Are these #BirdsNestFern roots ok?
Hey plant friends! 🌻🌿
I am looking for some advice from those who have experience with Asplenium nidus, the ‘Bird’s Nest Fern’. (That is… Shannon please? @SuperbRaspfern 😅🙏)
I got this cutie pie this year, in late January of 2026. I tried to wash away all the original medium, but I remember having a hard time of it. I remember finally giving up and getting him potted up and remember thinking I’d deal with that soon. Well, late August totally counts as ‘soon’ right?
He’s looked and grown nice and healthy this whole year, regularly churning out new fronds all the time, so the problem under the soil slipped my mind until I remembered tonight.
Here’s what we’re dealing with. There is a very dense growth of roots, but I can’t think these are healthy? While I was trying to loosen it up, there were definitely roots that came away easily like they had root rot. Are birds nest fern roots supposed to be this shade of brown? Is this entire root ball ROTTED? I know they are epiphytes, so my question is: is it possible to chop off the roots and restart him? Is that advisable? Are these roots actually fine and I can pot him in my airy epiphyte mix?
Right now I have him soaking in a 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts water solution, before I do anything else.
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I am looking for some advice from those who have experience with Asplenium nidus, the ‘Bird’s Nest Fern’. (That is… Shannon please? @SuperbRaspfern 😅🙏)
I got this cutie pie this year, in late January of 2026. I tried to wash away all the original medium, but I remember having a hard time of it. I remember finally giving up and getting him potted up and remember thinking I’d deal with that soon. Well, late August totally counts as ‘soon’ right?
He’s looked and grown nice and healthy this whole year, regularly churning out new fronds all the time, so the problem under the soil slipped my mind until I remembered tonight.
Here’s what we’re dealing with. There is a very dense growth of roots, but I can’t think these are healthy? While I was trying to loosen it up, there were definitely roots that came away easily like they had root rot. Are birds nest fern roots supposed to be this shade of brown? Is this entire root ball ROTTED? I know they are epiphytes, so my question is: is it possible to chop off the roots and restart him? Is that advisable? Are these roots actually fine and I can pot him in my airy epiphyte mix?
Right now I have him soaking in a 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts water solution, before I do anything else.
#TheWateringHole #brunchataudreys #happyplants #hoya #Greggers #greggang #newgrowth #prayerplant #hoyahangout #OrchidLovers #Orchid #TradescantiaNanouk #CalatheaCorner #AlocasiaAddicts #SucculentSquad #CactusClique #BegoniaBunch #DreamMachine #MonsteraMonday #Philodendron #tipsandtricks #EcoTherapy #crazyplantlady #PlantingOnABudget #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantTherapy #PlantAddict #plantfriendsarethebestfriends #adhdplantlovers #horticulturaltherapy #plantnerd #birdsnestfern #rootrot
2ft to light, indirect
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 day ago
25
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@DreamMachine yes I think your roots may have some rot from your descriptions but some may be healthy. Birds nest ferns have brown fuzzy roots naturally. If there is a sour smell in the soil and when you tug gently, the roots break, that is a sign it’s rot. I would cut the roots back slightly and treat remaining roots in the water to peroxide wash and then repot. I have mine in a soil mix of peat, perlite, worm castings and bark. As long as you don’t water the crown, and the roots are healthy, it will come back.
Good morning @DreamMachine ☀️ I had one years ago and whenever I’d repot it, it was a thick mat of medium brown color roots and very dense. Dense is normal. Mine would fill the pot with thick roots very quickly and come out the holes 🕳️ in a mat too! The crown of yours looks healthy so that’s a good sign 👍. I’ve never trimmed the roots, not sure ferns would like that. I’d be tempted to gently trim any roots that look suspect or easily come off and repot in your light mix. Will be interested to see what Shannon says 👂
@DreamMachine AI 🤖 says it’s ok to trim birds nests ferns and because they’re epiphytes, usually bounce back pretty quickly.
Honestly as wet as it looks. I’d rinse it off thoroughly & put it in water. But don’t do what I’d do.
Maybe it wants to dry out, but as healthy as it looks + as wet as it is..? I mean the roots don’t look beautiful but. Far past the point of the plant noticing..
You can grow all kinds of things in water alone.
Roots usually in bottom of self watering pot submerged vigorously healthy roots.
I have no experience with said plant so maybe I should not have said anything. But I just have a small laugh when I see my neighbor spraying her plastic ones hanging from her porch with the water hose 😆
Maybe it wants to dry out, but as healthy as it looks + as wet as it is..? I mean the roots don’t look beautiful but. Far past the point of the plant noticing..
You can grow all kinds of things in water alone.
Roots usually in bottom of self watering pot submerged vigorously healthy roots.
I have no experience with said plant so maybe I should not have said anything. But I just have a small laugh when I see my neighbor spraying her plastic ones hanging from her porch with the water hose 😆
Your plant is fine. Don't cut the roots off unless they smell.
All birds nest ferns have natural tannins ( just like tea) in them. So their root are usually brown. Weird I know but that's what they look like.
She looks very healthy. Just be sure to never get water on her crown. So when you plant her make sure the crown sits above the soil line a bit so that when you water it's never wet.
Also not a good idea to trim the roots these guys have very fine delicate roots. They don't respond well to getting a root trim. Unless necessary, avoid it, they like to be snug in their pots and do best that way. If the roots are trimmed off there will be far too much soil in the pot. And not enough roots to use up the water when you water.
