Common Problems with Bird's Nest Fern | Asplenium Nidus Care

[@bobbiechinn9578]

The first comment I left is bothering me bc i was a bit crabby. Im sorry. You're obviously a plant lover with valuable info. Thank you for sharing.

[@dendenmushi5458]

Had it for years, never taking care of it lol, but it still alive. Thanks for your tips, I'll help clear the debris in the core

[@cdb8315]

How much humidity does it need if grown indoors? Would it work indoors in a dry desert climate like Phoenix, Arizona?

[@marilynbruckman3610]

I got mine as a rescue and it had mealy bugs. I treated that and now repotted it after about a month. I hope it makes it!

[@jeaniefabulous5478]

Just found your channel. Love it! I have a birdsNest fern that I’m worried about. I thought there was something eating it’s leaves because they were literally disappearing. Whole edges were gone. Or half of the leaf, but I could never find any pests. I was told that I was under watering it so started watering until water drained out the bottom and I don’t let it dry out anymore. It has continued to “disappear.” It has an ugly leaf as well that was under a top leaf. I will attach photos. What do you think the problem could be? I have her on an East wall that doesn’t get any direct sunlight, however the room is very bright. Help! Help! I guess I can’t attach a photo. 🤷‍♀️

[@wakingtheworld]

What an informative video... Also heard that 'translucence' could be due to insufficient fertiliser - you didn't mention this aspect. Didn't know about keeping the 'bird's nest' bit dry... Mine is a kokedama fern. Could explain why no new growth... But what about those in the wild? They get rained on!!! All over!

[@beautifullyaligned]

Love the pot it's in ❤

[@06musicfan]

Bird's nest fern never gets pot bound because it has really short roots.

[@persiagil1488]

Bird's nest at home just stays outside, they grow their leaves like 5 feet long. Doesn'nt really mind about the leavea or dirts or water at the center... rained on a lot as well.

[@DarkLittleMaiden]

I grew up in (tropical) North Australia (I could be wrong but I think these ferns are endemic to this part of Aus). We had one in our front yard for my entire childhood. Not only did we go through an annual monsoon period (extreme rain) but my mother used to get us to chuck our banana peels into the centre. While it never harmed our plant I'd not recommend anyone do the banana peel thing bc I'm pretty sure that was an old wives tail. When there weren't decomposing peels in the centre there would often be green tree frogs hanging out in there because this is where water naturally collects. All to say, I'm not sure about the water in the centre thing. This may only be relevant if the plant is indoors and it is not draining or evaporating fast enough? I can't imagine putting one out side and heading this advice, am I sposed to put a little cocktail umbrella in there?

[@Humbirdhippo5475]

Right! But would be different in a pot, especially indoors. So cool how they can grow differently in multiple environments.

[@Jon79w]

I love that clear planter where did you get it from

[@rosie1141]

Hi, thanks for the information! Have my first one, looks pretty good and getting lots of new growth, but I noticed today that there are little tiny whites specks all over the leaves? Doesn't appear to be bugs. Looks like they wipe away.......

[@beautifullyaligned]

I have a crispy wave birds nest, and it has plenty new growth, but the new fronds are skinny and grow "straight up" as opposed to curving a bit.. Is this normal? Will they thicken up and bend more as they mature? Thanks

[@cdb8315]

Fertilize

[@Humbirdhippo5475]

Good, easy to understand info. Thank you ❤

[@793lefty]

Thank You! My Crissie was on a wick but I downsized her pot a half inch and apparently that's too much current for the wire. Poor thing's pale as a ghost, but active and growing so I'm just gonna mount her in a kokedama style bc today I learned momma's still learnin to water properly and all or no moss is risky business! 😂😅

[@pamelapeterson2987]

Thank you. these are great tips. I have one that I think is probably a goner based on your video. I think the nest got water and debris in it unfortunately. Now that I Know not to let the nest get wet, I may start over with a new one as I really enjoy this plant..

[@anjanar6039]

Ditto for me.

[@pamelapeterson2987]

@@anjanar6039 HI, in case it will help, I've had great success with my second fern.... I'm watering it from below now so not to risk water/rot in the nest again...I potted it with a fern mix and some cotton twine hanging out the drainage holes that can take up water, then placed the pot on a large saucer with pebbles. I now water into the saucer instead of the soil. My plant is thriving and has tripled in size and number of fronds.

[@Seeddj5279]

I have heard that some spray the center with peroxide water and it pulled through and is healthy. So I’m trying that now on mine. Meanwhile I’m propagating leaves just in case.

[@juicyirvin]

what causes a Curley fern to feel leathery leaves and shrivel up close to pot still green

[@rebeccal5411]

Where do you get clear pots?

[@khodeprashant5242]

Thanks for informative vdo. One question - how to propogate the bird nest plant?

[@SuburbanSill]

That is a really good question!! I’d have to do some digging on that one!

