During the summer, doesn’t it seem like nearly every other front porch has Boston ferns hanging on it? Well, they are fluffy and full. But what do you do with them at summer’s end?
Boston ferns are native to Florida, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Their native environment is warm and humid. Their botanical name is Nephroilepis exaltata. Legend says they got their common name from a nurseryman who loved this plant and sent some to a friend in Boston.
Caring for these beautiful ferns outside during the summer is easy. Keep them watered. They do not handle going bone-dry at all. But they love our summer humidity. Our summer humidity in Virginia is around 60-70%, and sometimes even higher. That’s so much like the Boston fern’s regular habitat that they tend to do well outside in shade for the summer. It’s when we bring them in for the winter that we will have to make a few adjustments.
What they miss most is the humidity. They LOVE humidity and our houses in the winter tend to have 10 to 20%, not the 60 to 70% they’re used to. If we don’t have that, they may get a lot of brown edges to the leaves and even drop leaves. Grouping plants together or adding a humidifier can help. Rooms like bathrooms and kitchens tend to have more humidity but need a bright window. Yes, Boston ferns can take shade during the summer, but in the winter, our days are much shorter and the light is much less intense so they need brighter shade, even a bit of direct early morning or later afternoon sun.
But Boston ferns are beautiful—lush, green, and fluffy, so are worth a bit of work.