Gardening Houseplants Types of Houseplants

How to Grow and Care for Bird's Nest Ferns

Bird's nest ferns (Asplenium nidus) are epiphytic, meaning they grow on the surface of other plants in their rainforest habitat. 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.

They prefer medium to bright indirect light, high humidity, and moist, well-drained soil. Because they thrive in warm, humid environments, these ferns make an excellent choice for a bathroom. Bird's nest ferns have a slow growth rate and grow more slowly and remain smaller when kept indoors versus outdoors.

Bird's nest fern

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida 

Common Name Bird's nest fern, nest fern
Botanical Name Asplenium nidus
Family Aspleniaceae
Plant Type Perennial
Mature Size 3–5 ft. tall, 2–3 ft. wide outdoors, 2 ft. tall and wide indoors
Sun Exposure Partial, shade
Soil Type Loamy, moist, well-drained
Soil pH Acidic
Hardiness Zones 11–12, USA
Native Area Asia, Australia, Africa

Bird's Nest Fern Care

  • Place in a location with medium to bright indirect light or partial shade.
  • Maintain a temperature between 60°F and 80°F and ideally 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.
a bird's nest fern
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
crinkly leaves of a bird's nest fern
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

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 soil that’s loose and 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 they 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.

Temperature and Humidity

Bird’s nest ferns thrive in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant can tolerate temperatures down to 50 degrees, 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 soil not fronds, as direct contact with fertilizer can burn foliage. Stop feeding in the fall, then resume again the following spring.

Tip

New leaves will emerge from the central rosette of your bird's nest fern. Do not touch, move, or handle the new fronds as they grow from the center—they're extremely fragile.

Types of Bird's Nest Fern

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

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

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.

Propagating Bird's Nest Fern

Bird’s nest ferns can be tricky to propagate for beginner gardeners. Many people opt to purchase nursery plants instead, though propagating them yourself will save you some money. 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. Shake the spores from the bag onto the sphagnum moss.
  4. Cover the dish of moss with plastic wrap or fasten a clear plastic bag around it with a rubber band.
  5. 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 will typically occur every two to three years, and 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.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

No serious disease or pest problems affect bird's nest ferns, though they can be affected by some insects common to houseplants such as scale. Natural insecticidal soaps are the best solution to combat pest issues because chemical pesticides will damage 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 that often have to do with an improper environment.

Curling Leaves

Insufficient moisture causes bird's nest fern's 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 a pebble tray or install a small space humidifier.

Pale Leaves

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

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing leaves are likely caused by overwatering. Cut back on 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. But 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.

FAQ
  • Do bird's nest ferns like sun or shade?

    Bird's nest ferns look their best when exposed to filtered light or part shade. Bright, direct sunlight burns the delicate leaves of this plant.

  • Are bird's nest ferns hard to take care of?

    Bird's nest ferns are generally low-maintenance and easy to keep alive with the proper care and conditions.

  • Can I put my bird's nest fern outside?

    You can move your bird's nest fern outside once temperatures remain between 60°F and 80°F. However, it needs a spot in partial shade and must be moved indoors when temperatures drop below 50°F.