Boston fern in pot
Close-up of Boston fern frond
Boston fern frond
Close-up of Boston fern
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Boston fern, the most English of tropical ferns
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Have you devoured the Bridgerton Chronicle and are you dreaming of Victorian chic? Forget empire-waist dresses and frock coats. Instead, adopt a Boston fern, Nephrolepis exaltata. This plant of the Nephrolepidaceae family comes to us from warm, humid regions of the globe such as Central America and the West Indies. But in the 19th century, it was an indispensable decorative element in English interiors.
How to recognize the Boston fern, Nephrolepis exaltata?
Nephrolepis exaltata is a bushy fern. In pots and indoors, it grows to 60 centimetres in height, with a spread of over a metre.
The Boston fern has a hairy rhizome and a short, thick stem. The stem almost disappears beneath the tufts of fronds that emerge in rosettes from the heart of the plant.
The light-green fronds are arching and divided. Each is divided into several leaflets, which in turn are divided into several segments. The leaflets are arranged in a fishbone pattern on either side of the rachis.
Like fishtail Fern and nephrolepis biserrata, Nephrolepis exaltata produces neither flowers nor seeds. When the plant reaches maturity, rust-colored sori appear in two rows on the underside of the fronds.
The botanical variety has given rise to numerous hybrids and cultivars, such as the Boston fern "Blue Belle", with its compact habit and yellow-green foliage, or Nephrolepis Bostoniensis, with its wide fronds and wavy edges.
Boston fern is non-toxic. Some even claim it has pollution-removing properties. But this claim is not unanimously accepted by the scientific community.
Our maintenance tips
Boston Ferns are easy-care plants. As long as you protect them from the sun and limestone. To keep your fern looking good for years, place it behind a north-facing window and water it with rainwater.
Watering
Your Boston fern needs a lot of water. But you can leave the potting soil to dry on the surface between waterings.
The plant does not tolerate limescale. It's best to water with rainwater at room temperature. If you don't have any, you can use spring water or filtered water.
Don't forget to empty the water that stagnates at the bottom of the planter or saucer. It could rot the roots and kill your Boston fern.
Spray
Fogging helps to increase humidity and prevent attacks by mites or red spiders. Spray foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Nephrolepis exaltata to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
Get a pierced pot. Boston Ferns are fast-growing. Don't hesitate to choose a model two or three sizes larger than the previous one.
Line the bottom with clay balls for drainage. If you prefer to use gravel or pebbles, make sure they are not chalky.
Then pour in a layer of potting soil. You'll find fern substrate on the market that's just right. But you can also make your own growing medium by mixing heather soil, sand and potting soil for green plants.
Plant your Boston fern in the center, taking care not to damage the roots. Add potting soil and compact. Water to encourage rooting and eliminate air bubbles.
To increase humidity, place a bed of moist clay balls at the bottom of the dish or planter.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Encourage the growth of your Boston fern with a liquid fertilizer for green plants.
Respect the quantity indicated by the manufacturer. Overdosing can damage your fern's fragile foliage and roots.
Prune
Shake your fern to remove dead pinnae.
Then remove the dry fronds with pruning shears or a pair of clean, sharp scissors.
Also remove any hairy rhizomes emerging from the surface.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Take a young shoot with its roots. You can use a clean, sharp tool, such as a knife, to separate the shoot from the mother plant.
Pour a bed of clay balls into a pierced pot. Then add potting soil for green plants, mixed with sand (two-thirds potting soil to one-third sand).
Plant your cutting in the center. Water generously, until the water runs off through the drainage holes.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Family | Nephrolepidaceae - Nephrolepidaceae |
| Type | Nephrolepis - Nephrolepis |
| Species | Boston fern - Nephrolepis exaltata |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposures | |
| Substrat | |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Fritillary Soiffarde |
| Origins |
North America Central America South America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 11b |
| Leaf color |
|
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