Boston fern (scientific name: nephrolepis exaltata) is a perennial herbaceous plant native to tropical and **zone regions. Its leaves are pinnate ** with finely toothed edges and drooping tips that form a graceful arc. The leaves of the Boston fern are green or pale green, shiny, and have a strong ornamental value.
The Boston fern is a shade-loving plant that is not tolerant of bright light and is suitable for growing indoors or in semi-shady places. It grows at a temperature of 15-25°C, too high or too low will affect its growth. Its soil should be fertile, loose and well-drained, and should not be too dry or too wet. It requires moderate watering, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Its fertilization requires moderation, with diluted liquid fertilizer applied once a month, not too much or too concentrated.
There are two methods of propagation of the Boston fern, one is divider propagation and the other is spore propagation. Dividing propagation refers to taking the adult Boston fern out of the soil, cutting it into several small plants with a knife, each small plant retains a certain number of roots and leaves, and then planting them into new potting soil, watering and moisturizing, and placing them in a cool and ventilated place to take root and sprout. Spore propagation involves peeling off the sporangia from the leaves of the Boston fern, sprinkling them on moist sandy soil, covering them with a transparent plastic film, keeping them warm and humid, waiting for the spores to germinate, grow new seedlings, and then transplant them into the potting soil.
The cultivation methods of Boston fern mainly include the following aspects:
Choose the right potter. The root system of the Boston fern is not well developed and does not need too large pots, so ceramic pots or plastic pots with a diameter of 15-20 cm are generally chosen, and there should be drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess water.
Prepare suitable soil. The soil of Boston fern is fertile, loose, and well-drained, and can be made with a mixture of humus, peat, perlite, etc., or with commercially available special soil.
Transplant or plant Boston ferns. Soak the roots of the Boston fern in clean water to remove excess soil, then place it in a pot, fill it with soil, compact, and leave a certain void for watering. After watering thoroughly, place the potted plant in a cool, ventilated place, away from direct sunlight, and wait for it to adapt to its new environment.
Watering management. The Boston fern prefers a moist environment, watering it in moderation and keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Generally, in spring and summer, watering once a day, in autumn and winter, watering every two or three days, according to the temperature and the dryness and wetness of the soil. Use lukewarm water and avoid cold or hot water when watering to avoid damaging the plants.
Fertilization management. The fertilization of Boston fern requires moderation, and diluted liquid fertilizer, such as compound fertilizer, rotten chicken manure water, etc., should be applied once a month, not too much or too thick, so as not to burn the root system. When applying fertilizer, water first, and then evenly pour the fertilizer water on the surface of the soil, avoiding contact with the leaves, so as not to cause spots or fading.
Trim management. The leaves of the Boston fern will age over time, appearing yellow or damaged, so it should be cut off with scissors in time to avoid affecting the beauty and health of the plant. At the same time, it is also necessary to prune the excessively long leaves appropriately to maintain the shape and balance of the plant.
In the process of breeding Boston ferns, the following aspects should also be noted:
Protect from direct sunlight. The Boston fern is a shade-loving plant that is not tolerant of bright light, and if exposed to direct sunlight, it can cause the leaves to turn yellow, dry up, fall off, and even die. Therefore, place the Boston fern indoors or in a semi-shady place, such as a window sill, balcony, etc., away from direct sunlight, and if necessary, use curtains or shade nets to block some of the light and maintain the appropriate light intensity.
Prevent the temperature from being too high or too low. The Boston fern grows at a temperature of 15-25°C, and too high or too low can affect its growth. In summer, pay attention to ventilation and cooling, avoid high-temperature cooking, if the temperature exceeds 30 °C, spray water with a sprayer in time to increase humidity and reduce temperature. In winter, pay attention to heat preservation and cold protection, avoid low temperature frostbite, if the temperature is below 10 °C, move the Boston fern indoors to avoid cold winds, if there is heating, pay attention to keep a certain distance to avoid drying.
Prevent pests and diseases. Common pests and diseases of Boston fern include leaf spot, gray mold, aphids, red spiders, etc., once found, they should be treated in time to avoid spreading. Leaf spot and gray mold are caused by fungi and can be sprayed with 50% carbendazim or 70% methyl tobuzine solution every 7-10 days for 2-3 consecutive sprays. Aphids and red spiders are caused by insects and can be sprayed with 40% dimethoate or 25% dimethoate solution every 5-7 days for 2-3 consecutive sprays. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to removing weeds and residual leaves around the plants, maintaining environmental hygiene, and reducing the occurrence of pests and diseases.
The Boston Fern is a beautiful and beneficial plant, and with the right farming methods and precautions, you can easily raise a lush Boston Fern that will add a touch of greenery and freshness to your life. I hope this article can be helpful to you, if you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a message below, we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for reading and supporting!