Boston Fern Wintering Advice?

8 years ago

I'm trying to figure out how best to get my boston fern through a zone 5b winter.

Option 1 is a dark basement, which is pretty consistently 60 F year round. Option 2 is a garage, but I'm worried it will be too cold as we see sub-zero temps a few times a winter. Option 3 is a three-season room/porch right against the house, which wouldn't be dark but wouldn't be quite as cold as a garage. Option 4 would be to bring it completely indoors and try to get it through the winter without any kind of real dormant state. I love the look of my ferns but I've heard nightmares about keeping them happy indoors.

Suggestions much appreciated!

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

These are tropical to semitropical species - they don't go dormant (or certainly don't need to). They need warmth in winter and bright light........a south facing window and temps that don't exceed 75F but don't drop below 60F are best. And away from any direct source of heat.

The only challenge with overwintering indoors is maintaining high humidity. Most homes are far too dry indoors. Placing the pot on a deep saucer filled with pebbles and with a small amount of water in the bottom will suffice. Or place a glass(es) of water next to the pot. Or a trip to the kitchen sink when you water and a thorough spraying down with water at that time.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Dave
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Not sure it’ll like any of those.

theyre tough to keep happy indoors in the winter.

It would do well in a very humid environment. Temps above 70° and very very bright, but indirect sun.

mine barely clings on under a grow light in a room with a humidifier that keeps the RH at 60-70%.
Katie (Zone 5b) thanked Dave
Related Professionals
Fayetteville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Charlotte Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rock Hill Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Anniston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Williamsport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hagerstown Landscape Contractors · Albany Landscape Contractors · Green Bay Landscape Contractors · Fort Collins Landscape Contractors · Kahului Landscape Contractors · Columbia Interior Designers & Decorators · Florence Interior Designers & Decorators · Alpena Interior Designers & Decorators · Bozeman Interior Designers & Decorators · Sarnia Interior Designers & Decorators
Dave
8 years ago
While I agree with you about all of that gardengal, I disagree about the humidity.

The pebble tray and glasses of water will not raise the RH enough to help the plant.

Spraying it down with water is also not a good method. It can lead to other issues and it too will not raise the RH long enough to have any beneficial impact.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Those methods work perfectly well for me and are the methods typically recommended for the care of this plant indoors so I am not sure what your objections are.

FWIW, care of this and other ferns indoors is not at all that tricky.
Marcy
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Katie, if gardengal's good advice doesn't work this winter, I highly recommend you find a Macho Fern instead of a Boston Fern. I have zero problems with mine during the winter and all they need is good light and to be watered regularly, as in when the pot become lightweight. Their fronds are dark green and lush all year round, inside and out, and they never shed unless they are allowed to become severely dry.
Katie (Zone 5b) thanked Marcy
Dave
8 years ago
Gardengal,

I was never starting these don’t work for you. I just wanted to bring up that they really don’t raise the RH very much if that’s the intended purpose.

If the RH is 20% in the room, it may get bumped up to 22-23% over the standing water, but not much.

Thats all I was trying to point out. If you really want to raise the humidity, a humidifier is really the only way to go.
Katie (Zone 5b) thanked Dave
Katie (Zone 5b)
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks everyone! I'll see if I can keep it alive through the winter and will look into some options for humidity. I'd never heard of a macho fern though- they look like they get big!
Pete
8 years ago
If your living space is dry, a humidifier is good regardless of plants.

I don't know who is right or wrong regarding bumping up local humidity with misting and pebble trays but I have an accurite temp/humidity meter. I've used it for monitoring general humidity but its really surprising how much temp varies in the same room depending on lights and what not. I wouldn't be surprised if local humidity bumps up more than 2 or 3 percent with some effort and attention. But again, I don't know that.
Katie (Zone 5b) thanked Pete