Overwintering Boston Ferns
There is something so simple + beautiful about a healthy, full Boston Fern hanging from a sun-filled porch. But, you may be wondering, what to do with them when the weather gets cold.
With a winter chill sweeping across most of the US, I wanted to take a minute and share a yearly to-do list item: Overwintering Boston Ferns.
Anticipate Frost
The first thing you need to understand about Boston Ferns (or any outside plant care) is the Hardiness Zone they are being grown in.
To help understand climates, gardeners compare their growing climate with the climate where a plant is known to grow well - Hardiness Zone Map.
Fern owners in subtropics zone, without freezing temps and frost, may be able to enjoy ferns outside year round (zone 8b-11), but Content is located in New Jersey, which is designated zone 7a so we anticipate frost.
You can click here to find out which Hardiness zone you’re in.
When you’re buying plants, most plant care tags include a cold tolerance “zone” note, which can help you understand what plants will thrive throughout the changing season, in your area, or need to be taken inside.
The trick is to anticipate a frost BEFORE it happens.
After several seasons of buying and throwing away Boston Ferns, I knew there had to be a better, more cost effective option. With that, I familiarized myself with the process of overwintering Boston Ferns, which turns out to be super easy!
The following two methods are easy and effective, but you have to anticipate the first frost and pull your Boston Ferns in doors before the damaging temperatures kill the plant. This can happen over the course of a few hours, so if you intend to use one of the following overwintering techniques, be sure to anticipate the first frost in your area or pull your ferns in well before the chilly temps set in.
We recommend setting a frost alert notification using a weather app such as Weatherbug.
Here are two methods and care instructions to Overwinter Boston Ferns
Method 1: Houseplant
The most obvious option is to pull your ferns inside and incorporate them into your home’s décor as a houseplant, however most ferns require cool nighttime temperatures, humidity and lots of bright, indirect sunlight.
The issue with overwintering (inside your heated, likely dry home) will inevitably be a lack of humidity which will cause your fern to shed and create an ongoing mess. But, if you’re OK with a little extra to sweep during your normal cleaning (like we are) adding Boston Ferns to your décor is a beautiful addition.
The best option for overwinter storage is a sun porch. Unfortunately, not every home is equipped with a solarium (a girl can dream…).
The next best option is a cool spot, that does not get over 75 degrees and get humid (i.e. a bathroom). If you can’t keep your fern in the bathroom, try relocating it once a week into the bathroom during a shower or misting the fern during its weekly watering.
Here are a few ways you can incorporate your Boston Ferns into your home décor:
Plant Stand
These adjustable plant stands (available in a variety of finishes) are a great way to add your Boston ferns to any room design.
They are easy to move around while you’re trying to find the ferns perfect winter location or while cleaning around.
These stands are also adjustable, so they can hold lots of different pot sizes and could be used for another plant once the ferns go back outside, come spring.
Hanging
If floor space is at a minimum, try using a hanging plant holder such as this one with a shelf and decorative macramé detail.
The shelf will allow for the addition of a plant tray which will aid in watering and keeping the fern damp between watering.
source: The Pink Clutch
Non-Working Fireplace
Take inspiration from The Pink Clutch and use your Boston Fern to fill a non-working fireplace.
Watering and misting inside the fireplace would be a breeze and we recommend using a designated H2O misting bottle to keep your fern healthy and hydrated.
Method 2: Dormancy
Method 2 is to let your Boston Fern go dormant, basically to sleep, as a means of overwintering. The advantage of dormancy is that the fern does not require sunlight. In fact, a dark place like a basement is preferred. The dormancy process is not pretty though, so you’ll want to designate an area out of sight such as a basement or closet.
Monthly Watering
The biggest challenge to overwintering with dormancy is remembering that the ferns will still require monthly watering. Monthly watering is less labor - but easy to forget.
We recommend setting an alert or ensuring that your ferns are included in a houseplant watering schedule, so they’re not forgotten about completely!
Plant Display
In the basement, you can store your ferns on the ground or hang them.
If you’re overwintering multiple plants, we suggest designating an overwintering spot such as a plant display stand or tiered plant stand so the task of watering throughout the winter is organized.
We recommend placing a sheet or drop cloth under the ferns. Additional shedding will occur and placing a ground covering the under the plants will protect your floor and make for easy, occasional clean up.
How to Overwinter a Boston Fern
Fine Water Mister
$12 on Amazon.com
Regardless of the method you use for overwintering your Boston Ferns, take the following steps to prepare the plant for its winter location:
Prune the fern by removing any brown or dead fronds, and leaving the newest growth. This step is best done outside because it will be quite messy.
Try to acclimate the plant before deciding on its permanent location.
Houseplant: Weekly watering and misting/spraying for humidity. We recommend using a fine plant mister, and plant tray to ensure the plant stays hydrated in dry, heated homes.
Dormancy: Monthly watering is necessary when preserving with dormancy.
