Boston Ferns Winter – What to do with the Boston Ferns in Winter

Many hobby gardeners buy Boston ferns in the spring and use them as outdoor decorations until the cold weather arrives. Often the ferns are discarded, but some are so lush and beautiful that the gardener cannot bring himself to throw them away. Relax, throwing them away is not necessary and it’s really a waste if you consider that the overwintering process on Boston ferns is not too complicated. Read on to learn more about winter care of Boston ferns.

What to do with Boston ferns in winter

The first step in caring for Boston ferns in the winter is to find the right place to winterize your Boston ferns. The plant needs cool night temperatures and lots of indirect light, for example from a south-facing window that is not blocked by trees or buildings. Daytime temperatures should not exceed 24°C (75°F). High humidity is necessary for Boston fern to remain an indoor plant.

Overwintering Boston ferns in a warm, dry domestic environment usually causes a lot of clutter and frustration for the gardener. If you do not have the proper indoor conditions to overwinter Boston ferns, let them sleep and store them in a garage, basement or outdoor building where temperatures do not drop below 13°C (55°F).

Winter maintenance of the dormant Boston fern is not about providing light; a dark place is good for the dormant plant. The plant should be watered abundantly, but the dormant Boston fern needs only limited moisture once a month.

Can Boston ferns stay outside in winter?

Those who live in subtropical frost-free regions can learn how to overwinter a Boston fern in the open air. In USDA Resilience Zones 8b-11, it is possible to provide outdoor winter care for the Boston fern.

How to winterize a Boston fern

Whether you’re giving Boston ferns winter care as houseplants or leaving them dormant and living in a protected area, there are many things you can do to prepare the plant for its winter location.

• Prune the plant, leaving only the freshly germinated slings in the container. This avoids a complicated situation that will occur if you take the plant home.
• Acclimatize the plant to its new environment gradually; do not move it abruptly to a new location.
• Maintain fertilization while Boston ferns hibernate. Resume regular feeding and watering when new shoots appear in the soil. Again, gradually move the plant to its outdoor location. Water the ferns with rainwater or other non-chlorinated water.

Now that you have learned what to do with Boston ferns in the winter, you may want to save money by trying this process to keep the ferns over the winter. We have answered the question: Can Boston ferns stay outdoors in the winter? Plants that have spent the winter grow back in early spring and should be lush and full again in the second year.