Ferns and Indoors, south west facing window...

[Black Hills Gardener]

I have two Boston Ferns, An Autumn Fern, and Votaniki Hosta Munchkin (dwarf yellow Hosta) that I'll be bringing inside the house for winter. Right now they're on my front porch. Front of house faces SSW. Right now, the Bostons don't get any sun. The Autumn and Hosta get just a little bit at end of day.
Now I know all about the west/south facing windows and too hot. Want morning sun only. I have to ask you people if you agree with me? Late in the day is same as early in the day for the sun. There is alot of atmosphere between the sun and us at both times. Only outside, it's cooler in the morning. Hot in the afternoon. Inside doesn't matter.
Do you agree with me?
Right now I get no sun in my front windows in mid summer. I have a large overhang over a large porch. Overhang is probably a good ten feet. Almost a covered porch. During winter I sure get direct sunlight coming in my front windows. This is only late in the day before sunset.
When I bring in these plants. I'll sure use the windows to set them in front of. I got myself one of these multi meters that check water, humidity, light. Got one with excellent reviews. Not the fanciest most expensive. I can always back off these plants from the window for less light. Agree?
I'm considering getting some grow lights in case of not enough light. I can back them off. Don't have to put them on top of the plant. Might need to? Either way. Use common sense. Use that meter. Agree?
I plan on using fans during winter to keep air flowing. Have heard about ferns needing the air flow.
I have two humidifiers that work ok. I can always put a pot of water on the stove to boost humidity.
I also have a fountain. It's a large metal bucket about 2 1/2 feet across. Got some nice rocks for it. I'm putting it out on the front porch to help with humidity for the ferns. Considering moving that inside during winter to help with humidity. That's how I had it before. Inside.
Yes I live in a rather dry climate. When it gets real cold or real hot. It gets real dry.
.
Just to mention. In this dry climate. I learned to just get wet to change the world in heat. One day it was 116 out. Extremely dry. I got in the shower 8 times that day. The world became a whole different place when I was wet. Wear not much clothes. They get wet. No big deal they dry fast.
I have a portable swamp cooler. I like swamp coolers more than air conditioning. Air conditioning dries out the air when it's already dry. I'll get headaches with air conditioning. Swamp coolers are super nice in dry climates.

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

Dummy me just researched the Hosta further. Won't work at all wintering inside house. Might winter it in garage. Thinking about outside?

 

[Meadowlark]

Late in the day is same as early in the day for the sun.
Do you agree with me?

No and neither do professional horticulturists I have discussed this with. The rule they use is afternoon sun counts 2 to 1 over morning sun. That is 1 hour of afternoon sun = 2 hours of morning sun.

... I can always back off these plants from the window for less light. Agree?

Yes, but more likely you will need more light.

I'm considering getting some grow lights in case of not enough light. I can back them off. Don't have to put them on top of the plant. Might need to? Either way. Use common sense. Use that meter. Agree?

Yes. Common sense should always prevail.

 

[Meadowlark]

By the way @Black Hills Gardener , you may know this but in case you don't those Boston Ferns can be cut into smaller plants and they will quickly fill out,

I buy 2 gallon Bostons from Lowes and cut them into 4 plants @ $3 each..and they fill in nicely.

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

By the way @Black Hills Gardener , you may know this but in case you don't those Boston Ferns can be cut into smaller plants and they will quickly fill out,

I buy 2 gallon Bostons from Lowes and cut them into 4 plants @ $3 each..and they fill in nicely.

View attachment 115358

Gee.... I am planning on replanting the two I have into 12 inch pots. I could cut them now? I will need to cut them next year.
I can't put any in the ground here. They will just die in winter.
Only problem is selling them? Time it takes. Maybe Craigslist. Have them drop by to me?

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

I'm thinking about moving my three ferns indoors now. It just seems the outdoors here is a bit much for ferns. Too dry. Windy. They're doing ok. Thinking I can get them doing real good indoors. I also wish for some green inside my house.
I mentioned a fountain I have. Was gonna put it outside to "help" with humidity. I should face it. It won't do much out there. I previously had it inside an apartment. I'm thinking about putting it in the middle of my living room. I can always use humidity. My two humidifiers are a hassle keeping up with distilled water for them. I sure need the humidity during winter. Need it summer. Make it easier on the humidifiers.

