Asplenium nidus, commonly called bird’s nest fern, is a slow-growing, epiphytic fern of the spleenwort family featuring simple, entire, strap-shaped, glossy, bright apple green fronds with contrasting dark brown to black midribs and undulating margins. Fronds spread upward and outward to form a vase-shaped, green rosette with a nest-like center (albeit memorialized by some as resembling a bird’s nest). It performs best in a porous, well-drained, peaty potting mixture in bright filtered light. Avoid direct sun or dense shade locations. It does best in warm, moderately bright areas of the home, but tolerates some shade. Grows well in bright north-facing windows. Keep soils uniformly moist. Fairly high humidity is needed, which is a condition that can sometimes be difficult to achieve indoors in winter.
