Boston Fern is one of the most common houseplants that purify the air quality, It reduces the toxicity and pollutants from the air and makes the air moist and fresh for the home.
Although, these are the least maintenance plants indoors still Boston ferns need specific conditions and care to grow healthy and lush green.
Boston fern care outdoors
Boston fern leaves are very different than other houseplants. These are tiny leaves on each twig that repeat their pattern on both sides on a certain gap.
Let's see how different is to grow Boston fern outdoors and how to take care of these plants outdoors with the least maintenance.
Boston fern growing conditions
- Soil type
Boston fern needs well-drained soil that can absorb water quickly and provide additional coolness to the roots and the pot of Boston fern.
It is required that soil should be rich with nutrients but shouldn't have many compacted components otherwise it will negatively impact the Boston fern.
- Sunlight and shade
Bright indirect sunlight is good for Boston fern but in lower temperatures, it is not that bad outdoors if conditions are overcast. Intense afternoon sunlight is harmful to the plant and quickly dries the plant and leaves.
The plant gives signs of yellowish leaves soon if sunlight is too intense. Partial shade is good for Boston fern in the garden.
- Climate conditions
Boston Fern doesn't like higher temperatures or too low temperatures. If the climate is moderate throughout the year and temperatures don't drop drastically and don't increase quickly above the limit then it is good for Boston Fern.
Frost conditions are bad for Boston Fern outdoors and it dies fast in it.
How to take care outdoors
Considering you've got an indoor or a new Boston Fern plant in your garden and you want to keep it outdoors. For that, you need specific arrangements to keep it alive and healthy with temperature changes-
- Water daily
In summer, container soil gets dry very easily and quickly. Boston Fern plants can't handle this drought even for two days. So you should keep checking the regular moisture in the soil container. Provide irrigation on a daily basis and twice in too hot summer. In winter, you can keep it once in two days.
- Provide indirect bright sunlight
If you don't have shelter in your garden outside, then try to make at least a shelter to avoid the direct impact of intense sunlight. Either use a green shelter sheet over the Boston fern or try to keep it in the shadow of walls or trees.
In the morning, you can keep them in direct sunlight for one hour but quickly shift the pots after the temperature increase.
- Fertilize once or twice in the summer
It is better to use liquid fertilizers or a solution of fertilizers with water so that it can work fast and keep the moisture in the soil enough.
You can fertilize with compost twice in one summer season if it is required and the plant is not lush green.
- Keep them on the ground
Sometimes, people love to use hanging pots for Boston fern but unfortunately, the soil gets dry faster at this height with the regular wind.
Hanging Boston fern pots are not effective to keep them healthy and lush green as they get their soil dry faster. So keep the plants on the ground and in a suitable shelter.
Things to avoid while growing outdoors
Now, let's see what things should you avoid if you are considering growing Boston Fern outdoors-
- Avoid direct sunlight
Avoid direct sunlight throughout the summer season. Direct intense sunlight dries the Boston fern quickly and makes the leaves yellowish and then dry in the end.
- Avoid low humidity
If humidity is getting very low than 35%, then it is bad for Boston fern to grow. Higher humidities are good even if the temperature is high or moderate.
- Don't use too small containers
Don't use tiny pots for Boston ferns in the garden otherwise, they can't expand properly. Small containers can be responsible for compacted soil which is completely bad for Boston Fern plants.
- Don't use hanging pots
Don't hang your plants in your garden even in shelter or indirect sunlight because ultimately soil will get dry fast.