Today, Boston fern is still a top pick for indoor and outdoor settings. But, because Boston fern can grow 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, it are often a better choice for outdoor situations. In zones 9-11, Boston fern can be planted directly in the ground. Here's a plant that lives up to its name.

Can I leave my Boston fern outside?

Can a Boston Fern be Grown Outside? Although Boston fern is often grown as a houseplant, it thrives outdoors in warm, humid climates in USDA zones 9-11. With adequate moisture, the plant may tolerate drier climates. Frost may kill the fern to the ground, but it will rebound in spring.

How long can Boston ferns stay outside?

Considered perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 to 11, they may stay out all year where temperatures seldom drop below 45 degrees F, but must be brought indoors if threatened by frost.

Can you leave Boston ferns outside in winter?

Boston ferns can survive outside temperatures of 46 degrees F, but a sudden drop in temperatures may damage the foliage by causing misshapen fronds and crinkled leaflets.

What temperature can I put my Boston fern outside?

Boston ferns thrive in temperatures in the 60s and 70s but can tolerate an occasional blast of cold air of 40 to 50 degrees for a few hours.

Stop Killing Your Boston Ferns! Full Care Guide

33 related questions found

Is a Boston fern a hardy fern?

Boston fern is a common ornamental plant frequently grown as a houseplant in cold climates. ... This evergreen fern is hardy in zones 9-11, so can be grown outdoors in very mild climates but it adapts readily to container culture for use indoors or seasonally outdoors in other parts of the world.

What do you do with hanging ferns in the winter?

Like these tender garden plants, ferns cannot handle a hard frost or freeze. If an unexpected early season frost or freeze is on the horizon, move ferns into a semi-protected place such as a barn or garage to keep from being damaged. This can buy a bit of extra time until you can truly prepare them for indoor life.

Do Boston ferns come back every year?

Year-Round Care

Keep the soil slightly moist and cool around the roots. Apply a general houseplant fertilizer monthly during the spring and summer. Divide the root clumps of houseplants and outdoor ferns in late winter, every two to three years, to keep them growing vigorously.

How do you keep hanging ferns alive outside?

How to Grow and Care for Outdoor Ferns

1. Water ferns regularly to avoid dry soil. You never want sopping wet soil, but consistently keeping the top five inches of your soil moist is the key to a healthy fern. ...
2. Fertilize as needed. ...
3. Monitor for pests.

Can I bring my outdoor fern inside?

Ferns grown in containers outdoors may survive the winter in very cold climates if you bring them indoors. ... Indoors, give your fern a medium level of indirect light, no additional fertilizer and a bit less water than you gave it during the growing season outdoors.

Will ferns come back after freeze?

When only the fronds freeze, the fern will recover easily, but if the roots freeze it has less chance of recovery. Check for frost-damaged roots after a hard long freeze. ... Cut off the frost-damaged roots and repot in fresh potting soil. If the roots are black all the way through, the fern won't recover.

What temperature can ferns survive outside?

If you live in any of the USDA zones 2 through 9, and you are growing hardy ferns, most will probably be fine outdoors in whatever temperatures your climate throws at you. On the coldest end of the scale, hardy ferns can survive temperatures down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

When can you move ferns outside?

The best time to transplant ferns is in early spring, while still dormant but just as new growth begins to emerge. Potted ferns can usually be transplanted or repotted anytime but care should be taken if this is performed during its active growth period.

Can a Boston fern take full sun?

Boston ferns are the perfect porch plant, as they thrive in lots of indirect light. Morning sun is ideal, as full afternoon sun can burn the fronds. ... Boston ferns grown indoors should be placed near a window, but not in direct sunlight.

How do you take care of a Boston fern in a hanging basket?

Boston ferns need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. When you care for Boston fern plants indoors, it's a good idea to provide additional humidity for them, especially in the winter. This can best be achieved by giving them a shower.

Why are my outdoor ferns dying?

In high temperatures the ferns leaves lose too much moisture and the soil dries out too quickly for the roots to draw up moisture, which turns the leaves brown and crispy with a dying appearance. ... Outdoor ferns can also turn brown if the soil is too dry or they are in too much sun.

How do you make Boston ferns greener?

Why do ferns yellow?

1. Ferns can stay lush and green all year round!
2. Boston Ferns love shade and moist soil.
3. Epsom salt has minerals perfect for fern growth and fern care.
4. Ferns love shady spots in the yard. A little Epsom salt every month will keep them healthy.

Where do you hang Boston ferns?

Hang the fern in a bright area where it receives indirect light. Harsh, direct sunlight can damage the fern fronds. Keep a fern in a location between 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 70 degrees Fahrenheit when possible. Choose a humid spot if one is available, such as a bathroom, if the potted fern stays indoors.

Can ferns grow in pots outside?

Ferns generally grow in rocky soils, and their roots don't need deep soil in which to grow well. Shallow containers are best for ferns in container gardens. Containers no deeper than six inches are bes. The fern should fit in the pot with an inch or two to spare around the edges for growth.

Can you plant Boston ferns in your yard?

Today, Boston fern is still a top pick for indoor and outdoor settings. But, because Boston fern can grow 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide, it are often a better choice for outdoor situations. In zones 9-11, Boston fern can be planted directly in the ground. Here's a plant that lives up to its name.

Will Boston ferns grow back after winter?

Evergreen ferns such as Boston fern, however, keep their fronds in winter and continue to grow year round, never entering a state of dormancy. They require their care, watering and feeding to remain the same throughout the year.

How do you keep a Boston fern alive in the winter?

The plant needs cool nighttime temps and lots of bright, indirect light like that from a south window not blocked by trees or buildings. Daytime temperatures should not be over 75 degrees F. (24 C.). High humidity is necessary to keep the Boston fern as a houseplant.

Can you over water a Boston fern?

Although Boston fern prefers slightly moist soil, it is likely to develop rot and other fungal diseases in soggy, waterlogged soil. The first sign that a fern is overwatered is usually yellowing or wilted leaves. ... Boston fern watering is enhanced if you provide a humid environment.

Why are my Boston ferns dying?

The most common cause of a Boston Fern dying is overwatering or persistently waterlogged conditions. This results in root rot, that will quickly kill your plant. Low humidity, underwatering, overfertilizing, pests, or incorrect lighting can also lead to a decline or death of your plant over time.

Do you trim Boston ferns?

You don't want to crop the top of the plant when pruning Boston fern. Instead, trim off the side fronds at the base. Also remove old, discolored fronds near the soil to allow new growth to come through. ... The remainder of the plant can be clipped along the outer edges to the desired shape.