Boston Fern problems & how to fix them
Nephrolepis exaltata
Drooping, yellowing, brown tips, or a plant that just won’t thrive? Here are the most common Boston Fern problems, what usually causes them, and how to turn things around.
Common problems
Underwatering
Even one thorough dry-out triggers heavy leaflet shed and crispy fronds. The plant is not getting enough water, either from infrequent watering or soil so dry it repels water. Prognosis is excellent - most underwatered plants perk up within days of proper rehydration.
Crispy tips (low humidity)
Dry heated air browns tips and edges all winter without added humidity. Brown, dry leaf tips caused by air that is too dry for the plant, common in heated or air-conditioned rooms. Existing crispy tips never turn green again, but with higher humidity new growth should come in clean within a few weeks.
Root rot
Constantly swampy soil in a cachepot rots the crown despite its love of moisture. A fungal or bacterial infection of the roots, almost always triggered by soil staying wet too long. Caught early, most plants recover within a few weeks after repotting; if most roots are already mushy, recovery is uncertain.
Phytophthora root rot on a dug-up root ball
Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fungus gnats
Permanently damp peat is ideal gnat-breeding habitat. Small dark flies that breed in constantly moist potting soil; the adults are harmless but annoying, while larvae can nibble roots of seedlings and weak plants. Very treatable by drying out the soil; expect the flies to fade over 2-3 weeks.
an adult fungus gnat resting on a leaf
Photo: James K. Lindsey · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The mistakes that most often kill it
- Letting the root ball dry out completely — the collapse is dramatic and slow to reverse.
- Hanging it over a heat vent in bone-dry winter air.
- Full sun placement that bleaches and crisps the fronds.
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