Asplenium nidus, bird's nest fern

In the tropical forests of Asia, Africa and Australia, the bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus) grows on trees and rock faces. Its curious shape provides a refuge for birds in search of shelter. In our latitudes, this member of the Aspleniaceae family is grown indoors for its ribbon-like fronds.

How to recognize the bird's nest fern, Asplenium nidus?

Asplenium nidus is an epiphytic or terrestrial fern with a bushy habit. In the wild, it can reach a meter in all directions. In pots and indoors, it is content to grow 60 cm high and 40 cm wide.

The plant is aculeate. The fronds grow in rosettes from a dark, hairy heart. Whole and wavy, they resemble tongues or ribbons and measure up to 120 centimetres long. The bright green, glossy leaves have a pronounced midrib. Black at the base, its color then blends with that of the foliage. The underside is also green. However, it is occasionally tinged with brown sporangia.

The botanical variety has given rise to numerous cultivars, such as asplenium nidus 'Crispy Wave, with its highly curled fronds, or Asplenium Fimbriatum, with its fringed margins.

Asplenium nidus is non-toxic to humans and animals. It is even eaten raw or cooked in Taiwan and New Caledonia. In ancient times, the Greeks used it to treat spleen and liver infections.

Our maintenance tips

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

Watering

Bird's nest ferns 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 bird's nest fern with rainwater or demineralized water. Do not use tap water. Too hard, it leaves marks on the foliage.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Asplenium nidus to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

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 Bird's nest fern. 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

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

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

Cleaning

Photosynthesis is slowed down by dust accumulating on the leaves. To help your Bird's nest fern make the most of its exposure, clean the foliage with a clean, damp cloth.

Dusting also helps prevent pest attacks.

Disease / Threat

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Aspleniaceae - Aspleniaceae
Type	Doradilla - Asplenium
Species	Bird's nest fern - Asplenium nidus
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Half-shade Shade
Substrats	Clay soil Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs
Categories	Interior Rhizome Herbaceous
Tags	Fritillary Soiffarde
Origins	South Africa Southeast Asia Australia
Hardiness (USDA)	11b
Leaf color