How to grow and take care of bird’s nest ferns
The secret to a healthy bird’s nest fern is ensuring that the environment around has high humidity, moisture, and ample warmth. This is why one of the best places to grow it indoors is in the bathroom near the shower or bathtub where the minimum temperature ranges between 60-70 degrees F.
Don’t touch the new and delicate fronds as they come out of the nest as they’re extremely fragile and there is a high chance that they will get damaged or deformed. Also, if the plants get infested by common insects that affect houseplants, it’s okay to use a natural insecticide on them.
- Light
Bird’s nest ferns thrive in bright filtered light. Avoid exposing them to direct sunlight other than the rays from the morning sunlight. An east or north facing window is ideal to prevent the leaves from direct sunlight which burns the leaves.
- Soil
Ensure that your potting mix has excellent drainage. A peat-based mix is great for potted plants. These plants do well in loose and well drained soils with added organic matter.
- Water
The royal horticultural society recommends that you keep a consistent amount of soil moisture. Note that this doesn’t mean that you should make the soil soggy. Water once every 1-2 weeks.
When watering, aim at the soil and not at the fern’s fronds. When you pour water directly on the plant, that’ll encourage mold growth and rot in the nest.
- Humidity
These plants can tolerate normal room humidity but they previously thrive in high humid environments such as bathrooms or greenhouses.
- Fertilizer
Fertilize once a year during the fern’s growing season using a balanced liquid fertilizer that has been diluted to half strength. Be very careful so that the fertilizer doesn’t get to the fronds. Remember that too much fertilizer makes the fronds to have an abnormal shape or turn yellow or brown.
Now that you know all you need to know about the bird’s nest fern and how to take care of them, it’s about time you grow a few of them at home. They are bound to make a beautiful addition to any room in your home.
Note that you can also keep them outside your house as long as the growing zones are suitable. The plant looks wonderful in containers, pots, hanging baskets, and mass plantings. Alternatively, you can wire it to a fibrous slab to grow epiphytically on the barks of other trees.