Too much direct sun
Pale, washed-out, or scorched fronds on a fern in direct sun are sunburn.
Diagnosis
Too much direct sun
What's happening
Boston ferns evolved in dappled forest shade and aren't built for harsh, direct sun. When strong rays hit the delicate fronds through a window, they bleach the green out and scorch the tissue, leaving fronds looking faded, yellow-green, or dry and brown on the side facing the glass. Direct sun also dries the soil and air far too fast for a moisture-loving fern to keep up.
How to fix it
Move the fern back from the window to a spot with bright, indirect light, or filter the harsh sun with a sheer curtain — an east or north window, or a few feet inside a brighter one, suits it well. The bleached and scorched fronds won't turn green again, so trim the worst at the base if you want a tidier look. New fronds will come in a healthy green once it's out of the direct sun, and the soil will hold moisture much better there too.
What fixes it
- A full-spectrum LED grow light — If a bright window was the only light, a grow light gives even, gentle light without the scorching.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Boston Fern care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this