Repotting my Boston Fern

The origins of ferns can be traced back to about 360 million years ago, making them older than the dinosaurs.  In fact, ferns thrived on earth more than twice as long as the first flowering plants.  These ancient plants have a very primitive method of reproduction.  They reproduce not by seed but by microscopic spores, which are formed on the lower side of the leafy branch of the fern, called a frond.  When these spores are released, given the right moisture and soil conditions, they’ll eventually grow into a mature fern.  But ferns can also sprout from the spreading rhizomes, or roots, of existing plants, a much faster method of reproduction.

Although most of the several thousand fern species are found only in the wet tropics, many varieties of fern are well suited to the temperate zones.  Most of these types thrive in moist, woodsy soil, and are happiest growing in dappled light, a combination of shade and sun.  This makes them perfect for woodland gardens, or massed as a ground cover in a corner of your yard, or even planted in containers.  Just be sure to keep them lightly mulched and moist, and your ferns should grow beautifully for many years to come.

Things in the greenhouse have gotten busy now that all the potted plants have been moved indoors for the winter.  Here is a Boston fern that has been living in this lovely faux bois pot for quite some time.  It graced my patio all summer.  Jodi felt it was time to divide and repot and from the look of these photos, her decision was a good and necessary one, as the fern’s roots were extremely pot bound.

Here is the pot bound fern

Jodi trimming back the fronds

Pointing out new growth

Loosening around edges of pot with a long garden knife

Look at all those roots!

Cutting through roots with knife, making one fern into three

Metro Mix potting soil, acquired from Griffin Greenhouse & Nursery

One fern, back into the same pot, filling in with Metro Mix

Giving the fern a good soaking!

Comments

[Joan Fluor Mason, OH]

Hi Martha, I just signed in and thought that your blog would not be on for Saturday but it is here. Thanks so much for the advice on the ferns.I had a very old, long wicker fern planter that was my grandmother's and I had it in the house. Even put a plant light on it and itjust didn't make it. So your advice is very helpful..it probably was pot bound.Thanks again for your wonderful blog.All the best to you.

[Margie]

How simple and smart. I always go to a larger pot with results of lots of little pots in shed corners growing nothing. My program also results in a pot not fitting the area once occupied by the old pot.
Great information. Thanks.

[Hardboiledegg]

I sure am glad you posted this, my neighbor complains about my yard which has ferns. And I would consider it a woodlands garden approach she doesn't have a problem with her dog wandering into my yard amongst the ferns.

some people have no idea about gardening, scale and proportion and how to landscape it would be nice if she found your website even though she is a Phd candidate I can only associate that with professional hair dresser in her case.

[Gloria Herring]

Martha, where is this Griffin Greenhouse and Nursey located? I am curious because I was a Griffin before I married.
Keep up all the good work and information.
Gloria Herring

[Isabella]

Very informative blog entry today Martha. Thank you for taking the time to post them.. I am learning so much!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, I have a beautiful fern that looks exactly like yours growing on the side of my back patio. It is about 2 feet across and maybe 6 inches wide. In the summer, when it is in all it's glory, it's fronds are about 18 inches long. During the winter, it is dormant and re-emerges in the spring. I have been thinking of moving part of it and now I think I will. Thanks again for sharing. Jan

[Amy Brown]

I'm so glad I read your post, I throw my ferns out each year and buy new ones every spring. I had no idea you could divide and cut back. Thanks for the info.

[Bill (Mount Desert Island, Maine)]

Dear Martha,

Wonderful blog, Martha, about how to correctly divide and repot these beautiful ferns ... and hats off to Jodi and her staff whose green thumbs, expertise and hard work are obviously a key to your beautiful gardens!

Please kindly tell us where one can find these beautiful (and substantial) faux bois pots similar to yours. I have admired photos of them in your Martha Stewart Living magazine, in your Martha Stewart Collection photos from Macy's ... as well as recently being featured in an earlier MARTHA segment. I would love to find and purchase a small concrete faux bois pot (similar to yours) to compliment my growing Martha Stewart Collection of faux bois bedding, etc. here near Acadia National Park, Maine.

Again, thanks very much for your wonderful and informative blogs! Season's Greetings!

Cheers,
Bill
Northeast Harbor, Maine

[Andrew Ritchie]

I adore Boston ferns. I've been enamoured of them since I was a child. I even asked for one on my 11th birthday and got it! It lasted a very long time and I was so proud of myself for keeping it looking beautiful. ...I was an unusual kid! But I adore plants!

-Andrew

[M&Co]

I have lots of Ferns in my garden, but I did not appriciate the beauty of them before I saw you using them in one of your magazines. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Brenda Wolfe]

I've always thought my Boston Ferns were dead also so I quit replacing them. Are you saying they will look dead & come back every spring? I live in Oklahoma and took them into my garage every winter. How much water will they need during November thru April?

[Judie McNeill]

This is wonderful advice, my old Boston Fern is doomed for a new life.
Thanks for the pictures and advice.
I enjoy your website so much. I view it from New Zealand.