Impressive Faux Boston Ferns Review

Outdoor Artificial Ferns That Absolutely Impress

You would not believe how these look up close. I bought these artificial ferns for my outdoor porch because every real Boston fern I’ve tried on my front entryway is dead by August. I sourced two tall drainage pots first, then hunted for something that could fill them at 45 inches without needing water. When I pulled these out of the box, fluffed every frond, and set them in the pots, they stopped me in my tracks, they looked like I’d just walked them in from a garden center.

This isn’t a plant I have to keep alive. That’s the whole point. I get the lush, forest-picked look without a watering can, and I get to keep it right through the seasons when a real Boston fern would have given up.

What You Get in the Two-Piece Set

Each fern is 45 inches tall with 60 fronds, and they come as a two-piece set. The leaves have a gradient from deep green to light green with yellow-green tips, so the color shifts the way a growing plant would instead of looking like one flat plastic shade. You can use each piece individually, but I like the look of them together, so that’s what I decided to do. They also come with a stake option if you’d rather push them straight into the ground.

The Pots Are Half the Setup

The two tall pots I chose have a real drainage system, and that’s a nice feature. There are holes in the top so you don’t have to fill the whole thing with soil. If you just wanted to set a basket in the top, it rests on a little platform or insert inside, and any excess water drains right through. At the very bottom there’s also a drainage cap you can open up to let extra water run out.

I paired them with the faux ferns, and the height is what makes it work, the fronds spill over the rim and drape down the sides of the pot, which is the cascading Boston fern look I was chasing. A shorter pot would cut that effect in half.

You Have to Fluff Them Like a Christmas Tree

Here’s the part the listing glosses over. These ferns arrive very compressed. Straight out of the box they’re flattened down, and you have to fluff them the same way you’d fluff a Christmas tree, bending and separating each frond so it fans out. It’s not hard, but it takes a few minutes of hands-on work before they look like the photos. If you skip it, you’ll wonder why yours looks squished compared to mine.

The other thing I’m still working out is stability. On their own the ferns don’t stand up firmly in the pot, so I’ve got to figure out a way to anchor them. I think I’m going to get some soil and pack it in the pot for weight. Once that’s sorted, I certainly won’t ever have to water them, which is the trade I was happy to make.

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2PCS 45in Faux Boston Ferns

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Who These Artificial Ferns Are Really For

The clearest use case is a covered porch or entryway that gets too much direct sun or too little consistent watering. My front entryway bakes in afternoon heat and I’m not dragging a hose out there every other day, that’s exactly the situation these were made for. If your porch gets shade and you’re a dedicated waterer, a real Boston fern will look better and smell like one. But if you’ve already killed two of them like I have, stop fighting it.

They also work if you want matching greenery flanking a doorway, since the set gives you two. And if you have a spot with no easy water access, faux ferns are the practical answer.

Faux Ferns vs. a Live Boston Fern

Real Boston ferns offer smell and texture that faux can’t match, but they demand regular watering, humidity, and cleanup, these faux versions don’t. But it demands regular watering, humidity, and cleanup, and it won’t survive in a spot that bakes in sun or freezes in winter. These faux ferns bring color to places where real ferns can’t live. I certainly won’t ever have to water them. The trade-off is the fluffing step up front and the fact that you need soil or a stake for stability, where a live fern comes rooted in its pot and stands on its own.

My Advice Before You Buy

Plan the pot before the fern. The plant is only as good as what it sits in, and a tall pot with a real drainage system gives you flexibility whether you fill it with soil or drop in a basket. When the ferns arrive, set aside a few minutes to fluff every frond before you judge them. And figure out your anchor early. I’m going with soil for weight so mine sit firm and full. Do that and these look like the real thing from the street.

Pros

• Look absolutely beautiful and lifelike up close with a deep-to-light green gradient
• Two-piece set you can group together or use individually
• Never need watering, trimming, or cleanup
• Can be potted or staked into the ground
• Full and tall at 45 inches with 60 fronds each

Cons

• Arrive very compressed and need to be fluffed like a Christmas tree
• Don’t stand firmly on their own, so you’ll need soil or a stake for stability
• No living texture or scent

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these artificial ferns come with pots?

No, the ferns and the pots are separate purchases. I bought two tall drainage pots on their own and paired them with the faux ferns. You’ll need to source a pot, or use the included stake option to plant them in the ground.

How do I make them stand up straight in a pot?

Add weight for stability. I’m planning to fill the pot with soil so the fern sits firmly, since it won’t hold itself upright loose in an empty pot. Sand or gravel would work too. The upside is once it’s anchored you never water it.

Are they safe to leave outdoors year-round?

Yes, they’re made with UV-resistant, color-fast materials meant to resist fading in wind and rain. That’s the reason to choose faux over live for a porch that gets harsh sun or cold. Just expect to knock off dust or debris now and then.

How big are they once fluffed?

Each fern is 45 inches tall with 60 fronds that fan out from the center. Fully fluffed they read as large and bushy, enough to anchor a tall pot or a wide entryway. Straight out of the box they look much smaller until you separate the fronds.

Can I split the two-piece set between two spots?

Yes, you can use each fern individually. I chose to group both together in my pots because I like the fuller look, but one on each side of a door or in two separate planters works fine.

Do they look fake from a distance?

Not from the street once they’re fluffed. The color gradient does a lot of the work, shifting from deep green to lighter yellow-green tips the way a real plant does. Up close they hold up well too, which surprised me.

How do I clean artificial ferns outdoors?

A quick shake or a rinse with the hose handles most of it. Dust and pollen settle on outdoor faux plants over time, so an occasional spray keeps the color looking fresh. No trimming or leaf pickup like a real fern.

Can I use them indoors instead?

Yes, they work indoors just as well as on a porch. The UV resistance is a bonus for outdoors, but nothing stops you from potting one in an entryway or sunroom. Indoors they’ll stay cleaner and need even less attention.

Get it now

2PCS 45in Faux Boston Ferns

Get the best price on Amazon →

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🛍️ 2PCS 45in Fake Ferns – Large Artificial Plants Outdoor, UV Resistant Artificial Ferns — check price on Amazon →

🛍️ Tall Drainage Pots with Holes and Drainage Cap — check price on Amazon →