Garden Care Guide

Bird's Nest Fern Care

Asplenium nidus

It receives medium-to-low levels of indirect light and likes high-humidity environments. Water should not be poured directly into the rosette (bird's nest) in the center of its leaves. It is a stylish living-room plant, ideal for humid spaces such as bathrooms.

Frost-tender (protect from frost) · 5 °C / 41 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Water as the soil surface dries slightly (about every 7-10 days); do not leave the soil excessively wet.
  • Fertilizing: Not required, do not fertilize.
  • Pruning: Cut only leaves that are completely dried out or yellowed, at the base.
  • Plant protection: Check the undersides and stems of the leaves for scale insects and mealybugs.
  • General care: Since radiators dry the air, mist the leaves often or provide a humid environment.
  • Pests & diseases: Browning on the leaf edges is a sign of low humidity; do not pour water into the center, to prevent rosette rot.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
February
  • Watering: Continue watering as the soil surface dries.
  • Pruning: Remove only dry leaves.
  • General care: Keep humidity high and wait until March for repotting.
  • Pests & diseases: General check.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
March
  • Watering: Start increasing the watering frequency (once a week) and keep the soil moist.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy.
  • General care: If the roots have filled the pot, it is the best time to repot.
  • Pests & diseases: Check for mealybugs (small cottony masses).
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week.
  • Fertilizing: Give a half-dose balanced liquid fertilizer once a month.
  • Pruning: Remove only damaged or dry leaves.
  • Plant protection: If you see scale insects or mealybugs, wipe them off with alcohol-soaked cotton or use a suitable insecticide.
  • General care: Continue misting with water to maintain high humidity.
  • Pests & diseases: If you see leaf spot, reduce watering and keep the leaves dry.
  • Frost risk: None; protect from direct sunlight.
May
  • Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing once a month.
  • Pruning: Cut only dry leaves that spoil the appearance, at the base.
  • Plant protection: Regularly check the undersides of the leaves for pests.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Drying at the leaf tips is a sign of low humidity or thirst.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing once a month.
  • Plant protection: Check regularly for pests.
  • General care: Keeping humidity high is very important in these months.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the undersides of the leaves for scale insects or mealybugs.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Remove yellowing or drying leaves.
  • General care: Keep it in a position sheltered from midday sun; scorching at the leaf edges is a sign of burn.
  • Pests & diseases: Be careful about rot in the rosette (center); do not let water get in there.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
  • General care: Maintain high humidity.
September
  • Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: At the end of the month, stop fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Not required; only remove dry leaves.
  • General care: Gently wipe the dust that built up over summer off the leaves with a damp cloth.
  • Pests & diseases: Observe the plant's condition at the change of season.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week.
  • General care: Prepare the spot where the plant will rest through winter.
  • Pests & diseases: General check.
  • Frost risk: Start protecting it from cold drafts.
November
  • Watering: Reduce the watering frequency (every 7-10 days).
  • Pruning: Remove only dry leaves.
  • Plant protection: Check for pests.
  • General care: When the radiators start running, begin misting with water to increase humidity.
  • Pests & diseases: Browning on the leaf edges can be caused by dry air.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.
December
  • Watering: Continue reducing watering.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
  • Pests & diseases: Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 5 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

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