[@stevencamilleri6286]

Is it possible to propergate your bird nest fern?

[@cdb8315]

Yes, but it’s a bit challenging for a beginner

[@Icykoofit]

My bird nest has white fuzzy stuff at the crown and new leaf. Do you know it is bug or just normal for fern?

[@1628Scarlet]

Thanks so much! Great information on this beautiful plant! Thanks for the close-ups and examples of problems and causes! 👏❤️😃 Also, where do you get those beautiful clear pots?

[@manilalg4766]

Is it true that water colects in the centre & mosquitoes can breed in it?

[@antoniaortiz6703]

Why do the leaves turn black

[@Stargazing90]

Thank you! Really appreciate the format of the video and clarity of the information 🌱

[@SuburbanSill]

You bet! Thanks for watching.

[@sycochika]

Any ideas why mine has loads of brown spots and holes throughout the leaves? Even some of the new leaves are affected 😔

[@cdb8315]

Could be low humidity. Where do you live?

[@BarbaraKeeth]

Can I revive apuny birds nest fern.I may have a bad rosette

[@SadieMy]

But what causes the black centre and leaves?.

[@normabadillo3235]

Thank you for the information🌷🌿🌾❤️

[@sowens1917]

Great information! I am afraid my Bird Nest Fern has a dead nest. Outside on patio - full shade all day. I did water center of plant so, I might have killed it. Should I pull it up and replace it, or give it a little longer? Also, can potting soil in the container, be reused? I appreciate all suggestions.

[@heatherwoods5703]

I killed my first one that way. If it's black in the center, it's done. I bottom water the one I have now. I have a plastic nursery pot inside a prettier pot. So I let it dry completely and then put the plastic pot inside a bowl of water to drink from the bottom for a few minutes before returning it to its decorative pot. It also encourages roots to grow down to the bottom instead of staying near the top where the water comes from.

[@meganpahl3612]

Thank you for your video! I am a collector of plants and especially ferns. I have a bird's nest fern but it does not seem to get any bigger. It pushes out new growth and is healthy but it NEVER looks any bigger. Can you please tell me how t make it grow big? Should I bump up the pot?

[@SuburbanSill]

Could you send me some photos? You can DM me on Instagram @suburbansill

[@Melwat1]

I have the same issue!

[@leonardogiannetti8836]

There are various plants called 'birds nest fern' which are related but can fairly different from each other. My plants here in east africa love plenty of water and plenty of debris getting caught in the middle, after all thats exactly what happens to them while they are on the limbs of trees. you may just have a variety that does not grow very large. Mine all have doubled in size to leaves of around a meter in a year or so, without doing anything at all to them besides giving them an occasional water with leaf juice. Hope this helps.

[@meganpahl3612]

@@SuburbanSill I wish I could! I do not have any social media to do so though. Do you have an email?

[@meganpahl3612]

@@leonardogiannetti8836 Thank you Leonardo. I really appreciate the reply. Gosh, have you ever considered selling a baby version of yours that are growing so large? I would love to get one and watch it develop. I keep getting ripped off. I have bought crocodile ferns and bird's nest and EVERY time, they send me one that either has root rot that has gone too far or a breed that is dwarf.

[@cheliajones9907]

can the plant recover from brown spotting. i moved my plant to a new location and i wanted to know what can i do with the already existing brown spots.

[@jessysingleton8240]

What about holes in the leafs like lil slits

[@jenniferbrazzel6889]

Good evening I just purchased one from Lowe's. Repotted the pot in self watering. Will the bird nets fern okay?

[@SuburbanSill]

I think it would ok in a self watering pot. Let me know how it goes!

[@spiritchrysalis]

Thanks so much! Do you have any thoughts on bird's nest ferns that quick develop small circular holes or gaps in the leaves? (We got it from a place/company recently, and we're concerned it has some sort of infestation or blight.)

[@meganpahl3612]

What exactly do these spots look like? Fenestrations are not common on any ferns but weird leaf growth is. It sounds like they are getting eaten.

[@amyjohnson6848]

Could b a different type

[@allylu6012]

Hi if the nest rots (looks brown), is repotting helpful? Or it's just done....:(

[@HanifKhan-zz3vs]

Thanks, this was really helpful and informative. Unfortunately, I think mine’s a goner. We shall see!

[@MsZee04]

Mine too 😭😭

[@paulaclarkson6128]

Me too I think

[@georgieann2971]

I just repotted my Victoria birdsnest plant and the bottom leaves keep turning yellow and dying off. Maybe I'm putting to much water.. Help please

[@SuburbanSill]

They started turning brown after you repotted? Or did you repot it because of the browning leaves? Are they dry and crunchy?

