For fern fans , the Boston fern is believably the pteridophyte that got you hooked . It ’s gorgeous , versatile , and clean light to handle for . Plus , you ’d have a hard time see a flora shop or garden shopping mall thatdoesn’thaveN. exaltatain store .
But every Boston fern owner – or plant parent , for that matter – confront the same annual trial if they exist in a part with cold , frost - filled winters .
It ’s that metre when growth slow down down considerably , some fronds start to brownness , and the plant as a whole can get kinda sad - looking … especially compared to its peak back in the growing time of year .
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For a pteridophyte neophyte , this loss of vitality and vibrancy can be heartrending . But for seasoned raiser , this is merely part of the mental process , as routine as shovel snow after a rash .
Yes , it ’s a bit unpleasant now , but once it ’s warmer out , dormancy will be a distant memory board .
During this overwintering period , there are some actions that a greenish thumb can take to keep this plant healthy , along with priming it for eventual re - development once spring starts .
Additionally , wintertimeN. exaltatacultivation motive will change somewhat , in ways that every gardener should be aware of .
In this guide , we ’ll cover the how s and why s of overwintering a Boston fern , along with some item that you ’ll take throughout the whole process .
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What You’ll Learn
Benefits of Proper Overwintering
There are vantage to overwintering the correct way , as opposed to plainly wing it .
Cost
Plants ai n’t cheap , so have to purchase new botany to put back those that die during the winter would make anyone ’s pocketbook experience a flake light .
By overwintering , you may continue to grow the same repeated specimen year after year !
Aesthetics
AnN. exaltatawon’t depend its good during the winter , but when properly winter by following recommend tending practice , it ’ll live to see the return of spring , and it will look much better than one that ’s wholly left alone .
Health and Vigor
N. exaltatafoliage will most in all likelihood jump to John Brown in winterwhen grown outdoorsin regions that are hit by frost , and these decaying fronds are alluring entry point for pests and pathogens .
By trim these watery spots when you see them , infestations and infections are less likely to occur .
Additionally , a Boston fern that ’s overwintered by rights will be optimally primed for vivacious regrowth come in leap !
Longevity
A pretty obvious advantage , but it ’s one that ’s definitely worth stating .
wintertime is a vulnerable time for many plants , and if they ’re not cared for and treated properly , the harsh conditions could easily kill them . This is true for both outdoor specimensandhouseplantsthat stay indoorsyear round .
Even though their environs has n’t changed all that much , N. exaltataplants grown indoorsdon’t require as much sun , weewee , or nutrient in winter as they do during the growing season .
So if you deal them the same in wintertime as you would in summer , you ’ll be give with a sun - scorched , over - watered , and over - fertilized Boston fern … which is bad , obviously .
Proper charge proficiency that transfer to adapt to the need of your plants at dissimilar times of twelvemonth can not only help them to look advantageously during the growing season as described above , they can keep them going for many years .
What You’ll Need
You do n’t need a big variety of detail for overwintering anN. exaltata , but therearea few things that ’ll really come in ready to hand .
Hand Pruners
fundamentally a heavy - responsibility distich of gardening scissors , hand pruners are necessary for nip off off brown and dying fronds . Bypass pruner in particular will provide the cleanest cuts potential .
Bypass Pruners
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Garden Hose with Spray Nozzle
Before bring a Boston fern deep down , it ’ll postulate a good shower water first . The best way that I ’ve find for doing this is witha standard garden hosewith a spray nozzle affixation .
While you could put your thumb over the hosiery hole and manipulate the water pressure to produce an improvised flow , such a spray is rather harsh onN. exaltatafronds . You ’d be better off using a docile “ shower ” setting instead on a schnoz designed for this use instead .
Plants grown indoors twelvemonth - round can also benefit from an occasional sprinkle that resembles blue-blooded rain to bump off dust and rubble , but the end here is also to absent any pestilence or pathogen that are cling on before bringing them inside .
Easy - Squeeze Spray Nozzle
An easy - squeeze spray honker with seven different spray patterns isavailable from Gardener ’s Supply .
Water Right Hose
And if your hosepipe is in need of an rise , Gardener ’s Supplyoffers 50 - foot lengths of lightweight India rubber in fetching shades of green , orange , and purple .
Humidity Tray
Boston ferns love humid conditions , and a cracking path to provide additional humidity is with a tray that ’s occupy with water and pebbles .
As the water vaporise , it ’ll increase the moisture in the air adjacent to the plant . flash , easy , and efficient .
landscape pebble
you could order all the pebble that you needfrom The Home Depot .
