How to take care fern house plants?

My girlfriend under watered it then over watered it and finally she put it out side to get some sun...and left it out at night...in 38 degree weather.....how do we take care of Boston Ferns the RIGHT way?.....and how can I bring one back from the dead?

How to take care fern house plants?
it is easier to bring one back from the store


........... than it is to bring one back from the dead.


and would you want a zombie fern?


that being said


remove all the damaged foliage and stems


remove all dead roots and excess soil


repot the remaining living plant into a smaller pot (this will eliminate a lot of watering issues later.


ferns bright light, humidity, fertilizer that is acidic, water when they start to dry out.
Reply:Ferns need to stay moist, but not soggy; don't ever let the soil actually dry out. In their natural habitat, they are shaded by larger plants in a forest, so you don't want to put them in the direct sun. Keep them in a bright area, but not where they'll be in strong sunlight except perhaps early in the morning.





Ferns also need a LOT of humidity; I suggest putting them on a pebble tray so that the bottom of the pot rests on the pebbles, then fill the tray with water almost to the top of the pebbles. That way, as the water evaporates, the air in the vicinity of the plant will be humid. Of course, if you happen to have a cool-mist humidifier, that will work nicely. Also be sure to keep it away from heat registers, air conditioners, and areas where people might walk by and brush it a lot.





If there are any fronds (the curled-up parts) left at all, your plant can probably survive. Don't feed it until it has recovered a bit. It will take some time, but if there are any living fronds, it's just going to require some patience. Good luck!
Reply:first, if it has undergone the trauma you've described, give it a major haircut. Take scissors and cut it down short. after a thorough watering, lift the pot and get an idea of its weight when well watered. thump the pot...get an idea of the sound. eventually you'll know if it's time to water by either of these two methods...do not water again until it is 90% dry. you will also be able to "see" if it needs water by the leaf color and condition.


obtain a mister/spray bottle and after they are 3-6 inches begin mist them daily. No strong fertilizers...use a weak liquid solution very infrequently ( not very often at all.) the misting and bright light ( no direct sun unless morning only) is key. they will come back like gang busters..during the summer months you will be able to hang them on the patio...misting is important when outdoors.
Reply:i'm sorry i can't answer about bringing them back to life.. i know that ferns grow better in the shade though, i always find them growing where there is shade.


with most plants, over watering makes the leaves go yellow. under watering makes them wilt - sometimes spraying the leaves with a mister keeps them from wilting and there's no need to water them if they stop being wilted a little while later.


if it looks dead, it maybe just the outer.. you can try pruning the branches until you see green within the stalk, that means there's some life left in it, cut away all the dead parts and wish for the best.. hope this helps.. ferns are lovely plants :) i hope your fern recovers well and soon.


also if the soil is drenched probably best to remove it and put it in well drained soil.. but if the roots have rotted its probably too late :(
Reply:It may be a gonner. I always kill them, from lack of watering. They like high humidity...a spritz a day. And water them before the soil feels dry...a couple of times a week. If you can keep it semi alive for the rest of the winter, then put it outside and baby it all summer, maybe it will rouse. Good luck!