Asplenium antiquum, the other bird's nest fern

You're more likely to come across an Asplenium antiquum in our latitudes than in a forest in Japan, Korea or Taiwan. The species, endangered in the wild, is multiplying here as a houseplant.

How to recognize the Asplenium antiquum fern?

Asplenium antiquum is an epiphytic or terrestrial fern. It has a bushy habit and measures between 50 and 90 centimetres in height, with a spread of 30 to 80 centimetres.

Leaves grow funnel-shaped from a brown center. Arched fronds are long and narrow. Bright green and shiny, they have tapering tips. The botanical variety has spawned numerous hybrids and cultivars, such as asplenium antiquum 'Crissie, with its forked leaves, or Asplenium antiquum Osaka, with its wavy foliage.

With its dark heart and linear blades, Asplenium antiquum can easily be confused with bird's nest fern Asplenium nidus. There's one detail that differentiates them: the fronds of Asplenium antiquum are uniformly wide, while those of Asplenium nidus thicken in the middle.

Asplenium antiquum is not a toxic plant. It poses no risk if touched or ingested. You can grow it without fear, even if you live with pets or young children.

Our maintenance tips

Asplenium antiquum love humidity and hate direct sunlight. If your bathroom has a window, it's the ideal place to watch your fern flourish.

Watering

Asplenium antiquum like to keep the soil always moist. Don't wait for the substrate to dry before getting out your watering can. Water without soaking to keep the soil wet.

Use non-calcareous water at room temperature, preferably rainwater. Be careful not to wet the heart of the plant, which is sensitive to rot.

Don't forget to empty the water that stagnates in the saucer or pot cover. It could kill the roots.

Spray

To increase humidity, mist the leaves at asplenium antiquum with rainwater or demineralized water. Do not use tap water. Too hard, it leaves marks on the foliage.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Asplenium antiquum to give it more space.

Choose a pierced plastic pot two to five centimetres larger than the previous one. This material has the advantage of retaining moisture and is suitable for the requirements of your Asplenium antiquum. Place a drainage layer (gravel, clay balls, pozzolan, etc.) at the bottom.

Fill the pot with a light, neutral substrate. For example, you can mix houseplant potting soil, peat or dried leaves and sand. You can also add charcoal to prevent fungus growth. Plant your specimen in the center. Add substrate, tamp down and water for the first time to help the plant take root.

To increase humidity, place your pot on a dish filled with moist clay balls.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Asplenium antiquum, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Apply a liquid green plant fertilizer to support growth. Your fern doesn't need much. Halve the manufacturer's recommended dose.

Cleaning

Cleaning the leaves with a clean, damp cloth removes dust and limits pest attacks.

Disease / Threat

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Aspleniaceae - Aspleniaceae
Type	Doradilla - Asplenium
Species	Asplenium antiquum - Asplenium antiquum
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Half-shade Shade
Substrats	Clay soil Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs
Categories	Interior Herbaceous
Tags	Fritillary Soiffarde
Origins	East Asia Australia
Hardiness (USDA)	11b
Leaf color