Alternatives include group houseplants in clustering to increase ambient humidity , spray plants with a aristocratical mist of piss , or unravel a humidifier in the vicinity .
Watering Can
N. exaltatadoesn’t need quite as much water during the wintertime as it does during the growing time of year … but it decidedly needssome .
An ideal can for water overwintered plants is well - balanced and succinct , with a narrow spout for fit past dense chunk of foliage . You canread about our top picks for lachrymation houseplant in this roundup .
atomic number 29 Indoor Watering Can
I like this copper version , uncommitted from the good folk overat Gardener ’s Supply .
How to Overwinter a Boston Fern
In USDA Hardiness zone 9 to 11 , Boston ferns can be grown outdoors year - round .
During the dormant time of year , their need for supplemental irrigation andfertilizationwill be greatly reduced .
In gain , you ’ll require to snub yourN. exaltataplantings down to the ground by the closing of fall to trim the relative incidence of overwintering pests and disease , as well as eliminate bedevil - looking winter foliage .
In all other Zones , ideally , you ’ll want to fetch an outside Boston fern indoors before temperature start to systematically dip below 45 ° F.
If the fall weather in your area is quicksilver or inconsistent , keep a close eye on the forecast if you ’re not yet fain to land your plants inside .
you’re able to pass over your specimen with lightweight blankets or sheet on those anomalously stale days as long as you get outside in advance of the cold snap . Be trusted to take away the cover when temperature ardent in the daybreak .
Before you bring your ferns inside , though , you ’ll need to exhaustively spray down your plant with water first in lodge to pink any pest off of the tops and the tail end of the fronds .
After spray , leave behind the plant out in the Lord’s Day for a day to dry out . A warmer day is going to be ideal for doing this , when the temperatures remain at or above at least 60 ° F.
After this spraying - and - juiceless process is complete , you ’ll require to give yourN. exaltataa spry pruning . First , remove any brown or damaged frond . Then prune off any fronds that are significantly farsighted than medium to create a pleasing shape .
baseball swing frond can easy fall into the mass of foliage , so give your works a good choker or shake when you ’re finished , just like the sort you ’d give your own forefront after a haircut .
You may need to apply a weather app or website to schedule all of this out , and be sure to make a notein your gardening diary !
Log the average dates when these temperatures and seasonal change in the weather condition are likely to occur , and plan consequently .
If nerveless or cold temp occur sooner or later than look to , you may require to make some slender adjustment to your calendar – it ’s good to be prepared !
At this point , all of the ferns that you want to winter indoors should be taken inside , unless they ’re spring up year - round as houseplant .
Location - wise , pick nerveless to passably warm ( 60 to 75 ° degree Fahrenheit ) locations in indirectly alight spots in or contiguous to your home such as garage , basement , or the corners of rooms . Keep the plants away from south - facing windows – the acute illumination could scorch the frond .
localize eachN. exaltataon its own pebble - and - water - filled tray .
For even more humidity , radical works shut together so that their combined , conterminous evapotranspiration promotes a humid environment . retrieve that indoor warming in the winter dry out the indoor surroundings .
The irrigation needs of these plants throughout the winter are going to be lower than they were during the growing season , so only irrigate the plant life when the grime dries out completely .
you could apply your finger to test this , or try amoisture meter . Supplemental fecundation should be avoided throughout the wintertime .
Your Boston ferns might drop some fronds or develop paler - looking foliage in the winter , and this is to be expected . For the most part , this is normal . But if it happens in excess , double - hitch and ensure that your environment is adequately illuminate , cool , and humid .
When winter is over and temperatures set off to hit and remain in the 60s on a even basis , palpate free to move your indoor Boston fern to their usual spots indoors , and convey the outside ones back outside to reacclimate .
Just as you would if harden off transplants , it ’s best to bring them out for half an hr on the first day , an hour on the second , and so on , increase the amount of time spent outside for another half an hr each day until they ’ve amply conform and they ’re able to repay your patio or garden .
If the temperatures adjudicate to drop out of nowhere , be prepared to bring in your plants back inside until the weather condition warm up systematically .
Overwintering: It’s Survival of the Frond-iest
If your Boston fern made it through the winter with the majority of its foliage entire , kudos on a plant well overwintered !
If not , no worries ! It ’ll bounce back as long as the jacket and roots are still alive , and you could chalk this up as a example learned for next class .
There ’s a true mother wit of satisfaction to re - establishing the same Boston fern in spring that you brought indoors the prior fall . You moved a plant , kept it good , then re - integrate it back into its original home … I mean , how coolheaded is that ! ?
For more growing guide on our pteridophyte Friend , have at these here articles next :
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About
Joe Butler
