Up close macro shot of rubber tree plant leaf

Boston Fern Care Guide

Congrats! You just received your new plant! Now what?

1. Getting started with your Boston Fern

Planter placed besides window with sunlight
location

Where to place your Boston Fern

Place it in the shade

In the wild, your Boston Fern grows in hot, humid, and shady areas. Replicating this environment as much as possible will help it thrive

Pro tip: if your bathroom has a window; consider placing it there for some added life

Happy planter with illustrated smile
Potting

Potting your Boston Fern

Leave it in its nursery pot
Your plant is comfy in its nursery pot. It's best to let it acclimate to the lighting, temperature, and humidity in its new home for at least 2 weeks before re-potting it.

Pro tip: If you purchased a planter with your plant, you can simply place the nursery pot in that planter.

2. Continually caring for your Boston Fern

Illustrated planter watered using watering can
WATERING

Watering your Boston Fern

Water when the top of the soil feels dry

Boston ferns love moist soil but it is vital to ensure the soil isn't soggy. To check, simply touch the soil with your fingertip. If the surface of the soil feels:
1) Dry: your plant needs a watering
2) Damp/wet: your plant doesn't need a watering

Rule of thumb: expect to water your plant about once a week, and more often with more light. Having said that, soil moisture should inform your watering decision, more than time as this can change when watering, gently pour until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom and discard any excess water. Remember, never use cold water as this will shock your plant's roots.

Cactus plant dressed in warm clothing
Temperature

Finding your Boston Fern's favorite temperature

Like most houseplants, keep your Boston Fern between 18°C-30°C

Plant preparing for repotting with bag of soil
Re-potting

Re-potting your Boston Fern

When placed until bright indirect light, and care for well, Boston Ferns can grow quite quickly and may need to be re-potted up to once a year to accommodate that growth

When it's time, remember that ferns like their soil to remain moist, to pick a potting soil that can retain moisture.

Transfer your Boston Fern into a pot that's a about 1-2 inches in diameters larger than its current one to give it ample room to grow.

Cleaning/dusting plant with dust mop
Cleaning/pruning

Cleaning/pruning your Boston Fern

Boston Ferns had a lot of leaves that shed overtime as they age. That's just the natural way of things and will require some sweeping once in a while


Some common problems with Boston Fern's

1. Dry & curling leaves

Usually caused by underwatering; follow the watering guide above, and if the soil is dry, water your plant.

2. Leaves are falling

Older leaves will always dry and wilt; this shouldn't be alarming. However, if your fern is losing leaves excessively, then this is usually due to underwatering.

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