| BOSTON FERN AT A GLANCE COMMON NAME: Boston
fern, also called ladder fern because of much-divided frond
SPECIES: Nephrolepis exaltata
SIZE: Width up to 6 feet.
NATIVE HABITAT: Tropical worldwide.
EXPOSURE: Shade to partial or filtered sun.
FORM: Graceful, drooping and arching fronds divided into small leaflets.
CULTURE: Damaged by temperatures under 50 degrees. Move outdoors once threat of frost
is past; bring indoors well before first fall frost. Repot annually at start of growing
season; propagates from spores or stolons which can be pegged into pots. Fertilize during
warm growing season; don't sprinkle fertilizer on foliage. Regular misting to increase
humidity around plant helps prevent brown tips.
MOISTURE: Moist soil keeps fronds from yellowing and dying; don't let plant stand in
water.
SOIL: Peat-based potting mix with added coarse sand or mix equal parts of potting mix
and peat. Repot when roots emerge through drainage holes.
FLOWER: None.
PROBLEMS: Fern scale, white fly. Brown spore cases underneath often mistaken for scale
insects. Scratch scale off with fingernail or treat with insecticide about , strength.
Source: Virginia Cooperative Extension, Indoor Plants by Reader's Digest
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