Stop Killing Your Boston Ferns! Full Care Guide

If you've killed a fern, this video is for you. Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) are gorgeous statement houseplants that make excellent hanging basket plants, but many of us struggle to keep them alive.

So, for the last time, let's learn how to care for boston ferns so you never murder another plant baby again :)

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[mb]

For what it’s worth, I’ve always watered my Bostons from the bottom up overnight. When the pot feels light, I fill a plastic basin 1/3 full and set the fern in it before I got to bed. In the morning, I place the fern back on its plant stand where it easily drains excess water. Been doing this for 30 years with great success.

[dorothywalker]

I inherited a Boston fern from my mother (she called it Mr Boston lol). It is over 45 yrs old and has been divided many times. It was the only house plant I ever remember her having. She had the perfect growing conditions both inside and out and it was beautiful. I've had it about 7 yrs now and it's doing OK but not as well as when she had it. It's due to be divided again and I will use your recommendations for the soil mix. Thanks for the tips I hope to keep it going and pass it down to the next generation

[Clarinda]

I downloaded an app to monitor the rain in the everglades. When it rains in the everglades, I put my ferns in the shower for a few minutes. They are thriving! I do the same with the weather in Phoenix to know when to water my cactus plants. So far it's working out very well.

[cheabychel]

I just got two HUGE Boston Ferns from Home Depot and this was the first video I ran into that gave me all the things. Thank you!!

[meganlangreck]

I am sadly still in the fern killing stage. I love ferns. I am looking forward to a beautiful future of having ferns and not killing them. I appreciate the good advice.

[deek]

I killed 2 boston ferns in my lifetime and recently bought a third. I've taken notes from your video. Pray for me.

[DeadWifes]

I've killed a few ferns long before I got into plants... it has instilled this fear of buying them. So thanks for your tips!

[sadieapple]

Two years ago we moved and now practically live in the woods. Lowe's had a clearance rack with dying Boston Ferns, big ones, very brown, for $3.99. And I thought, what the heck so I bought 2 of them and put them outside. We get very little sunlight because of all the trees around but we also had ferns growing wild all over the place. I took them out of their pots, transplanted them into bigger pots, added some fresh potting soil, watered them, let them get rained on and sat back waiting for them to die. Little by little they began growing new fronds and by the fall they looked like something you'd pay $50.00 for! They were huge, gorgeous! I brought them into the garage for the winter and someone left the garage door open where they got blasted with icy cold temps, of course they died soon after. This year, 4 new clearance ferns for$3.00 each and they've done the same, tripled in size and are lovely. I'm going to bring them in the house where they will likely perish before they can make it back outside next spring. Wish me luck!

[frankpeck]

Anyone, especially those who are a bit on the OCD side, tends to over-do everything. "If a little works well, why not triple the amount!" Key word: Moderation!

[ilotefft]

My daughter placed her ferns outside under trees. She never watered them and had the attitude that if they survive then great. Well, living on Hilton Head Island they survived really well. Now I have them and am moving to East TN.

[Angel-nrtd]

Besides watering and sunlight, give ur plants some LOVING ENERGY touch it and tell it you love it and to grow big and beautiful do this once a week. I know it sounds nuts but plants love it when you do.😁

[Lara-rilg]

I live in a very cold part of Canada and my Boston fern has to put up with constant furnace heat on for months. It gets dry looking leaves with scraggly tips. I set it on a tray of pebbles with water underneath them and I do spray it with water twice a week. I water it quite often. In the summer it goes onto my front door step in a sheltered nook and does a lot better. It gets some rain water and filtered sunlight. It really recovers and looks great.

[KyristaLove]

Anybody watching this video and still think “my plant gonna die 😭”

[wkdwiz]

Hello from Ireland!

I killed one off a few years ago when I was just starting out my plant collection. Came across one today in my local supermarket and picked it up. Let's hope I'm a little more versed in plant care to keep this one alive.

Thanks for sharing! I enjoy your videos a lot.

[artpotato]

I got Gus (The Boston Fern) specifically because he was non-toxic to cats. So I'm here making sure I keep Onion's (My cat) alive as well as Gus. Thank you so much :D

[jonnybrown]

I don't comment much, but I love that he teaches other relevant info as well. The water-wait-water method is something I learned the hard way and this info would have saved me a lot of time. Great video brother!

[lettucemhmmyesqueen]

My parents don’t want me to buy any more plants so I’m gonna go out in the woods and tame some ferns instead 😂

[c.a.greene]

I usually bottom feed my potted plants, ....
by misting the surface to moisten the top, then I pour food/water into a feeding tray and allow the plant to take up whatever i wants...this uses 2-3 times the amount fed from the top. ( it wont work if you dont wet the top or most top soil first, as it creates a seal that stops the soil from having dry spots)
Thanks for the videos!

[annetteprice]

I have one that’s about 1/10th of this size. It’s cute. I have it literally on top of a humidifier and it’s loving it. It’s about doubled in size in four months or so. I’m looking forward to it being as massive as this one.

[laurastjulien]

My Boston Ferns are thriving! I water really well with a hose, making sure that every part of the soil is drenched. I also sprinkle water on the top Green Layer. I place it outside in indirect light. I do this every other day at least. My Boston fern loves water because it gets hot and humid here.