Transform Your Space with Bird’s Nest Ferns: Tips to Grow & Display Them

October 9, 2024

Bird’s Nest Fern-Aspelenium nidus

the bird's nest fern showing its nest form

The bird’s nest fern is unique; it has banana-like, wide, shiny leaves (fronds) that slowly uncurl from the center, and thiscircular hollow growth plan is what gives it the birds-nest-like appearance.

It will add lush and tropical foliage to your indoor plant collection and shaded landscape. An epiphyte, it will live for you in a container, in your planted bed, or even happily in a tree. The plant is hardy too. Unlike many ferns, a bird’s nest makes a reliable houseplant when provided with indirect light.

  • Being a true fern, it reproduces by spores, not seeds. The cultivar ‘Crispafolium’ produces fronds that have the most waves.
  • The specific epithet name nidus means nest. Asplenium is Greek and alludes to a supposed remedy for spleen diseases.
  • Birds nest fern is an epiphyte, or air plant, they grow on other plants and elevated supports. They are not parasites but obtain their water and nutrients through a spongy covering of their roots..
  • Like other true ferns, runners will form. They can root and develop into another plant if they come in contact with moist soil. Keep them or cut them off. If you can sit beside your plant and read a book the plant has enough light.

The new frond unfolds, the plant is displayed on a tree, and the last display is a Kokedama. If you would like to see another read this about Kokedama with Croton.

Bird’s nest fern growing at the base of a tree

Where We Got The Bird’s Nest Fern

The bird’s nest fern, Asplenium nidus is a member of the family Aspleniaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii, Polynesia, Christmas Island, India, and eastern Africa. It is known by the common name bird’s nest fern or sometimes, nest fern.

Carl Linnaeus

Sometimes we know exactly who found a particular plant growing wild in remote areas and even what ship he traveled home on, carrying his precious sample plants. They brought them home, crossing the world in wooden ships on dangerous voyages. But, sadly, we do not know exactly who saw potential in the Bird’s Nest fern.

However, we do know that Carl Linnaeus described and named the fern in 1753. If Linnaeus was interested, the plant had potential!

Johan Henrik Scheffel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Value Of The Bird’s Nest Fern

The fern is a large and dramatic tropical addition to your house or garden. It has been valued as a collector’s item since Victorian times and is now enjoying a revival in popularity. This means more plant availability and you will see new varieties with striking features.

The early Hawaiians used the fern in tree-cutting ceremonies for canoe building. Here is a newspaper article from Taiwan describing restaurant meals of seafood with a side dish of bird’s nest fern.

In homes or gardens (in limited zones ) the bird’s nest fern is a relatively low-maintenance attention-getter that will enhance your collection.

Varieties Of Bird’s Nest Fern

Here are some commonly available choices for you. The first one is its own species.

  •  Asplenium antiquumJapanese bird’s nest fern – this differs from the nidus species because the fronds are of uniform width.
  • Asplenium nidus ‘Crispy Wave’- this one has wavy leaves that are sword-shaped.
  • Asplenium nidus-‘Osaka’, is a compact rosette with long wavy leaves.
  • Aplenium nidus ‘Victoria’ has wavy, tongue-like fronds that can reach two feet long.

Bird’s Nest Ferns (Asplenium nidus) are versatile and can thrive both indoors and outdoors with the right care. Here are some tips for each setting:

You can tell by the names that the Japanese fern is a different species than the other. You will want to know this when you buy your ferns. To understand plant names read: Latin for Gardeners; how to read and remember plant names.

Growing Your Birds Nest Fern In The House

cliseup of bird's nest fern

How To Plant Your New Fern: The bird’s nest fern performs best in a fairly tight pot, for your starter plant consider about 6″ in diameter. If you choose terracotta for your planters, you will have good drainage but you will water more frequently, for plastic or ceramic check to ensure good drainage. You will upgrade your pot every two years, the new pot should be about 2″ bigger than the old.

Soil: Use a peat-based potting mix with good drainage. For best drainage consider peat moss, perlite or orchid bark mixed in to ensure aeration. Fill the pot with soil, make a small hole for the fern, gently firm the soil around the roots, and ensure that the crown of the plant is above the soil level. Aim for soil pH of 5.0-6.0 which is slightly acidic.

(If you are new to all this, the crown of any plant is the place where the roots meet the stems.)

Water: After planting water the soil thoroughly. For ongoing care keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy. Water a bird’s nest fern when the top inch of soil is dry. This may be one or two weeks apart. You can use a handy moisture meter or risk your manicure and stick your finger in.

Light Conditions: Keep the fern in a location with medium to bright indirect light. If you are not sure about the location, put the plant in different spots and check the sun, then plant it.