[@redvanillamama6892]

I have a Victoria Bird's Nest Fern. I was drawn to the beautiful wavy leaves on this plant. However, since I've gotten her home, her new growth is Long Straight skinny leaves!!! What happened? I'm giving her filtered water and Medium to low light conditions. Leaves are still green, but have lost their wave, width and stick straight up. HELP!

[@SuburbanSill]

Would you mind sending me some photos? You can DM me on Instagram @suburbansill

[@lindajones274]

Can you cut the see-through leaves off the plant or will they just fall off

[@SuburbanSill]

When you say see-through are those like browned leaves? You can trim your leaves back to the green part. Try to avoid cutting green.

[@lindajones274]

The leaves have turned yellow the entire leaf

[@JM-ty6uq]

I bought a birds nest fern today and it already has black 'fluff' in the middle of it, but there is no dirt or water or debris in there. The plant also looked very healthy (the healthiest out of the lot). Do you think it will be okay?

[@tehkaihong5328]

The black fluff in the crown or center of the fern is actually the rhizome part of it. If it is dry and not rotting then it is fine.

[@JM-ty6uq]

@@tehkaihong5328 Thank you so much for that info. Can you recommend a good resource for taking care of the birds nest fern? A lot of the places I read give general info, such as 'dont over water' and I need a more precise direction 😆

[@tehkaihong5328]

@@JM-ty6uq you're welcome. Generally speaking bird's nest ferns are not very demanding plants to take care of and they are more resilient than many types of ferns. They grow slower than most houseplants so be patient and keep up with your watering. I keep my bird's nest ferns outdoors so I water them a lot but since you are probably having them indoors you don't have to water as much. They should be fine as they can stand drier conditions than most ferns. Fertilize very little to be safe when you do. Avoid direct sunlight so they won't lose water fast and burn, but they will enjoy bright but indirect light as they will grow a bit faster then. Also, don't use normal garden/potting soil if you can. Choose potting mixes that have more drainage components as they are airy and will not form a muddy consistency. Bird's nest ferns are epiphytic plants so they don't always do well with compact soil. Repot when you think the root ball has grown over most of the soil. Bird's nest ferns can have fast growing roots under the right conditions and they will even grow out of the bottom of the pot, forming a mat of roots. If you don't want to have a mess of roots stuck to each other then repot when you think it is the right time. These plants grow to massive sizes in the wild so be ready when they do get that big. I think that's most of what you need to know about bird's nest ferns.

[@roksanarezaei9608]

Mine is turning yellow! What should I do?

[@SuburbanSill]

Do you think you may have overwatered? You can try removing it from the pot and checking the roots for rot…let it dry out and repot.

[@shirleymanning8079]

If I leave outside and it rains is that ok

[@SuburbanSill]

Sure! If it rains consecutive days you might want to cover it though.

[@jayparker96]

I burnt couple of the leaves with a grow light by mistake when I first got mine .. 8 months later it still hasnt grown past nursery stage, looks healthy just no new growth what so ever :(... any tip?

[@janelahti6070]

I also burnt my fern :( by having it outside in direct light. Now inside and trying to recover it properly.

[@karenb136]

Thanks. Very helpful tips.

[@SuburbanSill]

Thanks for watching!

[@MsTada82]

I found black bugs on mines.... HELP

[@chrisnorris6633]

What about a small hole midways on a leaf. I grow orchids not ferns. New to this fern thing

[@SuburbanSill]

Might have gotten scorched by the sun. That can happen. The leaves are pretty sensitive to direct sunlight.

[@manasisardana7087]

Hi there - I’ve messaged you on your Insta with a couple of photos. I see a few different types of browning on my fern. Not sure why it’s happening… would really appreciate any advice. Thank you so much

[@janelahti6070]

How do you clean out the nest??

[@janelahti6070]

I hadn't researched ferns until now. I've been watering mine right in the nest. It just looked like the perfect spot to put water!

[@kathynicotra3835]

Good question! My nest doesnt look great, like there is dirt in there. I see tiny new growth "nubs" but not sure if they will grow. Is it a slow grower? Hope we find out how to clean the nest!

[@janelahti6070]

@@kathynicotra3835 sounds like my nests look the same as yours..

[@jasminemardello920]

I usually take an empty mister, and use the air from the mister to kinda blow it out without doing damage to the foliage

[@janineromano333]

Thank you!

[@thewira]

I have it so much in forest where i live, You can take it free

[@likeavirshin]

Aspleniums shouldn't be watered every few days? The need a lot of water! Are you in a very humid rainy environment?

[@anitajones7090]

What about brown spots 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@SuburbanSill]

Could you send me a photo @suburbansill on Instagram? I’m assuming you mean brown spots like in the middle of the leaf or so? What’s your light situation like?

[@anitajones7090]

@@SuburbanSill how do I do that? Are you in IG or is there a way to inbox you on KZbin ?

[@GuySalerno]

Never call soil dirt!

[@andrewrichmond9764]

She never talks about under watering,video does me no good,thanks