poor water drainage, or too much sun.
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QuestionHow much sun does a Boston fern need?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.The amount of sun needed by these plants varies based on what the time of year is. During the fall months, they like indirect light.
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QuestionWhat kind of light should my Boston Fern have?Melinda Meservy is a Plant Specialist and the Owner of Thyme and Places, a botanical boutique offering plants and gifts in Salt Lake City, Utah. Before starting her own business, Melinda worked in process and business improvement and data analytics. Melinda earned a BA in History from the University of Utah, is trained in lean and agile methodologies, and completed her Certified Professional Facilitator certification. Thyme and Places offers indoor plants and containers, a fully stocked potting bench, and tips on plants to suit your space and lifestyle.Your Boston fern will likely do best in low to moderate indirect sunlight.
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QuestionIs morning sun okay for Boston ferns?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.It's actually preferable for Boston ferns to be in morning sun. They need at least two hours of indirect sunlight each day.
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QuestionWhat are the pebble like pods in the roots of the fern?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.These root nodules are simply part of the fern. They not only help the plant propagate itself, but also help in the absorption of water and nutrients.
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QuestionWhy are my new fern leaves turning white?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.This problem is generally related to under watering. It is recommended that you thoroughly water the plant until water runs out of the bottom of the pot, being careful to not water again until soil is dry to the touch.
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QuestionCan a boston fern survive outside?Community AnswerYes. Just avoid direct sunlight -- try to keep them moist and shaded.
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QuestionCould I take a large Boston fern indoors for the winter? It is outside in a pot.Community AnswerYes. If your house is dry, you must mist them occasionally, and never let the soil become too dry.
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QuestionWill Boston Ferns improve air quality in my home?Community AnswerYes, they will. Plants use certain air pollutants that we can't use to support their natural biological processes.
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QuestionWhat fertilizer do I use for Boston ferns?Community AnswerPurchase houseplant food at your local gardening supply store. Read the instructions on the packaging, and dilute it so that it is half as strong for your fern.
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QuestionWhat is the lowest temperature ferns can tolerate?Community AnswerBoston ferns die if exposed to temperatures lower than 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or -1.1 to 1.7 degrees Celsius.
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QuestionWhat are the brown spots on the underside of each leaf on the fronds?Community AnswerIf they're dark brown/black spots lined up in rows, they're spores that allow the plant to reproduce and will eventually fall to the soil and grow.
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QuestionWill Boston Ferns survive the winter if I cut them back and plant them in the ground?Community AnswerBoston ferns can survive mild winters, if the temperature doesn't dip below 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or -1.1 to 1.7 degrees Celsius. The plant will basically go dormant, like a hibernation mode for plants. Try to give it a bit of shelter or protection, and prune it before winter hits.
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QuestionAre they poisonous to cats?Community AnswerNo, Boston ferns are not poisonous to cats. However, cats can still become ill if they eat Boston ferns, so it's best to limit this.
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QuestionWhy are there long strings coming from my fern?Community AnswerWhen the leaves fall off, the stem that they grow on remains. That's what you're seeing. Look closely at the leaves that are still there and you will notice the stem.
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QuestionHow often should I water the leaves of a Boston Fern?Community AnswerIt's a good idea to give the fern's leaves a little extra moisture. You should spray them every few days, in addition to the typical watering of the roots.
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QuestionI have black worms with yellow stripes on them on my ferns. What are they?Community AnswerThese may be fern caterpillars. You can remove the ones you see by hand. The top recommendation to prevent these is to create a spray of pyrethrum powder, which is typically found at gardening and home improvement stores, and some laundry soap. Spray it on your plant and observe.
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QuestionHow do I keep my ferns luscious and green if they're outside?Community AnswerMake sure that you keep the soil constantly moist, and that humidity levels are over 50%. Place your fern in indirect sunlight, and bring it inside if the daytime temperatures fall outside of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius), or if the night temperatures fall outside of 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 18 degrees Celsius).
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QuestionWhat kind of sticky substance is on my fern?Community AnswerSticky substances on fern leaves are typically left from insects. To get rid of the insects, you can try spraying your fern with water in order to physically remove them. If you continue to notice the substance, spray your fern with a mild insecticide or a natural insect repellant.
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QuestionMy Boston ferns are lush and healthy but the fronds aren't long. How do I get long trailing fronds?Community AnswerHonestly, from the sound of it your plant is simply still too young to have long fronds. Give it time. This is one of the simplest plants to grow as long as you give it enough indirect sunlight and don't over/under water it too often.
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QuestionWill my Boston ferns survive sudden freezing temperatures in an open air setting with a roof over them?Community AnswerProbably. They don't like frosts and can die down to ground level, but can grow back in the spring. Try to bring them indoors and let them rest over winter.
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QuestionThe fern is growing out of the bottom of the pot, do I cut this off?Community AnswerNo; it has outgrown its pot. You need to replant it in a larger container and add potting mixture to finish filling it.
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QuestionWhat are the long hairy branching strands with no leaves?Community AnswerThey are air roots. The more there are, the better it is for your plant.
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QuestionWhat are the long strands with no leaves on them? Do I leave them on the fern?Community AnswerThose are strands that used to have leaves. The leaves die and fall off, but the strand stays.
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QuestionShould I cut off the long stems?Tamara AdamsCommunity AnswerYes. It's a good idea to trim back the old "branches." You should typically do this during the growing season to make room for new growth.
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QuestionShould I not use tap water to water my Boston ferns?Community AnswerTap water is OK, as long as you let it sit out for a few hours first for the chemicals to evaporate out. Just be sure to avoid softened water.
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QuestionCan I pull out the strands of boston ferns?Community AnswerDo not pull the ferns out as it can do damage to the root ball. If leaves become discolored or die, cut them with sharp scissors as close to the roots as possible.
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QuestionWhat are the long thread like strands on my boston ferns? Should I cut them off?Community AnswerThose are leafless fronds. Those are normal on new plants and should be cut off to allow for new growth.
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