The Boston fern is widespread in tropical regions. It is a lush, graceful fern with long, arching fronds, and makes a lovely specimen plant on a pedestal or in a hanging basket.

In the right conditions, the fronds can reach 4 ft. (1.2 m) long, and are rich mid-green with numerous pinnae occurring alternately on each side of the midrib. As the plant matures, two rows of brown spore cases appear on the underside of each pinna, either side of the central vein.

Size: Spread 3 ft. (90 cm) at five years.

Light: Indirect sunlight or warm par­tial shade (not deep shade).

Temperature: Normal room.

Moisture: Keep moist at all times.

Feeding: Give standard liquid fertil­izer every two weeks from spring to fall.

Propagation: Furry runners grow from the rhizome and plantlets develop at their tips. Remove plantlet once it has rooted by severing the runner with a knife. Spore propaga­tion is not easy, as viability is variable.

Special needs: In higher temperatures, dry air will cause browning of the pinnae. Place the pot on a tray of moist pebbles to increase humidity.