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TL;DR
This is a method page: how to grow a Boston fern mounted rather than potted. Tie the crown to cork or hardwood over a damp sphagnum pad using fishing line or nylon cord (never glue on living tissue), hang it in bright indirect light with humidity above 50%, and expect to water every 1-3 days. A mounted fern dries several times faster than the same plant in a pot. For standard potted care see the base guide at /plants/indoor/boston-fern. Pet-safe.
Key facts
- Nephrolepis exaltata grows semi-epiphytically on trunks and rock ledges in the wild, which is why board mounting works at all.
- A mounted fern dries out several times faster than a potted one. Watering every 1-3 days is normal, not excessive.
- The sphagnum pad, not soil, is the entire water reservoir; its size directly sets how long the plant can go between waterings.
- Tie with fishing line or nylon cord; adhesive should only ever touch the moss or the board, never the crown or roots.
- Boston fern is non-toxic to cats and dogs, mounted or potted.
No pot
board-mounted culture
1-3 days
typical watering interval
Non-toxic
to cats & dogs
$25-60
typical US mounted price
Care requirements#
| Growing method | Mounted: crown tied to a slab with a sphagnum pad, no pot and no potting soil |
| Mounting substrate | Cork bark, untreated hardwood, or a tree-fern slab; cork lasts longest under constant wetting |
| Moss pad | A generous handful of soaked, squeezed sphagnum behind the crown; more moss buys you more time between waterings |
| Wire vs glue | Fishing line, nylon cord, or plastic-coated wire wrapped over the crown base. Plant-safe silicone may anchor the moss pad to the board, but never glue the roots or crown |
| Light needs | Bright indirect light; direct sun dries the pad and scorches fronds within a day |
| Watering method | Take the mount down and soak it in a sink for 10-15 minutes until the pad is saturated, or drench it under a tap |
| Soak-vs-mist schedule | Soak every 1-3 days. Far more often than a potted fern. Misting the fronds daily helps humidity but does not water the plant |
| How to judge thirst | Lift the mount: a mounted fern that feels light is already stressed, so water on weight, not on a fixed day |
| Air circulation | Moderate air movement is good, but avoid a draught or fan pointed at the mount. It will dry the pad in hours |
| Humidity | 50-70% minimum; below that a mounted Boston fern browns off no matter how often you water |
| Temperature range | 16-24°C (60-75°F); keep away from radiators, which are lethal to mounted ferns |
| Fertilizer | Quarter-strength balanced liquid feed in the soak water every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans |
Growth & propagation#
| Mature size | 50-80cm frond spread on a mount, cascading below the board |
| Growth rate | Fast in humidity, and noticeably slower than the same plant potted if the pad dries repeatedly |
| Propagation methods | Runners (stolons) that root into the moss pad, or division of the crown before mounting |
| Propagation difficulty | Easy: pin a runner onto a second moss pad and it roots in a few weeks |
| Remounting schedule | Every 1-2 years; sphagnum breaks down and stops holding water long before the board fails |
| Pruning needs | Trim browned fronds at the base to keep airflow through the crown |
Common problems & troubleshooting#
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fronds crisp brown within days of mounting | The mount dries far faster than the pot the fern came from, and the watering routine was not changed | Move to watering every 1-3 days, add more sphagnum at the next remount, and raise ambient humidity |
| Crown goes black and mushy | The mount was kept permanently sodden with no drying phase, or glue was applied to living tissue | Cut out rotten tissue, remount on fresh moss with cord rather than adhesive, and let the pad surface dry slightly between soaks |
| Fern slides off or loosens from the board | Cord tied only around the fronds, or the moss pad decomposed and shrank | Retie across the firm crown base and remount on fresh sphagnum |
| Heavy frond drop and constant shedding | Low humidity, the classic mounted-fern failure in heated rooms | Relocate to a bathroom or add a humidifier; misting alone will not fix a dry room |
| Green algae and a sour smell on the board | Constant wetting with no airflow | Increase air movement, and choose cork or cedar rather than plain softwood at the next remount |
Coming soon
Learn more →
Mounted plants dry out on their own schedule
Sodate tracks how fast your slab actually dries in your room, so a mounted fern never crisps between waterings.
