1. Getting started with your Boston Fern
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
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 repotting 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
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
Finding your Boston Fern's favourite temperature
Like most houseplants, keep your Boston Fern between 18°C-30°C
Repotting your Boston Fern
When placed until bright indirect light, and care for well, Boston Ferns can grow quite quickly and may need to be repotted 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/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.