Boston ferns are great houseplants that will look good in your living room, office, or anywhere else. Many people love buying these plants because of how lush and green they are.
They certainly do help to make living spaces feel more natural and welcoming. If you’ve only recently started keeping houseplants in your home you might be worried about making little mistakes.
You know that Boston ferns need to be cared for properly to stay in good condition. If your plant is turning light green is that a sign that you’ve been doing things wrong?
What causes Boston ferns to turn light green? Continue reading to get all of the information that you need so you can keep your houseplant healthy.
Turning Light Green Isn’t a Good Sign
When you see a Boston fern start to turn light green it isn’t a good sign. This means that you’re doing something wrong.
If you’re caring for the plant properly, it should remain the same lush green color that you’re used to. So changes in the coloration of the fronds should be taken as a sign that something is amiss.
There are a few different things that could be going wrong. To get the plant back to normal, you’re going to need to make some adjustments.
Once you figure out what’s wrong with the Boston fern, it should be simple enough to make the necessary changes. You’ll also know about mistakes you should work to avoid in the future.
1 – You’re Not Watering the Fern Enough
The most likely cause of the fern turning light green is improper watering. When you don’t water Boston fern plants enough, it’s common for the fronds to start turning light green.
It’s important to water these houseplants correctly to keep them healthy. Both too much water and too little water can cause problems.
The fern will start to turn light green when there are watering issues. You might also see the fronds turn yellow, and they will eventually wilt if you don’t fix things.
To get good results, you want to keep the soil consistently moist. When caring for these ferns as houseplants, they’ll dry out fairly fast.
So you must check the condition of the soil and water the plant when the soil begins to dry. Try to be more mindful to water the plant more often, but avoid watering the plant too much by checking the soil first.
2 – The Soil Lacks Nutrients
Another thing to consider is that the soil might lack the proper nutrients. Plants need nutrients to thrive, and you might be using soil that has been depleted of all of its nutrients.
In this case, it’s best to amend the soil or completely replace the soil. You want to plant Boston ferns in nutrient-rich soil.
3 – Temperature Issues
These plants are known to turn light green when they’re exposed to temperatures that are too hot or too cool. You’re supposed to keep these houseplants in rooms that have a temperature between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is pretty easy to do in a common household without making changes. However, your plants might be exposed to fluctuating temperatures if you put them in bad spots.
For instance, your fern could be too close to a drafty window or a vent. You might even have your fern positioned near an air conditioning unit.
Find a spot in your home where the temperature won’t fluctuate. This should help to solve issues with the plant turning light green or yellow.
4 – Problems With Humidity
The humidity level in your home can also play a role. Boston ferns need to be kept in very humid environments.
It’s recommended to keep the humidity near the Boston fern close to 80%. This is too high for a normal home, but you can achieve the right humidity level by using a small humidifier.
A small humidifier that’s meant for plants can help you to keep the humidity high in a localized spot. This makes it easy to keep your plants healthy without harming the rest of your home.
If you don’t wish to use a humidifier, you can raise the humidity levels near the fern by misting it regularly. Leaving bowls of water near the houseplants can also work well.
5 – Issues With Sunlight
Sunlight is important for plant growth. When Boston ferns don’t get enough sunlight, they might not grow properly.
Too much sunlight can be very bad for these plants, too. When you expose Boston ferns to direct sunlight it causes them harm.
Direct sunlight is too harsh. It’ll cause the appearance of the plant to change quite a bit.
You might see the fronds turn light green or yellow due to excessive sunlight exposure. In nature, these plants grow in shady locations under trees.
6 – Improper Fertilizer Use
There’s a chance that you caused the plant to turn light green by using fertilizer improperly. Using fertilizer is a good way to help plants grow, but using too much can cause problems.
Boston ferns don’t need much fertilization to thrive. When you use too much fertilizer it will cause the plant to lose its color.
The healthy green color will fade a bit and you’ll be left with a light green plant. Using fertilizer improperly can also weaken the plant and lead to issues with pests.
7 – Pest Problems
Even pests have been known to cause problems with color changing in Boston ferns. There are many pests that you might see bothering these ferns such as mealybugs, caterpillars, and spider mites.
The bugs might damage the plant by sucking out nutrients. It weakens the plant and makes it unhealthy.
Over time, it’ll cause the plant to lose color. You’ll see the fronds turn pale green unless you correct things fast.
8 – Stress
Stress can cause the plant to turn light green. Did you recently repot the Boston fern?
After doing so you might see the plant go into a shocked state. This should be okay so long as you care for the plant properly.
It’s common for plants to lose color, wilt, or drop leaves due to stress. Monitor the plant and ensure that you’re using the right soil to get it looking healthy again.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.