How to propagate the Boston fern, and is it easy to grow?
Generally speaking, ferns mostly reproduce by spores, but for ferns that have been cultivated by humans, obtaining their spores is rather difficult, and the planting area in a courtyard is limited, nor can the spores be allowed to take root and sprout freely, so we usually use the method of division to propagate the Boston fern. This way the results are not only controllable, but the success rate is also relatively high.
Boston fern propagation methods
1. Boston fern propagation time
Division propagation of the Boston fern can be carried out in spring, summer and autumn. Division in early spring, in April-May, can be done together with repotting.
2. Boston fern propagation method
In early summer, the stolons growing on the plant will grow rapidly and produce small plantlets with roots. In summer, choose vigorously growing plants, then cut off these small rooted plantlets mentioned above and plant them separately. When dividing together with repotting, first turn the plant upside down and knock it out of the flower pot, shake off all the old soil, then cut it into several clumps and plant them separately, afterwards placing them in a shaded spot; after about a week they can be cared for normally. For potting, the soil can be a mixed growing medium of leaf mold, river sand and garden soil; if sphagnum moss can be used as the growing medium, that would be even better.
3. Care after Boston fern propagation
After division, water thoroughly. Generally place it indoors in a spot with bright indirect light for growing; it must not be placed in a dark spot, but strong direct light should also be avoided. The most suitable growing temperature is 15-25°C. In winter, the temperature must be kept above 10°C to ensure it overwinters safely. Take care to keep the potting soil moist, neither too dry nor too wet. It does not need much fertilizer; during the growing season, applying a thin, well-rotted cake fertilizer once a month is enough. Be careful not to get it on the leaves, otherwise it easily causes damage. Repot once every year in early spring.
Is the Boston fern easy to grow
For cultivating the Boston fern, it is best to choose high-quality certified seedlings from professional production, using loose imported peat with good drainage and aeration in the 10-30mm grade, breaking up the peat, mixing it with water evenly, and then potting it up for planting. The Boston fern should be kept with moist potting soil, and during the growing season water should be supplied abundantly. Although the soil should be kept moist, for the Boston fern, if it is often allowed to dry out, the lower Boston fern leaves will wither and drop off. Overall, the Boston fern is still a relatively easy plant to grow.
How to fertilize the Boston fern
The best way to fertilize is to add well-rotted barnyard manure before the plant is put into the flower pot (remember to change the flower pot once every year in spring; it should not be changed more often). During the peak growing season of the plant, when topdressing, simply choose a relatively diluted fertilizer. When fertilizing, please avoid getting chemical fertilizer on the leaves; if the plant leaves accidentally get contaminated, immediately rinse them clean with water.
How to water the Boston fern
1. When to water
It does not have very high water requirements, so when watering, simply give the plant an appropriate amount of water. The frequency and amount of watering should not be too high; just keep the soil in the pot in a state of being dry-ish without being fully dry. However, during the lush growing season, a certain amount of water still needs to be ensured; at this time the soil should be slightly moist. It is particularly worth mentioning that in the hot summer, more water is not necessarily better; still just watering 1 to 2 times a day is enough, and it should not be too frequent. If you accidentally forget or fail to replenish the plant's water for a long time, it is especially prone to turning yellow and dropping leaves.
2. Spray water according to humidity
Although this plant does not have high requirements for the water content in the soil, it absolutely cannot do without water. It is not tolerant of dryness. During the plant's care period, water should be sprayed on the plant and its growing environment many times to increase the humidity around it. According to what the editor has learned, its optimal humidity is around 75%-80%. If it is in an extremely stuffy, dry environment, it may also cause the leaf edges to turn yellow, and in serious cases the whole leaf withers. Having said so much, I believe everyone now has a full understanding of how to water this plant. As long as you carefully cultivate it according to the above points for attention, your Boston fern will certainly grow vigorously.
The Boston fern is a relatively easy plant to grow. Although compared with wild ferns, cultivated Boston ferns are inevitably somewhat more difficult to grow, compared with some other delicate flowering plants, the growing ability of ferns should be considered not too strong.