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

Another day hitting 90. I felt for my ferns. I know they're suffering with the low humidity and wind. Brought them indoors. Got a pan on the stove upping humidity now. Both humidifiers on.
I got three of these lights coming tomorrow. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NVGYFM5?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
Do you think this will be enough? ???
Have a tough time trying to stick the ferns right into the windows. Need to close the drapes at night.
Again....considering moving my tub fountain into the middle of this room for humidity.
I put full spectrum light bulbs in my four lamps in this main room. I know it ain't much at all for the plants. At least most any light they get will be full spectrum. The price is good for these bulbs. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091DLFDL9?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 And these bulbs are good for me. Saw experts saying typical LED's aren't good for you. Spectrum is too narrow. Old incadescents are much healthier because of their fuller spectrum. These are the only thing I can buy anymore to do that good for me.
Right now I just close up the house in the morning. House stays a good ten degrees below the outside heat. When it gets really hot. I have a portable swamp cooler. That will make the humidity real good with windows open. It is a hasssle feeding it water all the time.
I'll post pictures after I get this set up.
Got lots to do to straighten things out here. I went from no time at home. To lots of time I couldn't do anything. To just now starting to be able to do things. But I'm slow, awkward with this prosthesis. Not fully adapted to the prosthesis yet. Getting better. Keep working at it a little here and a little there.

 

[cpp gardener]

Leave the Hosta outside all year round. They can take sub-zero weather just fine. If you must put them inside somewhere to prevent the pot from breaking, put it in a location just warm enough to prevent breakage. The colder the better.
The ferns want as much light indoors as you can give them. They can both take temps in the high 90's as long as they don't dry out.

 

[Meadowlark]

Another day hitting 90. I felt for my ferns. I know they're suffering with the low humidity and wind. Brought them indoors.

I don't get it @Black Hills Gardener ...

I have many Boston Ferns as well as other ferns outside in the Texas summer heat where the high temps will almost never be lower than 90 deg F and usually are above 95 deg F until late September. The ferns thrive.

I wouldn't even consider moving them indoors which is a far less desirable environment, in my opinion. Have you seen any signs that the plants are stressed now outside?

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

I don't get it @Black Hills Gardener ...

I have many Boston Ferns as well as other ferns outside in the Texas summer heat where the high temps will almost never be lower than 90 deg F and usually are above 95 deg F until late September. The ferns thrive.

I wouldn't even consider moving them indoors which is a far less desirable environment, in my opinion. Have you seen any signs that the plants are stressed now outside?

Oh come on, Meadowlark. You know it's so humid in east Texas. When it rains the humidity drops.
They could definitely be doing better. They do look somewhat stressed. Not as good as when I bought them. The Autumn fern has white at the end of some leaves. They say that could be transplant shock. ???
I'm wanting to get these guys some humidity. Today it's 23% outside. Yesterday, 14%. Not good for ferns.
I got it up to 50% in here now.

 

[Meadowlark]

A sprinkler will up that humidity very nicely. Let's see where they do best...outside with a sprinkler or inside.

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

A sprinkler will up that humidity very nicely. Let's see where they do best...outside with a sprinkler or inside.

That means I would be soaking my wood deck out front all summer?
These were on both sides of my front door. Sprinkler right there?
I also have Begonias and a dwarf Hosta there. They can't take excessive water. Heck...the ferns can't take excessive watering.
I do have, packed away here somewhere. Stuff to set up little misters and drip watering. ???
I also very much like having some greenery inside my home.

 

[oneeye]

The best way to grow ferns outdoors is under a shade clothe. Since ferns thrive on the forest floor a 30% to 50% shade cloth protects their fronds from harsh direct sunlight.

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

The best way to grow ferns outdoors is under a shade clothe. Since ferns thrive on the forest floor a 30% to 50% shade cloth protects their fronds from harsh direct sunlight.

I appreciate the input. I had them under a large overhang. Almost a large covered deck. No direct sun during summer. One had a little direct sun very late in the day. Didn't seem to hurt it?
My problem is humidity. Also wind.
Gee...I started this looking for a nice little Boston for my home. Then...walked into a sale at Lowes. Two of these large ones for $20. I can't pass up a deal. Thought I might make them work on the front porch.
They didn't seem to be doing that good. With the low humidity and wind. Also I was going to pull them indoors during winter anyways. I really did want some plants indoors anyways. 15 years ago, I had a bunch of plants in my apartment. Don't know why I got rid of them when I moved to this house? I ended up going OTR and nothing would survive my being away.
I remember a neighbor at my apartment. She brought over a friend who was vacationing from Panama. One of those plants was a super easy to take care of. Large green with some yellow and orange in the leaves. She laughed when she saw that plant. She said; You see all that dense green from space in Panama? This is it! It's everywhere there.
I'll post pictures after I get this all set up right.
I could carry on about all I'm doing here. This thread isn't about my life.

 

[Black Hills Gardener]

Just checked weather. It's overcast this morning with 64% humidity. 46% in the house with windows open. I know it will soon dry up by mid/late morning. Get down to ~20% humidity for the rest of the day.
I'll soon have things straightened out here. I'll roll out my swamp cooler. Use it with windows open. It will be nice. Nice for the ferns.
Love that swamp cooler. It's so nice in this dry environment. Even when it's 110 out. Like it better than air conditioning. That dries out the air more, when it's already dry. Gives me a headache.