With their soft green fronds and bushy growth, it’s no surprise that Boston ferns are popular as houseplants. Boston ferns also have a range of benefits, such as purifying the air and stimulating good luck and positive energy. Positioning a Boston fern in the right location helps you get the most out of these benefits. This article will detail where to position Boston ferns in the home for the most feng shui benefits and optimal care.
- Where to Position Boston Ferns in the Home – The Essentials
- About Boston Ferns
- Boston Ferns and Feng Shui
- Where to Position Boston Ferns in the Home
- Where NOT to Place Boston Ferns in the Home
- Where to Place Boston Ferns Outside
- Essential Boston Fern Plant Care
- Where to Position Boston Ferns FAQs:
- Finding the Best Locations for Boston Ferns – The Final Word
Where to Position Boston Ferns in the Home – The Essentials
According to the Bagua map, place Boston ferns in southeastern areas of your room or home to maximize good luck. Boston ferns excel at absorbing negative energy and produce positive energy in return. Place them on top of shelves where negative energy gathers. Boston ferns prefer warm, humid locations such as bathrooms and plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
About Boston Ferns
The Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) is the only species in the Nephrolepidaceae family. Boston ferns are indigenous to Florida, Central and South America, Polynesia, Africa, and the West Indies. These fabulous ferns thrive in humid, shady tropical forests and swamps.
Boston ferns produce fronds that can grow up to 100 inches long and 6 inches wide. The fronds are covered in soft sword-shaped leaves that grow on either side of the stem. Boston ferns typically grow up to 3 feet tall and wide but can sometimes reach over 4 feet.
According to NASA’s Clean Air Study, Boston ferns are adept at removing formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the air.
Boston Ferns and Feng Shui
As well as their beauty, Boston ferns are popular houseplants due to their feng shui benefits. Like many other plants, Boston ferns are believed to bring good luck and prosperity. These ferns make excellent feng shui plants for your office or workspace.
Boston ferns are also thought to absorb negative energy (chi or qi) and produce positive energy. This is reflected by the ability of Boston ferns to purify the air by absorbing harmful chemicals like formaldehyde. It can also represent the ability of plants to help reduce our stress levels.
The Five Elements Theory (Wu Xing) of feng shui focuses on the interactions between the five major elements. These elements are earth, fire, metal, water, and wood. The wood element is linked to growth, renewal, spirituality, and trust. Houseplants like Boston ferns are strongly associated with the wood element.
Where to Position Boston Ferns in the Home
According to the Bagua Map
The Bagua map is an integral part of maximizing the feng shui in your home. Using the different areas of the Bagua map, feng shui practitioners can address various aspects of their lives. There are nine regions on the Bagua map:
- East = Family (Zhen)
- Southeast = Prosperity and Wealth (Xun)
- South = Fame and Reputation (Li)
- Southwest = Relationships (Kun)
- West = Children (Dui)
- Center = Health (Tai Qi)
- Northwest = Helpful People (Qian)
- North = Career (Kan)
- Northeast = Knowledge (Gen)
In feng shui, Boston ferns are one of the plants that can help practitioners cultivate good fortune, prosperity, and success. These qualities are strongest in the southeastern part of the Bagua map. Place Boston ferns in the southeast corner of your home or office to maximize good luck.
According to Five Elements Theory, the wood element is linked to the eastern and southeastern regions of the Bagua map. The East governs family relationships, while the Southeast is associated with prosperity and wealth. Put your Boston fern in eastern and southeastern areas to boost the power of the wood element in your home.
According to feng shui, Boston ferns can also absorb negative energy and radiate positive energy. Negative energy is thought to congregate in empty spaces or areas with lots of sharp angles and corners. Adding a Boston fern to these areas can reduce the accumulation of negative energy and turn it into positive vibes.
The main areas that accumulate negative energy are empty shelves or the tops of cabinets – spaces that aren’t being used. Boston ferns are ideal for these areas because their abundant foliage can quickly fill the empty space. Boston ferns can also be suitable for corners with sharp angles attracting negative energy.
According to Plant Considerations
Boston ferns need warm, humid environments to grow at their best. Boston ferns require daytime temperatures between 65 and 95ºF (18 to 35ºC) and humidity levels between 60 and 90%. Bathrooms are ideal for Boston ferns because they are usually the warmest, most humid place in your home.
