How to grow Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis')? Detailed care guide
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis')
Scientific name: nephrolepis exaltata ‘bostoniensis’
Morphological features: small terrestrial or epiphytic fern. Fronds clustered, once-pinnate, slightly drooping; pinnae margins distinctly wavy, tips twisted, pale green.
Ecological habits: prefers high temperature, high humidity and semi-shade, not cold-tolerant. Optimum growth temperature is 15~25 degrees Celsius; in winter it can overwinter safely above 10 degrees Celsius.
Flowering period: grown for foliage.
Flower language: abundance, contentment.
Landscape use: a drooping foliage fern, suitable for indoor hanging display in pots, potted culture and vertical greening; its stolons can be cut off and used as decorative arrangement material. Boston fern can absorb about 20 micrograms of formaldehyde per hour, so it is considered the most effective biological "purifier". It can remove: xylene, toluene, formaldehyde.
Nephrolepis auriculata (scientific name: Nephrolepis auriculata (L.) Trimen): epiphytic or terrestrial. Rhizome erect, covered with fluffy pale brown long awl-shaped scales, with thick wiry stolons spreading horizontally in all directions from the lower part; stolons brown, unbranched, sparsely covered with scales, with slender brown fibrous roots.
Nephrolepis auriculata pictures
Nephrolepis auriculata is an epiphytic or terrestrial plant. The rhizome is erect, covered with fluffy pale brown long awl-shaped scales; from the lower part, thick wiry stolons spread horizontally in all directions, the stolons are brown, about 1 mm thick, up to 30 cm long, unbranched, sparsely covered with scales, and bear slender brown fibrous roots; the stolons produce nearly round tubers, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, densely covered with the same scales as those on the rhizome.
Nephrolepis auriculata price
1. Boston fern, Nephrolepis auriculata, spider plant potted green plants, flowers air purification formaldehyde absorption centipede fern, price about 12 yuan.
2. Boston fern, Nephrolepis auriculata potted green plants, indoor plants air purification formaldehyde absorption centipede fern, maidenhair fern, price about 11 yuan.
3. Boston fern indoor plant, air purification, potted, formaldehyde absorption, flowers and plants, maidenhair fern, Nephrolepis auriculata, spider plant, radiation protection , price about 20 yuan.
Nephrolepis auriculata cultivation
1. Soil: Nephrolepis auriculata is suitable for loose, fertile soil with good drainage and rich in humus. To grow Nephrolepis auriculata, the potting mix can be made of 4 parts leaf mold, 4 parts vermiculite and 2 parts river sand, or mainly leaf mold or peat soil mixed with a small amount of river sand. Because the root system of Nephrolepis auriculata is rather shallow, it is best to plant it in a shallow pot.
2. Sunlight: Nephrolepis auriculata likes bright scattered light. In spring, summer and autumn it can be kept indoors by a north-facing window, but ventilation must be noted. When kept outdoors, place it in filtered shade to avoid direct sunlight. If the light is too strong, the leaves very easily turn scorched yellow; if Nephrolepis auriculata is too shaded, the fronds easily fall off. 3. Watering: In summer, besides keeping the potting soil moist at all times, spray clear water on the leaf surface 2-3 times a day to increase air humidity, so as to keep the leaves emerald green.
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How to grow Boston fern, how to propagate Boston fern
Boston fern is a type of drooping foliage fern, a perennial evergreen herb of the genus Nephrolepis in the family Nephrolepidaceae, native to the tropics and subtropics, and distributed in Taiwan, China. It has very high ornamental value and is suitable for indoor hanging display in pots, potted culture and vertical greening; its stolons can also be cut off and used as decorative arrangement material. Now let us take a look at how to grow Boston fern!
Growth habits of Boston fern
Boston fern likes warm, humid and semi-shaded environments, and also likes ventilation; it dislikes extreme heat. Generally place it indoors in bright scattered light for cultivation; it must not be exposed to strong direct light, but it also must not be kept in a dark place. The optimum growth temperature is 15-25°C; in winter it can overwinter safely above 10°C. It is drought-tolerant, but still needs sufficient water, and should not be too wet or too dry; keep the potting soil moist at all times. In summer, water 1-2 times a day and frequently spray water on the leaf surface. It does not need much fertilizer; during the growing season, apply a dilute decomposed cake fertilizer once every 4 weeks. Do not use quick-acting chemical fertilizers. When fertilizing, be careful not to stain the leaves, so as to avoid damage.
Propagation methods of Boston fern
Boston fern does not produce spore fronds, so it can only be propagated by division or runners. Division propagation can be done in spring, summer and autumn. Cut off the small rooted plantlets growing on the stolons from vigorous plants and plant them separately. Water the divided plants thoroughly and place them in a shaded place for about a week, then they can be returned to normal care.
How to grow Boston fern
1. Substrate: The cultivation substrate for Boston fern is loose imported peat with good drainage and aeration, of the Klasmann 10-30 mm grade. Break up the peat and mix it evenly with water. After mixing with water, squeeze a handful of peat tightly and water should seep out between the fingers; then it is ready for potting. A 12 cm pot uses about 350 ml of peat; one 300-liter bag of imported peat can fill about 800 pots.
2. Potting up: For potting up Boston fern, choose high-quality professionally produced seedlings, with a seedling height of 7-8 cm and a crown width of 4-5 cm, free of pests and diseases, and free of dead or yellow leaves. First plant in a 12 cm pot, 1 clump per pot, and grow for 3-4 months. Then transfer to an 18 cm pot and grow for 6-7 months before shipping.
3. Temperature: The suitable temperature for Boston fern is 18-35°C. Above 35°C or below 15°C, growth is poor. In winter it must not go below 5°C. Winter care requires heating equipment; if there is no heating facility, double-layer insulation facilities can be used. In winter, when the temperature drops to 22-24 degrees in the afternoon, the greenhouse should be closed in time. Summer care requires cooling equipment (exhaust fan and water curtain).
4. Light: Boston fern likes bright scattered light. In spring and summer, it is best to place it indoors in bright scattered light. When the sunlight is strong, it must not be placed in direct sunlight; direct sunlight will turn the leaves yellow. In winter, light should be appropriately increased, otherwise the leaf color easily turns yellow or the leaf margins dry up.
5. Water: Boston fern likes a humid environment and requires relatively high soil humidity and air humidity. Because the roots of Boston fern are adventitious roots, their ability to absorb and retain water is poor, so water must be supplied in time; otherwise, if it is too dry for too long, the leaves easily turn yellow and fall off. In spring and summer, the potting soil must always be kept moist, but there must be no water accumulation, and it should not be too wet; it is best to keep the potting soil moist at all times. In summer, besides watering in time, also frequently spray water on the leaf surface. In winter, when room temperature is low, reduce watering and just keep the soil slightly moist.
6. Fertilizing: The fertilizer concentration for Boston fern should not be too high, otherwise it easily damages the roots. The best way to fertilize is to first add decomposed manure when potting (repot once every 1 year in spring), and during the peak growing season, apply additional fertilizer in a dilute form. When fertilizing, avoid letting the fertilizer solution stain the leaves; if it accidentally stains them, immediately spray clear water to rinse them clean.