# Repotting a Boston fern

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repotting-a-boston-fern/1015888>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Tags:** gardening\
**Created:** [March 20, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repotting-a-boston-fern/1015888 "2025-03-20T20:34:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repotting-a-boston-fern/1015888/1 "2025-03-20T20:34:41Z")

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I rescued a Boston fern in very bad shape our next door neighbors left in the driveway.  
I moved it to a larger pot, it was quite root bound.  
Is this root mass from the single plant, or did it divide into many plants? Should I attempt to divide them, or simply give the single plant more room?

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repotting-a-boston-fern/1015888/2 "2025-03-20T21:49:08Z")

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You may be able to divide the rootball, taking a section(s) with visible surface fronds, or cut off and replant runners, covering with a plastic bag until growth is evident.  
[This site](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/boston-fern-runners.htm) has pretty good info.

If it’s a small plant you might be better off letting it recover awhile in its new pot with better soil, light and humidity. Very rootbound plants often benefit by making slits in the rootball and peeling some roots outward so they’ll spread into new soil.

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**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repotting-a-boston-fern/1015888/3 "2025-03-20T21:57:07Z")

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I’ve tried to regrow those ferns. People discard dozens every year on the side of the road.

My experiences is grim to maybe you’ll get a small fern from it.

But, good luck. Can’t wait for updates, Carni.

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**Author:** ![ZurBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/71e660/32.png) [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repotting-a-boston-fern/1015888/4 "2025-03-20T22:56:05Z")

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At the end of the season, I unpot the rootbound masses and saw them into quarters, then repot. Overwintered in the basement (dark) then brought outdoors when the weather warms, they always take off and do fine.