Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

Last updated: August 3, 2025

The Bird's Nest Fern is a popular houseplant admired for its bright green, wavy-edged fronds that grow in a circular, rosette pattern resembling a bird's nest. It's an epiphytic fern, meaning it grows on other plants in its natural rainforest habitat, not in soil.

Lighting

Bird's Nest Ferns prefer medium to low indirect light.

Ideal: A spot near an east or north-facing window is excellent, providing gentle light. They can also thrive a few feet back from a brighter south or west-facing window, ensuring they are shielded from direct sun.
Benefits: Consistent indirect light encourages vibrant green fronds and healthy growth.
Avoid: Direct sunlight will quickly scorch their delicate fronds, leading to brown, crispy patches. Too little light can result in dull, stunted growth.

Watering Routine

Bird's Nest Ferns like consistently moist soil but absolutely cannot tolerate soggy conditions or sitting in standing water, which leads to root rot.

Frequency: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel slightly dry to the touch. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Method: Water thoroughly around the base of the plant, avoiding pouring water directly into the "nest" or crown of the fern. Water accumulating in the center can cause rot. Water until you see water draining from the bottom of the pot. Discard any excess water from the saucer immediately.
Seasonality: Reduce watering frequency in fall and winter when the plant's growth slows.

Fertilizer Requirements

Bird's Nest Ferns are light feeders. Too much fertilizer can easily burn their sensitive roots.

Schedule: Fertilize sparingly, only during their active growing season, which is typically from spring through early fall. Once every 4-6 weeks is sufficient.
Type: Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer.
Commercial Recommendation: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food (Liquid) or Schultz Liquid Plant Food are easily available options. Dilute these commercial concentrates to achieve approximately 25-50 ppm N in your final solution. This is often equivalent to using them at "half strength" or even "quarter strength" of the package's recommended "full strength" for general houseplants. Always dilute more than the package recommends for most ferns.
DIY Fertilizer Suggestion: If using your homemade 1-1-1 liquid fertilizer concentrate, apply at the "Light Feeding" rate. This means adding 5 ml of your 1-1-1 concentrate per 1 liter of water, which provides approximately 50 ppm N, 50 ppm P₂O₅, and 50 ppm K₂O. This balanced, gentle feeding is ideal for Bird's Nest Ferns.
Avoid: Do not fertilize in late fall and winter.

Misting Requirements

Bird's Nest Ferns are tropical plants and love high humidity. This is a crucial factor for their health and to prevent the frond edges from turning brown and crispy.

Recommended: Aim for humidity levels of 50% or higher.
Methods:

Misting: Mist the foliage regularly, daily or every other day, with room-temperature water.
Pebble Tray: Place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water (making sure the pot is not sitting directly in the water).
Humidifier: Using a room humidifier nearby is highly effective, especially in dry environments.
Grouping: Grouping your fern with other plants can help create a more humid microclimate.

Pot Size and Soil Type

Pot Size: Bird's Nest Ferns have relatively shallow root systems. When repotting (best done in spring), choose a pot that is only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than its current one. They prefer to be slightly root-bound. Ensure the pot has excellent drainage holes.
Soil Type: Use a well-draining, airy, and peat-based potting mix that retains some moisture. A standard houseplant potting mix can be easily amended to suit their needs.

A good recipe would be:

2 parts all-purpose potting mix
1 part perlite
1 part orchid bark or coarse coco coir

This mix provides the necessary drainage and aeration, mimicking their natural epiphytic growing conditions while holding sufficient moisture.

Special Notes:

Handle Fronds Carefully: Avoid touching the new, unfurling fronds in the center, as they are very delicate and can easily be damaged, which may leave permanent marks.
Crown Rot: Always avoid getting water in the central "nest" of the fern, as this can lead to crown rot, which is often fatal.²¹ Water around the edges of the soil.