While often touted asa initiate - friendly houseplant , the bird ’s nest fern can be a difficult industrial plant to figure out . Still , it ’s a reasonably common houseplant , one frequently found alongside every bit omnipresent Epipremnum aureum and philodendron at greenhouse and grocery stores .
If you happen yourself struggling with one or even experience to throw one aside , you ’ll have plenty of chances to try on again , as this is an loose - to - find houseplant . To keep your dame ’s nest fern as vibrant and prolific as possible , here ’s what you need to know about its upkeep requirements .
What you need to know about the bird’s nest fern
Native to tropic neighborhood of Asia and Africa , the bird ’s nest fern is probably one of easiest fern to care for , but it ’s by no means a walk in the park . Capable of being alush assertion pieceinside the home plate , the bird ’s nest fern , orAsplenium nidus , features fishgig - shaped , apple fleeceable leaves with wavy margins and a nest of delicate young fronds ( or leave of absence ) at the heart and soul . With the expert fear potential , the shiny leaves on a hiss ’s nest fern can reach up to 4 understructure marvelous .
There are a few different types of bird ’s nest fern . Here are the most common 1 and what you should know about them :
How to repot a bird’s nest fern
Often , dame ’s nest ferns are very tightly packed into nursery pots when you first get them . For that reasonableness , you ’ll want torepot them into a enceinte planterto avoid root hogwash . They do well in a standard potting mix , but you could add extra bark and perlite for drainage .
As epiphytic industrial plant that attach to trees in their tropical environments , they can even thrive without soil . But if you ’re not go to be mounting them to a dining table , grease is a low - maintenance way to keep them grounded and fed .
dance step 1 : Add an in or two of pot mixture ( as mix above ) to a pot with a drainage hole . Ideally , the skunk should be an column inch or two bigger than the planter your fern hail in .
Step 2 : undo your bird ’s nest fern from its greenhouse pot and murder some soil from the roots to countenance them to spread .
gradation 3 : Place your fern in the plantation owner .
Step 4 : Situate your birdie ’s nest fern in an area where it will get plenty of medium indirect light or dappled light , as verbatim light can burn up its fragile leaves .
How to water a bird’s nest fern
Moisture is a Brobdingnagian part of hoot ’s nest fern care , and you never require to let your fern whole dry out . If you do n’t stay on top of water your plant deep , the leaves can produce pale and wilted .
As atropical foliage industrial plant , the fowl ’s nest fern also appreciates sizable humidness — medium home humidness between 30 and 50 % should answer , but your plant will always benefit from more moisture in the air travel .
footstep 1 : Using your digit , check to see if the top inch of your territory is wry .
Step 2 : Water your plant deep , and make certain only to get the grease blind drunk . If you irrigate the center of your fern , you may make it susceptible to waste .
measure 3 : determine your home humidness with a hygrometer . If you’re able to keep your plant in atmospheric condition above 50 % , this will prevent your fern from developing crispy tips .
whole step 4 : To append your humidity levels , place your works on a pebble tray with urine or change state on a humidifier .
How to fertilize a bird’s nest fern
The hiss ’s nest fern is n’t a very with child confluent and generally does n’t need to be fertilise more than a few time throughout the grow season . you’re able to fecundate your plant biweekly , monthly , or even bimonthly — a spaced - out feeding schedule is perfectly fine , as overfertilizing can burn your plant life .
Step 1 : Dilute a balanced swimming plant food at half strength .
Step 2 : irrigate the solution into your industrial plant .
Common bird’s nest fern problems
jaundiced leaves : icteric leaves may be a sign that your snort ’s nest fern is invite too much ignitor . you may remove the impacted leaves and move your plant to an area that receives more dappled light .
pallid leaves : Underwatered leaves may commence to recede their green colour . Stay on top of your watering , giving your flora a adept soak every time you irrigate it .
Crispy , brown leave : Burnt leaf tips can be due to either overfertilizing or excessive light exposure . If you suspect the former , leach out your ground with water . If you mistrust the latter , cut off the crispy boundary and move your plant away from your window .
chocolate-brown center : If you notice your snort ’s nest fern center browning , this may be a signaling of decomposition . If the roots are salvageable , replant them in a new container with fresh soil and attempt not to irrigate your plant as frequently .
blank , cottony material on the leaves : A white , cotton fiber - like cop on your leaves is atelltale preindication of mealybugs . moisten your plant and treat it with a horticultural vegetable oil or soapy water supply .
gluey , greyish musca volitans : Another cuss that could wreak mayhem on a raspberry ’s nest fern is scale . ordered series bugs almost look like fern spore and experience unenviable to the tactual sensation . you could cut off impacted leaves or get disembarrass of themwith neem vegetable oil .
How to propagate a bird’s nest fern
propagate a bird ’s nest fern can be a bit of a tricky endeavor , but it ’s in spades potential . You ’ll want to go about the process by collecting the fern ’s spores , as you ca n’t really manifold it with a cutting . If you ’re eager to create more bird ’s nest ferns without bribe young ones , here ’s how to do it .
Step 1 : Seek out a mature frond on your razz ’s nest fern and pluck it off .
stair 2 : come in the frond in spite of appearance of a paper bag for a few sidereal day .
gradation 3 : Collect the spores and come out them on wet sphagnum moss or peat on a dish or in a plenty .
gradation 4 : breed the pot or sweetheart with plastic wrap , impart it in an area with average indirect light .
Step 5 : Be patient , as it may take a few weeks or months for baby ferns to come forth . Throughout this fourth dimension frame , keep the growing culture medium systematically moist .
Although the bird ’s nest fern can be a bit higher maintenance than yourcommon pothos houseplant , it can be a manageable plant if you give it sufficient wet and quash overexpose it to light . With a small second of attention , you ’ll be able-bodied to enjoy gorgeous , salubrious fronds .
