# Please help me with my fern.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 11, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390 "2002-06-11T04:15:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390/1 "2002-06-11T04:15:00Z")

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I have a Boston Fern that’s looking a tad worse for the wear. I accidentally put it in a sunny window, which it really didn’t like. Bad Alice! Bad, Bad Alice!

So anyhow, I’ve since moved it to a nice, cool, shady corner, and put it in a pan of water so it’s being constantly exposed to moisture. (This is Calgary folks - it’s practically desert). Also, I’ve been fertilizing it regularly, and it seems to be perking up a bit.

Does anyone have any tips to help the poor guy along? I usually have a pretty green thumb, and I’d hate to have a casuality! :eek:

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**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390/2 "2002-06-11T06:42:06Z")

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They like misting.

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390/3 "2002-06-11T12:42:00Z")

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Use half of the fertilizer recommended until it shows full recovery.

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390/4 "2002-06-11T22:09:29Z")

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Ok, so I’ll mist it (I actually already have a mister - from IKEA no less!)

And I’ll halve the fertilizer - is there a particular type I should try?

What about the dead stuff - I’ve mostly picked off the large leaves - should I just leave the rest, or do I have to get every last leaf?

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**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390/5 "2002-06-14T18:24:04Z")

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A 10-10-10 fert at half the rate.

Dead leaves - get most…go back later and get more…don’t get obsessive.

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**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-fern/113390/6 "2002-06-14T21:44:57Z")

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How about a little mood music? 🙂