Humidity: This plant loves humid surroundings, keep it on a moist but not wet tray of stones, and group your humidity loving plants together. It is also a great plant for a bathroom.

Nutrition: Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer once a month during the growing season. A balanced fertilizer is a 20-20-20 blend. This provides equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which support the plant’s leaves, roots, and overall health. 

Dilute the fertilizer, reduce the fertilizer to half-strength, and apply it to the soil every 2-4 weeks

Growing Your Bird’s Nest Fern In Your Garden

How to Plant Your Bird’s Nest Fern

Planting Your Fern: This will be fun if your garden is in a warm climate. Your bird’s nest fern can grow in the ground (Follow the planting instructions above), attached to a tree, in a container of your choice, and display on a board.

Kodekama: The Bird’s nest fern makes a good kodekama as it likes to be watered by soaking.

Pick The Best Light For Your Fern

  • Light Conditions: Plant in a shaded or partly shaded location as direct sunlight can damage the fronds.

Soil For The Bird’s Nest Fern

Fern growing in soil

This bird’s nest fern is growing in soil, at the famous Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. They will grow outdoors for you in containers, attached to trees or displayed on other materials.

Outdoor Containers: If you are planting in an outdoor container, which means you can bring your plant indoors for the winter this will help. Use a mix of equal parts peat moss (or coir) perlite and orchid bark. This mix will hold onto water a little slower than regular potting mix and will help you prevent root rot, which is no fun at all!

For planting in your garden soil, it needs superior drainage. You can amend the soil with the items above and lighten it if needed. Here in our South Florida garden, we amend a little more soil every year and some plants will be acidified in our alkaline limestone base.

Water For Your Bird’s Nest Fern

Water: Keep the soil drained without standing water. In hot weather, they may need extra water.

Pick The Best Temperature

Temperature Conditions: Try to recreate their warm and humid native climate as much as possible. The optimal temperature for the bird’s nest fern is between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit. They will grow at temperatures slightly beyond this range but will reduce the growth rate of the plant.

Control The Humidity

Bird’s nest ferns prefer high humidity levels. You can increase humidity by misting the plant, using a humidifier, or placing the pot on a tray of pebbles and water.

Maintenance: Examine your plant on your morning or evening garden walks and remove any dead or damaged foliage.

Pests and Diseases of Bird’s Nest Fern: Pests are not a major problem of this fern; look for caterpillars, mealybugs, scales, slugs, and fungus gnats. Be careful when bringing new plants home and when acclimating plants either indoors in the fall or outdoors in the spring.

Teach yourself to spot these issues, the earlier the better.

  • Black Spots: These unsightly blemishes are caused by too much sun, extremes of temperature it fungal and bacterial infections. Treat with fungicides or bactericides.
  • Root Rot: look for wilting or yellow fronds.
  • Various Leaf Spot Diseases: Treat these with fungicides and bactericides.
  • Bacterial Blights: look for little, translucent wet spots. Avoid overhead watering and destroy your damaged plants.
  • Crown Rot: This is caused by watering directly into the center of the plants. This works with bromeliads but not ferns. Water around the edges of your container.
  • For more detail on problems with your bird’s nest ferns read this from the University of Florida.

Beautiful Ways To Display Your Bird’s Nest Fern

four displays of bird's nest ferns

We have discussed growing the plants in soil indoors and out but these are epiphytic plants. and can grow on a variety of interesting objects: Not many plants in your house or garden will give you this opportunity to make unique display forms.

  • Mount on a flat piece of wood, try cork, cedar, grape wood or others as long as they are bug-free.
  • Mount on driftwood if you are near the coast.
  • I have seen pretty displays on old wooden ladders.
  • hanging baskets.
  • Directly on trees. We use the stretchy garden tape. Do this in Zones 9-11.
  • Make a wall design with an arrangement of various pots.

Summary

Bird’s nest ferns, with their lush, crinkled leaves, are a popular choice for both novice and seasoned plant enthusiasts. To grow these beauties, ensure they have bright, indirect light and a humid environment. Use well-draining, organic soil, and require consistent moisture without being waterlogged. Occasional misting can help maintain their humidity needs. Indoors, they can be displayed in hanging baskets, mounted on wooden backings like driftwood or old picture frames, or placed in decorative pots. Outdoors, they make striking additions to shady garden corners or can be mounted on rustic wooden pallets and ladders.

When it comes to varieties, the classic Asplenium nidus is a favorite, known for its broad, wavy fronds. For a unique twist, consider the ‘Crissie’ variety with its forked leaf tips, or the ‘Antiquum,’ which boasts thinner, more elongated leaves. These ferns are versatile and can easily be incorporated into various décor styles, making them a fantastic choice for adding a touch of greenery and elegance to any space.

Happy Digging!

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