Asplenium nidus

Bird's Nest Fern, Nest Fern

Easy careEpiphyteNon-toxic30–120 cm

An epiphytic fern that forms a rosette of broad, glossy fronds radiating from a fibrous central crown. In the wild it perches in rainforest canopies across tropical Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, growing in dappled light and steady humidity. Those same conditions make it a natural fit for large closed terrariums and paludariums. Non-toxic and forgiving, it works well for beginners.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Bird's Nest Fern image

Photo by Marija Gajić·CC BY-SA 4.0

Care

Light

Indirect light(preferred)Shade tolerantBright indirect

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Very high (80%+)Medium (40–60%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
15°C – 27°C

Soil

Moisture retentive(preferred)Peat mossOrchid mix

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5 – 6

Appearance

Growth habit

Rosette

Leaf shape

Strap

Leaf texture

GlossyLeathery

Distribution

Propagation

Collect spores from the underside of mature fronds once the sori — the small spore-bearing clusters — turn brown. Sow onto a sterile, moist peat-based mix in a propagator at high humidity and around 22 °C. Germination is slow, with small sporelings appearing after 4–8 weeks. Commercial growers typically use tissue culture because of the difficulty.

References

  1. 1

    Kew Plants of the World Online — Asplenium nidus L.

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17048040-1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

    NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Asplenium nidus

    https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/asplenium-nidus/
  5. 5

    Terrarium Tribe — Asplenium nidus (Crispy Wave Fern)

    https://terrariumtribe.com/terrarium-plants/asplenium-nidus-crispy-wave-fern/
  6. 6

    Planet Natural — Bird's Nest Fern

    https://www.planetnatural.com/birds-nest-fern/
  7. 7

    ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Bird's Nest Fern

    https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants