A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Keeping Plants during the Winter in House

Hi, I'm new to the list. I have so many beautiful ferns and I'd love to know if I can trim them completly back and bring indoors during the winter months.

Talk about what kind of ferns; did you buy them and they've been outside this summer? did they have any kind of label? are they growing in the woods behind your house? If they're native outdoor ferns, are there enough that you can 'spare' a few incase they don't make it indoors? Can you post a pic? Why do you want to trim them completely back?

If they are Boston Ferns they need a lot of humidity to survive indoors. They work excellent in the bathroom.

nance, i'd not cut them back completely, they need the green to feed. i would, however, cut them back by about 30% and follow cinta's advice about putting them in the bathroom. or alternately, hanging over your kitchen sink (that is where i keep mine). be aware however, when you do bring them in, they are going to do some serious shedding due to the light change.

Light and humidity are the biggest factors for Boston ferns in the house. And Jiffy is absolutely correct about them shedding. I trim off any weak looking fronds but other then that I just bring them in. I have over wintered 4 for years now with great success.