How to Grow and Care for Bird's Nest Fern

Bird's nest ferns (Asplenium nidus) are epiphytes, meaning they typically grow on other plants and are not connected to the soil; this means that they derive most of their nutrients from other sources like water or composted soil.

For this reason, bird’s nest ferns thrive in warm, humid environments which makes them a great choice for a bathroom plant. They prefer medium to bright indirect light—so ensure there’s a window available—and moist, well drained soil.

These ferns have long, erect bright green fronds that grow from a central rosette. Unlike some other ferns, which grow feathery leaflets, bird's nest ferns have smooth, lance-shaped fronds that sometimes develop gentle ripples when grown with sufficient light.

Bird’s nest ferns have a slow growth rate, especially when kept indoors; they also remain smaller indoors than their counterparts grown outside.

Bird's Nest Fern Care

• Place in a location with medium to bright indirect light or partial shade.
• Maintain a temperature between 60 and 80°F, ideally with high humidity.
• Plant in a peat-based potting mix with good drainage.
• Water so the soil is evenly moist but not soggy.
• Feed with a balanced houseplant fertilizer once per month during the growing season.
  

Light

Bird’s nest ferns grow well in filtered sunlight to partial shade. Don’t expose them to direct sunlight other than the very early morning sun. Harsh direct sunlight can burn the leaves. Indoors, an east- or north-facing window is ideal.

Soil

These plants like loose soil rich in organic matter with excellent drainage. A peat-based potting mix is good for container plants.

Water

These ferns prefer consistent soil moisture but don’t do well sitting in soggy soil. Water whenever the top inch of soil is dry. Avoid watering directly into the center of the plant, as this can encourage mold growth and rot in the dense nest. Aim water at the soil to avoid wetting the fronds.

Bird's Nest Fern Tips for Beginners

• Best Place to Put It: Place your bird's nest fern in a spot that only receives partial or filtered sunlight—these plants do not do well in harsh, direct sunlight.
• Best Way to Water It: Keep the soil for your bird's nest fern consistently moist but not too damp. Don't let it dry out completely.
• Best Soil Type: Bird's nest ferns prefer soil that is moist, not dry, but with plenty of drainage.

Temperature and Humidity

Bird’s nest ferns thrive in temperatures between 60 and 80°F. This plant can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F, but anything colder can harm the plant, especially with prolonged exposure. Indoors, protect your plant from air conditioning or heating vent drafts.

This fern prefers high humidity and moist environments, such as a bathroom, greenhouse, or terrarium. You can also run a humidifier near the plant to create a more humid environment.

Fertilizer

During the fern's active growing season of spring through early fall, feed once a month with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Apply fertilizer to the soil, not fronds, as direct contact with fertilizer can burn foliage. Stop feeding in the fall, then resume again the following spring.

Is This the Right Plant for You?

A BIRD'S NEST FERN IS A GOOD CHOICE IF:

• You have an east- or north-facing window that can provide this plant with adequate light
• You want a plant with a slow growth rate so you don't have to repot it frequently
• You have pets and want a non-toxic houseplant

Types of Bird's Nest Fern

Here are a few varieties of bird’s nest ferns that feature different leaf shapes:

• A. nidus 'Crispy Wave': Sword-shaped ruffled leaves
• A. nidus 'Osaka': Narrow, strap-like leaves with rippled edges
• A. nidus 'Antiquum': Wavy leaf margins
• A. nidus 'Victoria': Long, wavy, tongue-shaped fronds

Crispy Leaves?

If your bird's nest fern has crispy parts around the edges of the leaves, it's likely because you are not watering enough or it's not getting enough humidity. Consider adjusting your watering schedule, or invest in a plant humidifier.

Pruning

Bird's nest ferns don't need regular pruning. As outer leaves die off, cut them back at the base of the plant with sharp, sterilized scissors or pruners.

Pruning Tip

No pruners? No problem! We've tested over 10 top-rated pruners to help you choose the right one for your comfort and personal needs—there's an option for everyone.

Propagating Bird's Nest Fern

Bird’s nest ferns can be tricky to propagate for beginner gardeners, because you cannot propagate with cuttings. Fern propagation occurs via spores, which look like fuzzy brown spots on the undersides of fronds.

The best time to propagate a bird's nest fern is when the spores look especially plump and fuzzy. Here's how to propagate bird's nest fern via spores.

1. Gather a small paper bag, a small dish, sphagnum moss, and plastic wrap or a clear plastic bag.
2. To collect the spores, cut off a frond with fuzzy spores and place it in a paper bag for a few days. The spores will drop into the bag.
3. Moisten a handful of sphagnum moss with water. Place it in a small dish of water to keep it moist but not waterlogged.
4. Shake the spores from the bag onto the sphagnum moss.
5. Cover the dish of moss with plastic wrap or fasten a clear plastic bag around it with a rubber band.
6. Place the dish of moss in a warm, shaded spot. Keep the dish filled with water, and mist the moss if it doesn't feel moist. Germination should occur in a few weeks.

Potting and Repotting Bird's Nest Fern

Bird's nest ferns must be potted in a container with ample drainage holes. Your plant generally won’t need repotting because its roots have run out of space. Instead, these ferns need repotting once they’ve grown so large they’re unstable and need a larger container.

This typically occurs every two to three years; spring is the best time to repot. Select a container that's large enough to keep your plant stable. A ceramic container often works better than plastic to anchor the plant.

Carefully loosen your plant from its previous pot, set it in the new pot at the same depth as before, and fill around the root ball with fresh potting mix.

Planters for Bird's Nest Fern

If your bird's nest fern has grown so large that it's unstable in its current pot, you'll likely have to size up a planter for repotting. Here are our favorite indoor planters to pick from. To prevent overwatering, you can also go with one of these self-watering planters.

Common Pests

No serious disease or pest problems affect bird's nest ferns, though they can be affected by some insects common to houseplants, such asscale.

Delicate Pest Care

Naturalinsecticidal soapsare the best solution to combat pest issues because chemical pesticidesdamage this plant's fragile leaves.

Common Problems with Bird's Nest Fern

Bird's nest ferns are generally healthy plants, but they can experience issues related to an improper environment.

Tips for Buying In-Store

• Check for pests. Look underneath leaves and along the stem to make sure no critters follow you home.
• Avoid plants with brown spots on leaves.
• Read the plant label. Make sure that this plant works for you, your lifestyle, and your space.

Curling Leaves

Insufficient moisture causes bird's nest fern leaves to curl and leaf edges to turn brown. Keep soil lightly moist, and do not allow plants to dry out completely. If brown edges persist, try setting the pot on apebble trayor installing a small-space humidifier.

Pale Leaves

Too much sun can cause the foliage to turn yellow. Check your plant throughout the day to ensure it's not receiving direct sunlight. Move the plant from the window or add a sheer curtain to filter the light.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing leaves are likely caused by overwatering. Reduce watering and, if necessary, repot the plant into fresh, dry potting mix.

Browning Tips

Fronds naturally turn brown as they die and are replaced with fresh growth. Browning along the edges of a frond is often due to drafts hitting the plant. Move your fern away from air-conditioning vents and any drafty windows or doors.

From: thespruce