Boston Fern
4.2 out of 5 (250 experiences)
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
Also known as
Sword Fern, Green Fantasy Fern, Fluffy Ruffle Fern, Boston Fern 'Fluffy Ruffles Fern' and Twirly Whirly Fern
Taxonomy
Nephrolepis exaltata
Nephrolepis
Nephrolepidaceae
Polypodiales
How to care for Boston Fern
How often to water your Boston Fern
every 7
Boston Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
7
Finding light for Boston Fern in your home
a window
Boston Fern can tolerate being far from a window and light source.
Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Boston Fern in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Boston Fern
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Boston Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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What is Wrong with my fern ? Please Helped #
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I just got Gladys and I'm pretty sure she needs to be repotted, how do I know for sure and what size to go to? #BostonFern
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The leaves are turning brown #BostonFern
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What is going on with Melvin! I just got him two or so weeks ago, thriving and has been perfectly fine until two days ago when he started to wilt? I wait until the soil is completely dried up to water, moved him further from the window but I’m in rainy season in the west coast so not much sun happening anyway. I’m a very new plant owner and am unsure on how to identify and fix theses issues. Any help appreciated! #BostonFern
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Idk if this is normal Recently only almost half the leaves of my plant started becoming brown and crispy, I think burnt - I’m a newbie and the plant is not in direct sunlight, I water every day, and it’s at a railing
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Help!! What’s wrong with Maudie? She was doing great until last week brown stems falling leaves. I fertilized a couple weeks ago is the only new think. She was big and beautiful and green. I cut back all the brown stems.
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Should I give him a buzz cut or just wait?
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Kylie is quite large but has brown leaves throughout her. She seems to be root bound. I’m new with ferns. Should I just try and gently PULL her apart into 1/3 or 1/4 sections or individually slice her into quarters before replanting them? #BostonFern
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BRACE YOURSELF.. She’s rough. Help Help Help…So I’m a first time plant parent, and I have no idea what I’m doing.. I thought I placed Fergie ( that’s my ferns name) close/ far enough to a window but now I’m re thinking.. this window gets mid day light but only for a couple hours and she’s in a bathroom.. I was hoping she would get enough steam since it’s what we use each day but idk.. I’m so lost, please help! Also, be kind.. I really want this to work out but I need positive and reassuring help!
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Why is my fern so sad? Constantly shedding leaves. #BostonFern
Care Summary for Boston Fern
Boston Fern
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 7 days
Placement
< 6ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Large, lush leaves 96
Survivor 95
Fast grower 91
Browns easily 84
Easy to propagate 20
Blooms easily 9
Pest magnet 6
05/28/2022
Needs a very humid environment like a steamy bathroom or rainy / humid environment like the northwest or the southeast. Mine did not survive.😢
Browns easily
04/05/2022
This plant was a pain in my butt at first but now Im beginning to love her but I’m not fully convinced lmao she was so bushy when I bought her and within a week or so she got dramatic and began crisping up, I just couldn’t keep her alive! I trimmed off her dead leaves and was left with maybe 4 fair sized leaves😅 now she’s sprouting leaves like nuts so keeping her soil drowned with water is working better than having good humidity and following watering recommendations😮💨
Fast grower
Survivor
Browns easily
02/27/2022
They like dark spots
Survivor
01/20/2022
Did beautifully on my porch last summer. I brought it inside for the winter.
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
12/03/2021
Be sure to keep watered. I’m trying to kill mine by not watering. Lol.
Survivor
Browns easily
11/20/2021
It’s my favorite plant but it take a lot to keep this fern alive I’m going to buy a new one and try again very hard plant to car for need humidity
11/20/2021
Don’t give up on your ferns! I’m slowly nursing mine back to health after grossly under watering it, but it’s a trooper and is already putting out little baby fernlets!
Easy to propagate
Browns easily
11/06/2021
Rebounded and re-greened up nicely after going about a quarter brown due to failure to water
Survivor
11/04/2021
Bigleef Smalls has been a great addition to our family. I talk to him everyday. It’s strange, but it seems that he perks up when I talk to him. He gets a shower when it’s time for his feeding. He seems to enjoy that quite a bit. I really enjoy having him in my home.
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
10/27/2021
Smells like shit
Pest magnet
10/24/2021
So I put this plant outside at least a month ago to basically die - no watering and no care. Well it survived and I guess is okay with my northern exposure windows and balcony so I brought it inside watered and placed at my patio window for the rest of this autumn/winter season. I’m told ferns love bright maybe even direct sunlight but this Boston wants to live and is a trooper. Now let’s see if I can get some decent growth.
Survivor
Browns easily
10/15/2021
I have had this plant for two years. It is easy to care for. I have mine positioned in a south facing window. The leaves will brown from time to time, I tend to trim them off. It’s an attractive plant, I like how the fronds uncurl as they grow into new leaves.
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
10/05/2021
love this plant ! this was my first ever plant, and it’s pretty easy to take care of
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Survivor
Browns easily
10/02/2021
They love filtered light!
Browns easily
Fast grower
09/24/2021
I’ve had this for years. It has always done amazing but a recent move has effected its growth. 😞
Fast grower
Survivor
09/18/2021
I don’t like when the plant feels dry I’m working on fixing that problem but other than that it’s beautiful and lush
Survivor
Browns easily
09/15/2021
Dries out quickly and under leaves are browning
Browns easily
09/14/2021
Beautiful plants
Large, lush leaves
09/08/2021
Ive had this plant for like three years. ive almost killed it a dozen times. it always comes back. Boston ferns are AMAZING!
Survivor
09/03/2021
it’s pretty big so you will need to trim it frequently if you want it small
Fast grower
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