I really hope you can give me some advice about my Boston Fern. It is probably 4 years old and had been doing very well hanging in our sunroom in the southeast corner. I keep it watered very frequently and I also mist it ever so often. Now there are a lot of dead fronds and when I checked down at the base today, all I can find is a lot of dead frond bases. It is so packed with them, so much that I cannot even see the potting soil and there is no new growth evident at all! Should I try repotting it? I really hate to lose it, as it still has a good many healthy green fronds, but no evidence of new growth. Thank you.
It sounds like it needs to be divided and repotted. Dividing it will push the plant to regenerate itself and grow new fronds. This article will be helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/boston-fern-runners.htm
I have six Boston ferns which I managed to keep over the winter. I think most of the nutrients must have leeched out. Do I need to feed it now?
This article will help you with fertilizing your Boston ferns: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/boston-fern-fertilizer.htm
I have a large maple and the area underneath it gets a lot of shade. Can I plant Boston ferns? I see them in the woods and they look beautiful!
The ferns you're seeing in the woods are not the same as Boston ferns. They are wild types, adapted to the weather in your part of the country. Learn a little more in this article: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/ferns/taking-care-of-outdoor-ferns.htm
By talking to local landscaping companies, plant stores, or the Extension Service, you should be able to find a source for outdoor ferns you could use. Here's a link for the E.S.: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search/
What can I do to get rid of worms on my Boston ferns? They are not little inch worms. They are a good bit larger, black dark brown and green in color. Read somewhere that they might be hatched larva from moths. How do I get rid of them?
Bacillus thuringiensus is a product that will kill caterpillars and nothing else. Read more here: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/using-bacillus-thuringiensis.htm
But are you sure you need to kill them? Are they eating your Boston ferns? They may be waiting to become beautiful butterflies! You can find out what they are by taking one to the local Extension Service, who will tell you if you need to be worried about them. This link will help you locate the nearest office: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search/
I've either let my fern get too dry, or maybe too much sun, but one of my ferns has leaves coming up out of the center turning brown and it's not as lush as the other one. How can I fix it? I hang them on my back patio. One side gets more sun than the other but I switch them every time I watered them. How can I get it healthy again? Thanks
If I were there, I'd take your ferns down and examine the roots first, to make sure there's not a rot going on in the browning one. If the roots are okay, I'd try getting more water into the plants -- maybe soaking them in a bucket instead of just pouring water in. Here are some more tips on Boston fern growing: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/boston-fern-care.htm
I have purchased a home that has a large indoor planter (10' x 10'). It's an architectural feature of the home, contained only on the sides by concrete walls, with the bottom of the planter extending down to the subsoil. There is an old, healthy growth of Boston Ferns that has a heavy under matting of dead leaves. Should I trim out the dead leaves under the healthy growth or leave as is?
OMG that is so gorgeous. You are super lucky. By all means, trim out the dead fronds. Just lift up the green stuff (which looks quite healthy BTW) and reach in with scissors, and cut those off as close to the base of the plant as you can get. Here are some articles to help with the care of your planter: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/boston-fern-care.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/indoor-plants-that-need-low-light.htm
What is the proper way to store my Boston ferns for winter? Someone said cut it back and put in my garage. Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks.
Boston ferns do fairly well as normal houseplants, if you can give them bright indirect light and good humidity. If you do not think you can do this, or if you do not have the room, you can put them into dormancy. You do this by placing them in a cool, dark place - like an attached garage, a closet or a basement. Water it only once a month, but water it thoroughly when you do. It will look dead, but in the spring, take it back out and it should regrow fine.