Seasonal care#
Spring
Growth restarts; begin dilute feeding in the soak water and remount now if the moss pad has broken down.Summer
Fastest growth and fastest drying. Soak daily in hot weather and keep the mount out of direct sun.Autumn
Ease back feeding; watering can stretch slightly as household heating has not yet started.Winter
The hardest season for a mounted fern. Indoor heating dries the pad quickly while light is low, so keep humidity up and check the mount's weight daily.Varieties & cultivars#
| Variety | Distinguishing trait | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 'Bostoniensis' | The classic arching Boston fern | Best all-round choice for mounting |
| 'Dallas Jewel' | Compact, denser habit | Suits small slabs and holds shape on a wall |
| 'Fluffy Ruffles' | Short, stiff, heavily ruffled fronds | Attractive mounted but less tolerant of drying |
Buying checklist#
- If buying pre-mounted, check the crown is tied at its base and not glued
- The moss pad is generous and still springy, not thin and decomposed
- Board is cork, cedar or hardwood rather than untreated softwood that will rot
- Fronds are green to the tips, with no widespread browning from a dried-out pad
Pricing by region#
| Region | Price range | Typical unit | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | $25 – $60 | mounted plant | Nursery + maker-mounted online |
| UK | $25 – $65 | mounted plant | Garden centre + online |
| India | $7 – $22 | mounted plant | Urban nursery retail |
| Australia | $25 – $60 | mounted plant | Nursery retail |
| Canada | $28 – $68 | mounted plant | Garden centre + online |
What drives the price: Whether the mounting labour is includedBoard material (cork and tree fern cost most)Plant sizeBuying a potted fern and mounting it yourself is far cheaper
USD figures are approximate conversions for comparison; switch the dropdown to see each region's actual local-currency listing price.
Often confused with#
Nephrolepis cordifolia (fishbone fern): Very similar mounted, but it makes underground tubers and is invasive in parts of Australia and the US; Boston fern spreads by above-ground runners instead.
Rabbit's foot fern (Davallia): A genuinely epiphytic fern with furry surface rhizomes that is far easier to mount and needs less water than a Boston fern.
Where it's actually grown#
Boston ferns themselves are mass-produced in Florida, Costa Rica and the Netherlands as potted stock; mounted versions are almost always ordinary nursery plants remounted by small makers or by the grower at home.
Import & biosecurity restrictions#
| Region | Note |
|---|---|
| Australia | Live plant imports restricted under biosecurity law; Boston fern is widely available domestically. |
| US | No restriction on domestic sale; Nephrolepis exaltata is a standard nursery crop. |
| UK | Imports need phytosanitary paperwork; sold in every garden centre domestically. |
| India | No restriction; grows well mounted in humid coastal cities, poorly in dry inland heat. |
| Canada | CFIA permits required for commercial imports; potted stock is ubiquitous at retail. |
Similar plants
Did you know?
The Boston fern exists because of a shipping accident: in 1894 a Philadelphia grower sent a batch of sword ferns to a Boston distributor, who spotted one oddly graceful arching sport among them and propagated it. Every 'Bostoniensis' since is a clone of that single mutant frond cluster.
Frequently asked questions
Can you grow a Boston fern mounted without soil?
Yes. Tie the crown to a cork or hardwood slab over a damp sphagnum pad. It works because Nephrolepis grows semi-epiphytically in the wild, but you must water far more often.
How often do you water a mounted Boston fern?
Every 1-3 days. A mounted fern dries several times faster than the same plant in a pot, so judge by the weight of the mount rather than a weekly schedule.
Should I use glue or wire to mount a fern?
Use fishing line or nylon cord tied across the crown base. Adhesive should only ever contact the moss or the board. Glue on living tissue causes rot.
Is a mounted Boston fern still pet-safe?
Yes, Nephrolepis exaltata is non-toxic to cats and dogs however it is grown.
Where can I read normal potted Boston fern care?
The full potted care guide, including soil mix and repotting, is at /plants/indoor/boston-fern.