@MariansOasis @OhGollyItsJolly
All birds nest ferns have natural tannins ( just like tea) in them. So their root are usually brown. Weird I know but that's what they look like.
She looks very healthy. Just be sure to never get water on her crown. So when you plant her make sure the crown sits above the soil line a bit so that when you water it's never wet.
Also not a good idea to trim the roots these guys have very fine delicate roots. They don't respond well to getting a root trim. Unless necessary, avoid it, they like to be snug in their pots and do best that way. If the roots are trimmed off there will be far too much soil in the pot. And not enough roots to use up the water when you water.
@MariansOasis @OhGollyItsJolly
@SuperbRaspfern ohhhh, that’s fascinating and super neat about the tannins. 😱 How cool!
Well, I’m super glad to say that that is the conclusion I came to last night. 🙌 Since they look so healthy, and after sniffing my root ball all over and not noticing any funkiness, I got them repotted in a snug new pot with fresh substrate. 🤗
I just adore watching the new fronds unroll 🥹
Well, I’m super glad to say that that is the conclusion I came to last night. 🙌 Since they look so healthy, and after sniffing my root ball all over and not noticing any funkiness, I got them repotted in a snug new pot with fresh substrate. 🤗
I just adore watching the new fronds unroll 🥹
@DreamMachine Glad you made that decision and yes they are lovely graceful plants and there are so many varieties! 🩷
@SuperbRaspfern I know I was just looking through some! A new category to collect in 😂 I can’t tell if mine is a certain variety. It just came as “Asplenium nidus”
Oh! I lost the thread, but I wanted to ask you what other varieties of rhipsalis, was it? 🤔 That you have? I realized mine was mislabeled sulcata, I think he might actually be a paradoxa with those jointed segments?
Oh! I lost the thread, but I wanted to ask you what other varieties of rhipsalis, was it? 🤔 That you have? I realized mine was mislabeled sulcata, I think he might actually be a paradoxa with those jointed segments?
Yours is a Paradoxa it looks just like a chain, that's one I don't have!
I've got 5 different kinds
Epiphyllum guatemalense 'Monstrose
AKA Curly Sue
Epiphyllum chrysocardium, Shark Tooth
Disocactus anguliger, Fish Bone
Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Queen Of The Night AKA Dutchman's Pipe
Lepismium cruciforme, Hurricane Cactus
I listed them in order with the photos. The Shark Tooth one was my first. That started my addiction. I stopped at 5 because they get really big and are window hogs!
Even the Giant ones are only in 6 inch pots tops.
I've got 5 different kinds
Epiphyllum guatemalense 'Monstrose
AKA Curly Sue
Epiphyllum chrysocardium, Shark Tooth
Disocactus anguliger, Fish Bone
Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Queen Of The Night AKA Dutchman's Pipe
Lepismium cruciforme, Hurricane Cactus
I listed them in order with the photos. The Shark Tooth one was my first. That started my addiction. I stopped at 5 because they get really big and are window hogs!
Even the Giant ones are only in 6 inch pots tops.
@SuperbRaspfern oh no way! So the Lepismium cruciforme can also have stems made up of off-centered triangular segments like this? It looks like the baby stems start off 5 ribbed, but then mature into 3 sided alternating links. 🔗 it’s kind of hard to capture in a picture 😅
@DreamMachine it looks like yours cross pollinated so some of it was a hurricane cactus that started straight. On the backside. The Paradoxa are never straight they start out looking like a chain from the start. It's very beautiful!
@SuperbRaspfern omg so maybe I actually have a mixed pot, because some of them do come straight out in chains !!
@SuperbRaspfern it is totally ok to get sidetracked from plants by plants 😂😂 And this cactus is one of the most exciting plants I’ve had in a while!!
Yes I think the back half was Hurricane and that cross pollinated with the Paradoxa. I wonder if you took off the chain on top of the Hurricane if you could then create a plant with just Hurricane. Now that it has cross pollinated? I don't know. It may continue to be the Paradoxa now. So fascinating though!!!
Your Birds Nest Fern looks like a 'Victoria'
I had a
Victoria
Crissie- that was my favorite because it kinda looks like cauliflower on top. It was fun!
Nidus
Leslie- Which always looked like fingers on top of the leaves to me.
I gave mine away when I moved. 😢 Kinda regret that now because they are so pretty. I know it was for the best though. I'm just so much busier with all the animals and my veggie garden. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with all of them and have them stay nice. It felt good to share anyway. 🩷
I had a
Victoria
Crissie- that was my favorite because it kinda looks like cauliflower on top. It was fun!
Nidus
Leslie- Which always looked like fingers on top of the leaves to me.
I gave mine away when I moved. 😢 Kinda regret that now because they are so pretty. I know it was for the best though. I'm just so much busier with all the animals and my veggie garden. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with all of them and have them stay nice. It felt good to share anyway. 🩷
@SuperbRaspfern thank you for your excellent advice and assistance! Hehe, the Crissie does sorta look like a cauliflower 🤭 I’m sorry you’re missing yours 😔 I guess when you have a big move you gotta draw the line somewhere 🤷♀️ It is a nice feeling to share your plants with other enthusiasts though! I’ll catch you later 💛 say hi to the chickens and Winter and Roxy and Will Feral and oh goodness I’m blanking on the other kitty’s name 😅 💞