Houseplant
Bird's Nest Fern
Asplenium nidus · Aspleniaceae
Also called: Nest Fern, Crow's Nest Fern
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) is a moderate-water houseplant well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow-growing houseplant. Expect n/a (non-flowering) blooms None.
Bird's Nest Fern at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Bright indirect to medium/low indirect light indoors; no direct desert sun, which burns the fronds. An east or north window is ideal.
- Mature size
- Indoors typically 1.5-3 ft tall and wide; the apple-green fronds form a rosette resembling a nest.
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- N/A (non-flowering), None; ferns are non-flowering and reproduce by spores.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender; keep above 55-60 F indoors. Not winter-hardy outdoors in Tucson.
- Soil
- Loose, rich, well-draining mix with bark/peat (orchid-style or epiphyte mix); never waterlogged.
- Native range
- Tropical Asia, eastern Africa, Australia, and Pacific islands; an epiphytic rainforest fern
- Best used as
- Indoor foliage plant, Humid-room and bathroom plant, Tabletop and shelf accent, Terrarium (when small)
- Wildlife
- None relevant indoors.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans (ASPCA lists bird's nest fern as safe); pet- and child-friendly.
How to grow Bird's Nest Fern in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Keep the soil lightly and evenly moist (not soggy); water around the edges of the pot, NOT into the central rosette/'nest,' which can rot if water collects there. Let the top inch dry slightly between waterings. As an epiphyte it dislikes wet feet but needs humidity, which is the challenge in dry Tucson air.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed lightly, about every 4-6 weeks spring through summer, with a dilute (quarter- to half-strength) balanced liquid fertilizer; ferns are salt-sensitive, so apply weakly and flush pots given Tucson's hard water. Avoid getting fertilizer in the central nest.
Pruning & care
Minimal; remove only old, browned, or damaged outer fronds at the base. New fronds emerge from the center and should not be cut.
Notes
Grown strictly indoors in Tucson; its main need is humidity, which the low desert lacks, so use a pebble tray, group plants, or keep it in a bathroom and away from dry heating/AC vents. The rippled, glossy fronds are sensitive to handling and to water sitting in the crown. Protect from cold drafts and never expose to frost.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder