Boston Fern Diseases Caring For Unhealthy Boston Ferns

If the fronds of your Boston fern turn gray and you've been watering properly, a disease to consider next is Pythium root rot. The fronds can also wilt or grow stunted. To confirm root rot, look at the roots of your unhealthy Boston ferns. If they are brown and stunted, it is likely root rot.

How do you revive a dying Boston fern?

Restoring By Renewal

If your Boston fern needs a larger pot, wait until it has recovered and is actively growing midspring. Trim the drooping fronds back to about 2 inches long and leave any healthy upright fronds in the center of the plant intact. If all fronds are drying and dying, trim them all to 2 inches.

What does an overwatered Boston fern look like?

The first sign that a fern is overwatered is usually yellowing or wilted leaves. One surefire way to determine if it's time to water a Boston fern is to touch the soil with your fingertip. ... The weight of the pot is another indication that a fern needs water. If the soil is dry, the pot will feel very light.

Why are my Boston ferns turning brown?

Boston fern browning may be caused by poor soil, inadequate drainage, lack of water or humidity, too much light, excess salt or simply mechanical injury. ... Or, if you fertilize too frequently and don't leach the soil, the salt build up will make the fern discolor.

How do you keep Boston ferns healthy?

Situate Boston ferns indoors in bright, indirect sunlight away from drafty doors and heating vents. Provide as much humidity as possible and carefully monitor the soil to ensure plants stay consistently moist. You can set the plants on pebble trays filled with water, so long as the pot does not sit in standing water.

Is my Boston fern dying?

Overwatering Is The Most Common Cause Of A Boston Fern Dying. ... Overwatering is one of the most common causes of a Boston Fern dying. An overwatered Boston Fern will show its displeasure through yellowing and wilting leaves. Waterlogged soil causes the plant to develop root rot or other diseases.

How do you make Boston ferns bushy?

An ideal time for pruning is during repotting, when plants can be dramatically cut back. In fact, Boston fern responds well to severe pruning, which encourages more prolific, bushy growth and corrects dull, leggy growth. When pruning Boston fern always use clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors.

Should I mist my Boston fern?

Boston ferns need a cool place with high humidity and indirect light. When you care for Boston fern plants indoors, it's a good idea to provide additional humidity for them, especially in the winter. ... You can also try lightly misting your fern once or twice a week to help it get the humidity it needs.

Can you overwater a fern?

Over-watered ferns may drop their leaves or the foliage may yellow. You may notice a green, mossy growth on the top of the soil or gray fungi may form. Over-watering ferns poses the risk of root rot and other fungal diseases.

Why do Boston ferns turn yellow?

Overwatering or constant moisture in the fern's growing medium causes frond yellowing, wilt and drop. Insufficient water also causes frond wilting and shedding. Relative humidity of at least 30 to 50 percent is necessary for the Boston fern to thrive; low humidity will cause frond tips to turn brown or die back.

Do ferns like coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. ... And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.

How do I bring my fern back to life?

Dig up your fern and add organic material or compost to the hole if you have clay soil that that doesn't drain well. Replace the fern, water it well and give it a few weeks to bounce back. Transplant the fern if it currently grows in direct sunlight and has browned leaflets or fronds.

Can you revive a brown fern?

You can revive a dried out fern if you create the favorable conditions for growing. Most ferns are hardy plants so they revive back in a few weeks after you correct the problematic conditions.

Do Boston ferns need a lot of water?

Keep the soil moist.

Just like sunlight, you want to provide your Boston fern with enough water, but not too much. Water it with lukewarm water so that the soil is completely damp but not soaked. During warm weather months, you'll need to water it more frequently.

How often should you water a Boston fern?

Water the fern when the soil becomes damp. Do not allow the soil to dry out. This may mean watering twice a week or daily in hot weather. The frequency will change depending on the temperature and moisture in your home.

How do I know if my fern is dying?

Without adequate humidity, the fronds turn brown and dry. Once this happens, clip out the damaged fronds - they won't recover - and keep the air around the fern as moist as possible. You may also see brown, dry fronds when ferns don't get the right amount of light or when you don't water or fertilize properly.

Why is my fern turning brown and crispy?

You may see brown tips on garden ferns if the soil becomes too dry. When it feels dry to touch, water slowly and deeply. Stop watering when the water runs off instead of sinking into the soil. ... If your fern has brown tips because the humidity is too low, it's best to choose another plant for the location.

Why does my Boston fern smell?

When Boston Fern Fronds Turning Black is Not Good

If the infestation is bad, remove any infected plants. Small, but spreading, soft brown to black spots with an unpleasant odor are most likely a sign of bacterial soft rot.

Do Boston ferns clean the air?

With its mass of lush green foliage, the Boston Fern is thought to be one of the best air purifying houseplants. This evergreen plant not only helps to rid the home of harmful toxins it improves humidity by helping to restore moisture to the air naturally too.

Should I cut the dead leaves off my fern?

Clip away any brown leaves or fronds with a pair of sharp garden clippers. Removing the dead, brown leaves makes the plant grow more quickly as it encourages new growth. Do this in late winter to early spring, before new growth begins.

When should I bring my Boston fern inside?

Boston ferns are mainstays of hanging baskets on balconies and porches, but except in USDA zones 9 through 11, they need to be brought indoors in the winter. Before you bring your plant indoors, give it a good pruning to remove all but the healthiest fronds, and gradually acclimate it to the indoor environment.