How to Grow Bird's Nest Fern

Asplenium nidus

Perennial

Bird's Nest Fern is one of the most forgiving ferns, tolerating lower humidity and less-than-perfect watering. Its broad, wavy fronds form an elegant rosette that unfurls new growth from the centre. Provide medium indirect light, keep soil evenly moist, and never pour water into the central funnel. Non-toxic to pets.

Yearly Lifecycle

Jan

Spring Growth

Feb

Growing

Mar

Growing

Apr

Growing

May

Growing

Jun

Growing

Jul

Growing

Aug

Growing

Sept

Growing

Oct

Growing

Nov

Growing

Dec

Growing

Care Essentials

Feed monthly with a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser from spring through summer. Avoid getting fertiliser in the central rosette. Stop feeding in autumn and winter.

Watch For

Scale insects on frond undersides
Brown leaf tips from dry air or direct sun
Bacterial leaf blight in waterlogged rosettes

Pet Safety

Cats: Non-toxic

Dogs: Non-toxic

Source

Care Requirements

Light

Medium indirect light

Thrives in medium indirect light. Tolerates low light better than most houseplants. Direct sun burns the fronds and causes brown patches.

Watering

Evenly moist, avoid the rosette

Water around the edge of the pot when the top 2 cm of soil feels dry. Never pour water into the central rosette as this causes bacterial rot.

Fertilizing

Monthly diluted feed, spring to summer

Feed monthly with a diluted balanced liquid fertiliser from spring through summer. Apply to the soil, not the rosette. Stop in autumn and winter.