How to Grow Boston Fern
Wikimedia Commons
Boston Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
herbBoston Fern is a classic indoor houseplant known for its delicate, feathery fronds that arch gracefully from a central crown. Native to tropical regions, it thrives in humid indoor environments and adds lush greenery to homes and offices. This fern is prized for its air-purifying qualities and elegant appearance.
When should you plant Boston Fern in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Boston Fern timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Boston Fern
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Boston Fern
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Boston Fern dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 10b-11; primarily grown as an indoor houseplant in cooler climates
Sign up free to see if Boston Fern grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Boston Fern timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
2-4 weeksYoung plantlet with small, emerging fronds; root system developing
Maintain high humidity (60-80%), keep soil consistently moist, avoid drafts and temperature fluctuations, provide bright indirect light only
Vegetative Growth
3-8 monthsFronds elongating and unfurling; new pinnae (leaflets) forming along the rachis; plant becoming bushier
Continue high humidity and consistent moisture; fertilize bi-weekly with diluted liquid fertilizer during growing season (spring/summer); rotate pot weekly for even growth
Maturation
Ongoing, 6+ monthsFull, dense frond canopy with mature arching fronds; plant reaches its typical size; may develop small offsets or baby plantlets at the base
Maintain established care routine; reduce fertilizing to monthly in fall/winter; watch for pest infestations on mature growth; provide consistent conditions
Rejuvenation/Pruning
Variable, 4-8 weeksLower fronds naturally yellow and die back; plant may look sparse if neglected; new growth emerges from crown with improved conditions
Remove dead or yellowing fronds at the base; increase humidity and check watering; do not cut healthy green fronds; patience required for recovery (4-8 weeks)
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Increase humidity dramatically (mist daily), wash fronds with water spray, isolate plant, use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe
-
Inspect fronds regularly, isolate affected plant, remove with cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil
-
Remove manually with soft brush, isolate plant, treat with horticultural oil or neem oil, repeat treatment every 7-10 days
-
Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings, use yellow sticky traps, apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray
-
Use yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap, increase air circulation, isolate from other plants
Uses
Air Purification
HouseholdBoston Fern is documented by NASA as one of the most effective houseplants for removing formaldehyde, xylene, and other harmful volatile organic compounds from indoor air. Regular placement in living spaces helps improve air quality naturally. [source]
Humidifier & Moisture Provider
WildlifeThe plant transpires water vapor through its fronds, naturally increasing humidity in surrounding air. This benefits other tropical plants and creates a more comfortable microclimate for humidity-loving organisms and improves human respiratory health. [source]
Floral Arrangements & Decorative Fronds
CraftBoston Fern fronds are prized in floral design and decorative arrangements for their delicate, feathery texture and long-lasting quality when cut. They add elegance to bouquets, wreaths, and table centerpieces. [source]
Interior Decoration
HouseholdThe lush, cascading fronds make Boston Fern an excellent decorative houseplant for homes and offices. It adds tropical ambiance and improves aesthetic appeal when displayed in hanging baskets, shelves, or plant stands. [source]
Traditional Herbal Uses
MedicinalIn traditional medicine practices, fern fronds have been used in some cultures for their potential anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Modern scientific evidence is limited, but the plant is used in some herbal traditions. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Boston Ferns are not harvested in the traditional sense. Fronds can be pruned as desired for shape and to remove dead or yellowing growth. Cut fronds at the base with clean scissors. Harvesting small fronds for floral arrangements is acceptable, though done minimally to maintain plant health. Remove dead fronds regularly to encourage new growth.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Boston Ferns were extremely popular during the Victorian era (1890s-1910s) as parlor plants, leading to the 'Fern Craze,' when fern collecting became a major hobby among wealthy households.
- 🌱 Unlike many ferns that reproduce via spores, Boston Fern produces plantlets called 'runners' that emerge from the base or rhizome, making propagation simple—just pot up the baby plants once they've developed roots.
- 🌱 Boston Fern is technically a cultivated variety (not a true species) that originated in the Boston area around 1894 as a mutation of Nephrolepis exaltata, and its exact wild ancestor origin remains debated among botanists.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Boston Fern planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Boston Fern seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Boston Fern timeline →