Boston Fern brown tips

Feel the Boston fern’s root ball, especially inside a hanging basket. Fine fronds can brown after a dry spell even when the surface was recently watered.

Rewet a dry center

Apply water slowly across the surface. If it keeps bypassing a shrunken root ball, stand the pot in shallow water until the mix absorbs moisture, then remove and drain it. Thereafter water as the surface starts to dry, while the center still holds moisture.

If the pot is already moist

Move fronds away from hot airflow and check their undersides for pale stippling or mites. Crust after heavy feeding suggests salt buildup. Trim fully brown fronds at the base, leaving green fronds to support new fiddleheads.