Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

Houseplant background of Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

‘Green Lady’ is one of the Boston fern forms grown as a houseplant.

In the American tropics and subtropics, Nephrolepis exaltata grows in moist woodland, swamps and floodplains. It may grow in the ground or on trees and palms.

Looking after Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady' indoors

• Space, stability and light: Choose a stable pot or basket with room for the fronds to spread. Bright, filtered light helps the centre stay upright and full. Turn the container occasionally for even growth.
• Watering a larger pot: Moisture can vary across a wide container, so test the mix in several places. When the surface starts to dry, add water in stages until the potting mix is evenly moist, then empty any water collected in the saucer or outer pot.
• Humidity and warmth: Humid air helps reduce dry tips and leaflet loss. Keep the plant in a warm room clear of cold draughts and hot air blowing directly across it.
• Potting mix and drainage: Use a pot with drainage holes and a mix of peat-free compost, perlite and fine bark. This mix helps the wide root ball stay evenly moist while excess water drains away.
• Feeding: Continue feeding while new fronds are opening. Choose a balanced liquid fertiliser and use the lowest dose recommended for indoor plants. Follow the label's instructions for how often to feed. Give plain water between feeds. Pause during slower growth and start again when fresh fronds appear.
• Grooming: Keep the spreading foliage clear of walkways and remove completely dry fronds close to the base. Leave green central coils in place.
• Repotting and new plants: Choose a larger container when roots crowd the pot or push the crown upward. When the root system still fits but the mix has compacted, change the mix and return the plant to the same pot. Divide mature clumps, or pot rooted runners separately.

Help with problems affecting Nephrolepis exaltata 'Green Lady'

• The clump becomes sparse or strongly one-sided: Too little light, or light reaching the plant from only one direction, can weaken new growth. In a dim room, move the plant towards a brighter window and use a light curtain to soften direct sun. If light reaches mainly one side, turn the pot regularly as new fronds develop.
• Fronds droop and the container feels unusually light: The root ball has dried too far. Add water in several passes until the whole root ball is moist, let the container drain and check the potting mix more often as the plant grows.
• Brown tips appear across many fronds: Feel the mix in several places. If some areas are dry, water slowly until the whole root ball is evenly moist. If the mix is already moist, move the fern away from hot air and raise the humidity. Frequent feeding or a chalky deposit around the rim may mean salts have built up. Flush the mix with plain water and let it drain. If the tips keep browning, slide the root ball out and check for damaged or tightly packed roots.
• Several fronds yellow while the mix remains damp: Dense potting mix or rot may be damaging the roots. Slide out the root ball and use clean scissors to remove roots that feel spongy, break apart easily or smell sour. Once the remaining roots feel firm, dispose of the damaged roots and old mix. Repot the fern in fresh, loose potting mix.
• Sticky residue, pale speckles, white cotton or shell-like bumps: Mealybugs, scale insects or spider mites may be present. Move the fern away from nearby houseplants and wash the fronds gently. Identify the pest, then choose a treatment labelled for that pest and suitable for indoor ferns. Follow the dose and timing on the label.

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Lady’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

When was Nephrolepis exaltata first published, and what does it mean?

Greek nephros, kidney, and lepis, scale, form Nephrolepis and refer to the small kidney-shaped coverings over the spore-bearing patches. Exaltata means elevated or very tall.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Nephrolepis in 1834 in Genera Filicum (Vienna), plate 3.

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Polypodium exaltatum in 1759 in Systema Naturae, tenth edition, volume 2, page 1326. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott later placed it in Nephrolepis as Nephrolepis exaltata in 1834 in Genera Filicum (Vienna), plate 3.