Providing the right amount of light is also crucial for Boston ferns. These plants need bright, indirect sunlight or filtered light to thrive. Morning sunlight is preferable because it’s less intense than afternoon sun, which can scorch a Boston fern’s delicate fronds.
East or southeast-facing windows are ideal for Boston ferns because they get the sun in the morning. When placing your Boston fern, keep it a few feet away from the window. Always try and avoid areas with hot or cold drafts from air vents, radiators, and windows.
Where NOT to Place Boston Ferns in the Home
While some areas of your home are ideal for Boston ferns, other areas can cause problems. Rooms that are too dry, too dark, or too cold can stunt the growth of your Boston fern and lead to yellowing fronds or brown tips. Avoid drafty areas that can dry out the air around your Boston fern, which lowers humidity.
In the Five Elements Theory, certain areas or rooms in a home are stronger with specific elements. The relationship between the elements is also crucial, as some elements can weaken or clash with others. This makes some parts of the Bagua map unsuitable for Boston ferns, representing the wood element.
Wood is weakened by fire and clashes with metal. The fire element is strongest in the South of the Bagua map and is linked to fame and reputation. Placing a Boston fern in this area can weaken its benefits while fueling the fire element.
The West and Northwest sections of the Bagua map are strong with the metal element. The West represents children, while the Northwest is associated with mentors and helpful people. Placing Boston ferns in these locations may cause clashes in these aspects of your life.
Where to Place Boston Ferns Outside
Boston ferns can be grown outside in warm, humid climates. USDA Growing Zones 9 to 11 are ideal for Boston ferns. These ferns can be grown in cooler areas in containers but must be sheltered from winter temperatures indoors.
Boston ferns need partial sun or indirect sun in the morning when grown outside. They also need to be sheltered from strong winds. Boston ferns aren’t drought-tolerant, so will need frequent watering or soil that retains moisture.
Essential Boston Fern Plant Care
With the proper care, Boston ferns can be easy houseplants to look after. Boston ferns need bright, indirect light or filtered light. East or southeast-facing windows are ideal because the morning sun is less intense than afternoon rays.
Boston ferns should be watered whenever the top inch or so of growing medium feels dry. During the summer, you may need to water every two to three days. Use distilled or filtered water as Boston ferns can be sensitive to chemicals in tap water.
Boston ferns prefer warm, humid conditions. The temperature should range from 65 to 95ºF (18 to 35ºC) during the day and no lower than 60ºF (15ºC) at night. Humidity levels should be kept above 80% wherever possible.
Provide Boston ferns with a moist but well-draining soil mix that’s slightly acidic. Boston ferns grow relatively slowly, so feed them once a month with diluted fertilizer during the spring and summer, which is also the best time to consider repotting if needed.
You’ll also want to watch out for common Boston fern pests and diseases, which often thrive when plants are grown in less-than-ideal conditions.
Where to Position Boston Ferns FAQs:
What room is best for a Boston fern?
Bathrooms are ideal for Boston ferns because these locations provide warm, humid conditions. As feng shui plants, Boston ferns work best in southeastern rooms, especially offices.
How far away from a window should a Boston fern be?
When placed near an east or southeast-facing window, put the Boston fern a few feet away from the window. If you have to leave them in a south-facing room, extend the distance to 8 feet from the window.
Can I put my Boston fern in a corner?
You can put a Boston fern in a corner. These plants can absorb the negative energy that collects in sharp corners and turn it into positive energy.
Can Boston ferns thrive in low-light environments?
Boston ferns do well in low-light environments, although they shouldn’t be left in full shade for extended periods. Somewhere that provides partial shade is ideal.
Can Boston ferns tolerate drafts?
Boston ferns do not tolerate drafts very well. Hot or cold drafts from air vents, radiators, and windows can dry out the air around the plant too much.
Finding the Best Locations for Boston Ferns – The Final Word
Boston ferns are excellent feng shui houseplants that can help you cultivate good luck and prosperity. To maximize the feng shui benefits of Boston ferns, place them in the southeastern corner of your home or office. Boston ferns prefer warm, humid locations with bright, indirect light or partial shade. Bathrooms are one of the best locations for Boston ferns.
Edd is a budding content writer and gardener living in the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor's degree in Creative and Professional Writing and has written for several gardening publications online. He is passionate about nature and sustainability with a focus on gardening and wildlife.
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