Boston Fern

The Boston fern was one of the most popular houseplants during the Victorian era of the 19th century. You could see it lined up across the Victorian parlor and on the front porch during summer. It would hang in there on the porch gently swaying with the passing wind. The bright green color made the surroundings feel fresh and lively. Even today, the plant can be seen swaying gently in hanging pots over American porches. The Latin name for the fern is Nephrolepis exalta. It is originally from the tropical and semi-tropical regions around the world. It has the ability to spread quickly on the rain forest floor and is therefore used as a fill-in plant and backdrop plant in landscaping.

Characteristics

The Boston fern is a herbaceous, evergreen plant that can be as small as 6 inches in size or can reach about 7 feet in height. The spread of the fern is generally about 2 to 3 feet wide, that can vary greatly from plant to plant. The leaves called fronds are apple green in color and look like sword-like fronds. They arise in clusters from the base and are alternately arranged. It does not produce fruit but spores. The spores are found in small clusters called sori and lie between the midrib and the left margin on the underside of the leaflet.

The plant is shade tolerant and thrives in moist soil. It prefers humid and warn environment to grow. In the wild, it is generally found growing around swamps, forest and roadsides. It needs a well-drained soul and is generally found growing as an air plant.

How to Care

When growing Boston fern houseplant, you need to give it proper conditions to grow well. You should keep in mind, that these plants need high humidity and indirect light. In case of indoor gardening, you need to take a lot of care of humidity levels. You need to fill a tray of pebbles with water and place the fern's pot in it. You need to mist the plant 1 to 2 times every week to meet its humidity needs.

It also includes keeping the soil damp. If the soil becomes dry, the fern plants die out. Therefore, make sure you water the plant as and when the soil seems dry. You can even soak the plant once a month. These plants are generally planted in peat moss and therefore, need to be kept moist. Drain the water properly after soaking the pot. If you find that the leaves are turning yellow, it means it needs more humidity.

Another aspect of proper care is fertilizing. You need to add a balanced 10-10-10 water-soluble liquid houseplant fertilizer to the plant just a few times in a year. They do not need a lot of fertilizer for their growth. The plants are also susceptible to pests, like spider mites and mealybugs. Therefore, treat the plant immediately, if you observe any kind of infestation. Do not use any kind of chemicals to treat the infestation as the leaves are very sensitive. You need to use some natural insecticides for treating your plants.

The root system of the plant may get very aggressive. When you observe grayish color on the leaves, it indicates time to re-pot. When you bring home a new houseplant, you should help it get readjusted to its new environment. You need to place the fern in the brightest area of your house for a week. But make sure you do not place it in full or direct sun. After about a week, move it to the exact location you want it to be. This will help it get accustomed to the low light levels.

As you can see, caring for this plant is very easy and does not require extra efforts. However, one needs to take some care regarding humidity, soil moisture and sunlight. If you are able to provide the ideal conditions, your fern plant will flourish happily.