Guidelines for Preserving Boston Ferns Through Winter: Essential Steps to Keep These Plants Thriving Amidst Frost
In the world of houseplants, the Boston fern stands out as a popular choice for adding a touch of green decor to indoor or outdoor settings. As tropical plants, Boston ferns require high humidity all year round, including winter. Here's a guide to help you care for your Boston fern, especially during the winter months.
Boston ferns can be grown year-round in Zones 9-11 in the ground with other shade-loving varieties, but they are sensitive to cold. Therefore, it's essential to choose the right location for overwintering your Boston fern, such as a cool, dry covered area like a basement or porch.
Kamili Bell Hill, the founder of online community PlantBlerd and Instagram community @BlackPeople.WPlants, recommends preparing Boston ferns for winter with a six-step guide. Before bringing it indoors, trim off any brown, dry, or damaged fronds.
When it comes to watering, keeping the humidity around Boston ferns at 60-80% can make the process easier. A glass mister can be a great idea for spritzing humidity-loving plants like ferns, orchids, and palms.
Boston ferns require adequate light, with the best growth occurring in the 400-800 FC range. Overwintering a Boston fern can be done in a covered area or indoors with other houseplants. However, it's important to note that these plants are not tolerant to frost and need to be overwintered as part of their care routine.
In warm climates like California or Florida, overwintering a Boston fern can be done by tidying up the plant to remove any dead, dry, or damaged foliage in late fall, spreading a protective layer of mulch around the base of the plant, and watering as necessary throughout the winter to keep the soil moist but not sodden.
Reduce watering while the Boston fern is dormant during winter, testing the soil with your fingertip or using a soil moisture meter to check moisture levels. It's not necessary to fertilize Boston ferns during winter as the plant is dormant, and nutrient requirements are low.
Darryl Cheng, the author of "The New Plant Parent: Develop Your Green Thumb and Care for Your House-Plant Family" (2019) and the creator of House Plant Journal, offers techniques for caring for house plants based on an analysis of the conditions that different plants need to thrive, along with careful case studies. His advice has helped thousands of indoor gardeners achieve satisfying results.
When it comes to humidity levels, a mini digital indoor hygrometer like the ThermoPro TP49 Digital Hygrometer from Amazon can be used to test the humidity of a room. Boston ferns thrive with daily temperatures in the 60-80 F range and should not be exposed to drafts or positioned too near radiators.
Lastly, check for pests before bringing the Boston fern indoors and exposing other plants to bugs it might be carrying. The Terrain brand's simple cement pot in a woven hanger is a good option for displaying a trailing Boston fern, but it is intended for indoor use only and should be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your Boston fern thrives throughout the year, both indoors and outdoors, and adds a touch of green beauty to your home or garden.
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