Boston Fern, or Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis is a relative of the sword fern you probably have seen growing in the forests of the pacific northwest. They are also found in South America, Mexico, Central America, Florida, the West Indies, Polynesia and Africa. These gorgeous specimens have the potential to absolutely explode into a mega fern, potentially reaching a size of 4 feet tall and wide! Its name was popularized by nurseryman John Soar who brought a specimen of this fern to his friend in Boston to enjoy. It’s an extremely popular houseplant often seen growing in hanging baskets to show off its full figured splendor!

Care tips include keeping the humidity at 80%. This is going to require frequent misting, which may turn off those of you who want little to no maintenance, however, we promise it will be worth it! It’ll seem like less of a chore if you have a spray bottle sitting next to your fern. Another option for increasing humidity is a pebble tray. Set your plant in a saucer full of pebbles and fill it with water halfway to the top. Your plant should be sitting on the rocks rather than in the water. The water will slowly evaporate and create a lovely humid microclimate for your fern! This raises the humidity around 5 to 15%, so occasional misting is still recommended. When re-potting your fern, use a light, fluffy soil mix with perlite for aeration and moss for water retention. Pick up some liquid tropical fertilizer to promote healthy new growth and bright green leaves.