Description
Boston fern Plant ( Nephrolepis exaltata )
The plant known botanically as Nephrolepis exaltata, commonly referred to as Boston Fern, sword fern, or fishbone fern, grows up to a diameter of 1.5 m. It is a spiller type of plant.
Nephrolepis exaltata plants create a dramatic arching fountain of greenery with their long fronds, making them an excellent choice for hanging baskets, high pots, or plant stands. People can also cultivate them in the ground to serve as relatively erect accents amid low annuals like impatiens or begonias, or as a tall tropical-looking ground cover alongside shade-loving coleus, browallia, caladium, and others.
The plant’s long and frilly leaves with hanging fronds earn widespread admiration from all. Therefore, if you’re contemplating starting gardening, you should begin with this simple plant.
Light: Bright indirect sunlight
Watering: Water once or twice a week
Maintenace: easy-going, Low maintenance plant
Fertilize every 2-3 weeks for better growth.
Uses: Whether used as groundcover, in large containers, or hanging baskets, this plant is attractive to bees, butterflies, and/or birds. Consequently, it is often viewed as an ideal location for bird nests.
Re-potting Tips: Repot once the plant outgrows the current pot, use a pot not bigger than 2″ at a time. Make sure to use good quality soil mix while repotting.
Indoor Lighting: bright indirect light, Direct sunlight might scorch its leaves.
Humidity: Prefers high humidity in the air.
Temperature: Average room temperatures
Soil: Use soil type with good aeration and drainage
Fun Fact: Air-purifying
Ferns constitute an ancient division of vascular plants, some of them as old as the Carboniferous Period (beginning about 359 million years ago) and perhaps older. Their type of life cycle, dependent upon spores for dispersal, long preceded the seed-plant life cycle.
