Can Boston fern survive winter?
A: Assuming you have Boston ferns on your porch, as many people do, you’ll have to bring them indoors for the winter. They can not survive temperatures below 40 degrees F. Keep a pair of scissors handy to prune fronds which inevitably turn brown during the winter.
How do you take care of a Boston fern in the winter?
The plant needs cool nighttime temps and lots of bright, indirect light like that from a south window not blocked by trees or buildings. Daytime temperatures should not be over 75 degrees F. (24 C.). High humidity is necessary to keep the Boston fern as a houseplant.
What do you do with ferns in the winter?
Cut Them Down. With fertilizing applied in the spring, and division in the fall, there is not much maintenance required in the winter for most ferns. What you can do is cut back all of the browned and dead fronds in late winter; cut all the fronds down to within a few inches of the plant’s crown.
Do Boston ferns come back every year?
Like many other varieties of semitropical plants, Boston fern grows as a perennial in warm climates, but won’t overwinter in areas that experience freezing temperatures. In cold climates, you must bring this type of fern indoors or grow it as an annual.
Are Boston ferns winter hardy?
Because Boston ferns are tropical plants, they cannot tolerate frosty temperatures. The best frond growth occurs when daytime temperatures are around 65 degrees Fahrenheit and nightly temperatures do not drop below 55 F.
How cold is too cold for Boston ferns?
Boston ferns thrive in temperatures in the 60s and 70s but can tolerate an occasional blast of cold air of 40 to 50 degrees for a few hours.
Will ferns grow back after winter?
Ferns will die back when it gets cold in winter, but they will begin to grow again in spring. The ostrich fern species can actually sprout again in fall, after the previous fronds have dried up.
Are ferns winter hardy?
With winter temperatures down to -40 F (and -40 C), a lot of plants popular in warmer climates just can’t survive from one growing season to the next. Ferns, however, are one variety of plant that is extremely hardy and adaptable. Not all ferns are cold hardy, but quite a few are.
When can I put my ferns back outside?
They grow best when temperatures reach no higher than 75 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night. A temperature of 95 degrees or higher may kill a Boston fern. Outdoors they should be placed in a sheltered spot where the temperature does not get this hot.
How cold is too cold for a fern?
On the coldest end of the scale, hardy ferns can survive temperatures down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit. However, hardy ferns in USDA zones 2 through 6, tend to be semi-evergreen. In most cases, it is safe to leave many hardy ferns outdoors all winter long. A few, however, are only cold-hardy to USDA zones 6 or 7.
Can fern survive winter?
Deciduous Ferns However, if you have chosen ferns suited to your zone, they will still survive the winter just fine. When fronds start dying back in the fall, cut them back. Ferns can be kept warm with a mulch covering for the winter months.
Can Boston ferns live outside?
Boston ferns are sensitive to both certain amounts of cold and heat, which affect their growth. The fern grows best outdoors when placed in a partially sunny to shady location and indoors in a location out of direct sunlight.
Can potted ferns stay out in cold temperatures?
In general, however, potted ferns that can live outside in cold temperatures usually fall into the hardy ferns category. Hardy ferns tolerate winter temperatures outdoors, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension, but many can also survive high heat.
Are Boston ferns outdoor plants?
The Boston fern (Nephrolepis exalta) is commonly grown as a houseplant, but you can also plant it outdoors. The Boston fern likes cooler temperatures, constant moisture and higher humidity. The Boston fern is a low-maintenance plant, making it a popular fern for both indoors and in the outdoor landscape.
What is a Boston fern?
The Boston fern is a particular type of sword fern plant that originated in parts of the tropics, but is now common and popular throughout the world as a low-maintenance houseplant. It has long, arcing leaves, which, on ferns , are known as fronds, and is prized for its hardiness and tolerance to drought.