Plant Care Bird's Nest Fern

Bird's Nest Fern

4.3 out of 5 (174 experiences)

Bird's Nest Fern has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Bird's Nest Fern has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves

About Bird's Nest Fern

Bird's Nest Fern is a super popular houseplant 🌿 that is isn’t challenging to grow and needs lots of water to thrive. They do best in moderate sunlight 🌤 and should be less than 6 feet from a window.

Plant parents describe this plant as being a survivor and having large, lush leaves with a whopping 7377 being grown with Greg around the world. Check out the reviews below for more details!🌟

Bird's Nest Fern likes soil that is good at retaining moisture. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Taxonomy

Asplenium nidus
Asplenium
Aspleniaceae
Polypodiales

Also known as

Nest Fern, Victoria Bird's Nest Fern, Asplenium antiquum and Crispy Wave Fern

How to care for Bird's Nest Fern

Water

How often to water your Bird's Nest Fern

Water needs for Bird's Nest Fern
0.5 cups
every 7

Bird's Nest Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Bird's Nest Fern

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Bird's Nest Fern in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Bird's Nest Fern: 6ft from a window
6ft or less from
a window

Bird's Nest Fern can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Bird's Nest Fern in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Bird's Nest Fern

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Bird's Nest Fern: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Bird's Nest Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Difficulty Level

Bird's Nest Fern is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!


Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Humidity
Soil
Fertilizer
Native Region
Flowers
Growth Pattern
Growing Outdoors
Propagation
Yellow Leaves

Care Summary for Bird's Nest Fern

Bird's Nest Fern

Bird's Nest Fern


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 days

Placement

< 6ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Bird's Nest Fern has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 71
Bird's Nest Fern has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 69
Bird's Nest Fern has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 54
Bird's Nest Fern has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 41
Bird's Nest Fern has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 11
Bird's Nest Fern has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 9
Bird's Nest Fern has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 1
@PlaneGuy avatar
@@PlaneGuy
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 110 XP
globe Castro Valley, CA
02/22/2022

A pretty plant but needs to be outside to take care of pests (scale) and loves humidity. Not super happy in my 9b zone California home. Outdoor ones are doing better.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Browns easily Browns easily
Pest magnet Pest magnet
@MrsBob avatar
@@MrsBob
leaf-1 28 Plants
xp 2,410 XP
02/15/2022

Such a cool plant. I love the way new leaves unfurled from the center of the plant. It gets a little droopy if you miss a watering, but bounces back almost immediately once you give it a drink!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@MariansOasis avatar
@@MariansOasis
leaf-1 91 Plants
xp 14,133 XP
globe Solana Beach, CA
01/24/2022

Mermaid’s Tail fern! Can’t go wrong!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@MellowlyNoni avatar
@@MellowlyNoni
leaf-1 0 Plants
xp 69 XP
globe Indianola, IA
01/18/2022

Great plant, super pretty and easy to keep alive

@HipOxlip avatar
@@HipOxlip
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 52 XP
globe Berwick, Victoria
01/17/2022

So easy to care for and durable!

@FacileRubyball avatar
@@FacileRubyball
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 21 XP
globe Harlow, England
01/03/2022

really pretty and easy to take care of.

Survivor Survivor
@tiffy avatar
@@tiffy
leaf-1 41 Plants
xp 2,667 XP
12/16/2021

Found it difficult to care for if you don’t have enough light or humidity for this plant.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Browns easily Browns easily
William avatar
@William
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 65 XP
globe Fort Collins, CO
12/03/2021

Mine is struggling!

@nahanna avatar
@@nahanna
leaf-1 22 Plants
xp 2,330 XP
globe Wichita, KS
11/23/2021

Very hard!

Browns easily Browns easily
@_t0riii avatar
@@_t0riii
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 46 XP
globe Newport News, VA
11/15/2021

I’m learning that the leaves should be misted like 2 times a week and that the soil should be not dryy but should be moist.

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Fast grower Fast grower
@tessalou avatar
@@tessalou
leaf-1 45 Plants
xp 1,860 XP
globe Withcott, Queensland
11/14/2021

Beautiful fern

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@Carolina avatar
@@Carolina
leaf-1 30 Plants
xp 434 XP
globe Colorado Springs, CO
11/08/2021

Another Trader Joe’s find - Moved her to a south facing window and she is thriving!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Lexigreenley avatar
@@Lexigreenley
leaf-1 61 Plants
xp 2,873 XP
11/06/2021

When I first got this it came with what I believe were spider mites. I did my usual: shower, spray with a mixture of dr bronners soap and water, then clean daily with a qtip and isopropyl alcohol. It was a real trooper. It’s pest free now and so fun to see the leaves unfurl more every day. Eye-catching and pretty low maintenance. I love it!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
Linda avatar
@Linda
leaf-1 17 Plants
xp 1,351 XP
10/26/2021

I have in plastic pot in front of a southern facing window with verticals. Slow grower, but seems very easy to care for, only requiring water every so often. I use a moisture meter, which greatly helps and prevents over watering. Finally after having her for a couple of months, 2 new baby leaves are starting to pop out in the center

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Raiderade avatar
@@Raiderade
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 135 XP
10/06/2021

So easy to care for! Lots of humidity and grow light is all she needs :)

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Earthling.olive avatar
@@Earthling.olive
leaf-1 30 Plants
xp 602 XP
10/05/2021

This plant has survived ANYTHING I’ve done to it!! Honestly such a great first house plant, I’ve had it for years and had basically no issues with it. They like humidity and and for their soil to be moist, but honestly they’re also pretty drought tolerant. I’ve let mine dry out completely for longer that I should have and it was completely fine! I definitely recommend this plant.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Karah86 avatar
@@Karah86
leaf-1 9 Plants
xp 1,255 XP
globe Cincinnati, OH
09/22/2021

Sadly, I received my fern in poor shape and have had a hard time trying to revive it. I’m not sure if they’re usually this difficult, but my leaves keep wilting even with being very careful to not overwater since the root system is not deep. Would not get another any time soon.

Kyla avatar
@Kyla
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 56 XP
globe Cornwall, Ontario
08/31/2021

very pretty

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
Barbara avatar
@Barbara
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 314 XP
globe Wilmslow, England
08/27/2021

Easy to look after
Looks healthy

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Nicole avatar
@Nicole
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 40 XP
globe Hudson, FL
08/18/2021

Nothing. It’s beautiful green foliage that is pet friendly

Survivor Survivor
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves

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