Bird's Nest Fern
The Bird’s Nest Fern Is Beautiful But Demanding
The Bird’s Nest fern (asplenium nidus), sometimes called a spleen wort, is one of the more beautiful ferns you can have for a houseplant. It is also one of the more demanding, and difficult ferns, to have in the home. It is certainly a showpiece, having fronds which can grow to 4 feet in length, but requires constant high temperature and humidity to allow that to happen.
The Bird’s Nest fern is one of the 12,000 or so species that inhabit the earth. Ferns have been around for at least 300 million years, perhaps longer. An artist's depiction of life in the age of the dinosaur often shows ferns as a part of the environment. Ferns were with us long before the dinosaur, and are found throughout the world, except in arctic climates. The majority of species are from tropical regions, one of them being the Bird’s Nest fern.
The fern gets its name because the fronds grow out from a central rosette, and the immature fronds resemble bird's eggs in a nest. The fronds are usually apple green in color, undivided, glossy, and as we have said, quite large. It is generally grown in the home in containers, unless of course, one lives in a tropical climate and can then grow them outdoors. Like most ferns, the Bird’s Nest fern likes humidity, lots of it.
Unlike most ferns however, instead of living in cool shady places, this fern prefers brighter light and warmer temperatures, in the range from 70 to 90 degrees. Given such a requirement for warm temperatures and high humidity, living in the same house with this fern would not be comfortable. It is better suited for a greenhouse or hot house, where the environment can be adjusted more to its liking.
Soil preparation is similar to that for other ferns, a balanced mix of potting soil, peat moss, and sand. This species will do better with the addition of some bark, to provide improved aeration. It requires little in the way of fertilizer, an application about every 3 to 4 months is generally sufficient. When starting the plant, dolomite lime is often added to the planting mix.
This fern, like most other ferns, is generally pest free. It is sometimes bothered by aphids, which can be removed with soapy water. Other insect problems may occur when the fern is in close proximity to other plants, or if insects were present when the plant was initially purchased. Care needs to be taken in watering the plant, as any water retained in the central rosette can lead to fungus and leaf blight.
The main issue in keeping this fern as a member of the household is its need for very high humidity and warm temperatures. It may live in a normal household environment, but will not thrive, and the fronds will never reach anywhere near their potential size.
An additional problem with keeping the plant in the house is that the fronds are extremely delicate and easy to damage. If you want a truly beautiful, but truly demanding plant, this is the one for you!