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Here’s how to divide a Boston fern: Start with a large, full Boston fern plant. Remove plant from its pot. Using a pair of garden forks, divide the root ball in half. Divide the root ball again into quarters. Repot the plants into individual pots or place several in a larger container.
Can I split my Boston fern?
Propagation may also be achieved by dividing Boston fern plants. First, allow the fern roots to dry out a bit and then remove the Boston fern from its pot. Using a large serrated knife, slice the fern’s root ball in half, then quarters and finally into eighths.
Do Boston ferns like to be root bound?
Most Boston ferns benefit from repotting at least every two to three years, although some fast-growing ferns may require repotting more often. Several signs indicate your fern needs a larger home. A badly root-bound fern may crack the pot. It’s a good idea to repot the plant before this happens.
When can I divide a fern?
The best time to divide ferns is in the spring. When separating a fern, you first need to remove it from its old pot or dig up the clump. Once it’s out, brush off and shake loose as much soil as you can. It may not be much, as ferns tend to have very tight, interlocking root balls.
How do you thin a Boston fern?
You don’t want to crop the top of the plant when pruning Boston fern. Instead, trim off the side fronds at the base. Also remove old, discolored fronds near the soil to allow new growth to come through. Remove the unsightly stems to the base as well.
Can you transplant Boston ferns?
When Boston ferns become overgrown, their roots can crowd the pot and sometimes cause it to crack. Spring is the best time to transplant or divide the plants. Boston ferns are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11.
How do you grow a large Boston fern?
How to Grow Boston Ferns Grow Boston ferns indoors in bright, indirect sunlight or outside in filtered shade. Plant outdoor Boston ferns in Miracle-Gro® Moisture Control® Potting Mix and indoor Boston ferns in Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix. Water frequently to keep the soil evenly moist.
Is coffee good for ferns?
Coffee grounds are not good for ferns. Using liquid coffee, used or fresh coffee grounds or any other coffee based product as fertilizer for your ferns will inhibit the growth of the plants. Coffee adds too much nitrogen to the soil for a fern.
Can you replant hanging ferns?
Regular transplanting to larger pots gives the roots enough space to grow. You can transplant the entire fern or divide it into smaller bunches. Choosing the correct pot size and planting medium gives you an ideal start to replanting your hanging fern.
How do you propagate ferns by division?
Fern propagation by division Physically dividing ferns is the simplest way to propagate them. Simply take a mature clump of ferns out of its container or dig it up out of the ground and divide it into pieces. Every separate clump of fronds – growing on an erect rhizome – can be separated out into an individual plant.
How do you multiply ferns?
The quickest way to grow more ferns is through division, preferably in spring. Start by watering your plant the day before you begin. Then, dig it up or gently remove it from its container, and cut or pull the plant into 2 or 3 clumps. Leave at least one growing tip—the spot from which the fronds grow—in each clump.
How do I take a cutting from a fern?
Propagating ferns from cuttings Fronds can be bowed over and pegged down on the surface of a tray positioned next to the mother plant, then detached once rooted. Fern fronds can also be removed then placed and pegged to encourage rooting (facing upwards) on the surface of a tray of compost.
Will fern cuttings root in water?
To successfully grow ferns in water, make sure that you keep the plant along with the roots in a vase or a glass bowl full of water. You’ll see the best growth if your fern plant in water will receive at least a couple of hours of the gentle morning sun, and bright indirect light every day.
Can you propagate a Boston fern in water?
To get an easy escape from all these stressors, ferns can be grown in water only. The technique used for this purpose is called hydroculture. This is completely different from hydroponics. Even though both techniques involve solely using water as a medium of growth but there is a key difference between both of them.
Can I divide ferns in summer?
Large ferns like this hanging fern are perfect for dividing into new plants. Late summer or early fall is an ideal time for splitting plants, as it allows enough time for new growth to begin before the plants need to be brought indoors. But it’s actually the perfect time to spring into action.
What do you do with Boston fern stolons?
Propagating Boston ferns takes one of two forms: runners, or division. Runners will extend out from the plant and will gradually develop roots. These runners are called stolons. You can remove these at the base of the old plant and repot them in sterile potting soil.
