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Hello. Im new to the board, but have been visiting this site for a good while, and really enjoying it. My question is, or rather, the help I need, is with my boston fern. Its big and beautiful, and was given to me by a friend. It was completly rootbound; I had to cut away the plastic container it was in. I'd like to divide it, or at least loosen up the roots for better growing, cause they are all still mashed together in the shape the pot was that held them! Also, there are tons of these little round fleshy things all over the root structure. What are those??? Are they root globs of some kind? can I soak them in water and get new plants from them? This plant is a mystery to me, please help! Thank you! Shando.
From: Ann Arbor, Mi | Registered: Jun 2003
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Like most plants, Boston ferns love to be potbound. When their roots are given too much space they put their energy into expanding their roots at the expense of putting out new fronds. Don't let appearances deceive you; cramped roots don't bother the plant at all.
If you are happy with one plant, then simply put it back into the same sized pot it was in and enjoy it.
If you want more than one plant, then take a long sharp knife and slice through the center of the rootball from top to bottom. Don't try to spread the roots. Pot up each half into its own pot, using the smallest pots that they will fit into. Use a peat-based potting soil to fill in the space. The divided plants will languish for a while as they recover from the shock of being divided and as they fill their new pots with roots.
Boston ferns like lots of brigh indirect light with a few hours of direct sun. A north or east windowsill is best. Water thoroughly as soon as the surface of the soil feels almost dry.
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