How to Revitalize a Bird Nest Fern

We have a lovely birds' nest fern. We live in Southern CA about 15 miles from the ocean, so we have a wonderful climate for not only ferns, but all kinds of neat plants. The average temperature is around 70 degrees F; the average humidity is in the double digits, which keeps the plants happy.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• birds' nest fern in need of TLC
• a larger pot than it's current home
• a dish to put under the pot (to catch excess water)
• potting soil
• liquid fertilizer (I like Eleanor's VF-11 Seems Like Magic for Plants!)

1. First, examine your birds' nest fern to see whether it's worth the effort to save it. Does it have new growth coming from the center (even if the leaves are all brown)? Take it (gently) out of the pot and examine the rootball. Are the roots healthy and vigorous? Your plant may just need re-potting, or a combination of re-potting and TLC.
   If the roots are rotten, or the leaves are mushy; sorry, but it might be easier to just ditch this one and get a new one. Try letting it dry out for a couple of weeks, then follow the steps outlined.
   You can always buy a new one, but it's very rewarding to bring one back "from the brink."
   Please note: these directions are for plants that will be in a (fairly) high humidity, warm environment that receives bright indirect light (no direct sun.) Whether that is your patio or inside your house is up to you. You will need to provide double-digit humidity for your plant, and keep it out of direct sunlight. If you're in a desert area, set the pot in a water dish with some gravel on it (so the plant doesn't sit directly in water) to increase the humidity, and mist it a couple of times a week.

2. If your plant is vigorous but hasn't grown, it probably will benefit from being placed in a large pot. As you can see, ours is in a half barrel, but it grew up in a pot about 12" tall. The main requirement is good drainage. We put rocks in the bottom of the pot to ensure the roots wouldn't sit in water. To repot, put a layer of gravel or small rocks in the bottom of the new pot, and fill it up with a good-draining all-purpose soil. I like to soak the soil with a 4-to-1 ratio of water to liquid fertilizer before I put in the plant. Scoop a well in the dirt large enough (and deep enough) to accommodate the plant. Take the plant out of the old pot (gently!) and gently squeeze and loosen the rootball, to loosen it up. Place it in the new pot. The plant should be in dirt up to the bottom leaves. Compact the soil around the plant. Make sure the plant is in the pot nice and firm, and the soil is up to the lower leaves (mounded.) Place the plant in a room that gets bright indirect light, or set it on the patio (out of the sun!) Set a dish underneath your fern to catch water (and, if necessary, provide some extra humidity.)

3. 
    
   Note the new growth is very vigorous and lush, bright green and healthy-looking.

   Now comes the time of much monitoring and babying. Don't overwater it; check the soil weekly. If the plant is very dry, water it til the water comes out the bottom (this takes a bit of guessing; you don't want to spill out over the dish.) Don't let water sit in the dish (at first.) Use the VF-11 fertilizer every time you water it; you can't burn the plant with it. The mix is one ounce to a gallon, so a little goes a long way. DON'T try that with any other type of fertilizer unless the directions say you can.
   Monitor the plant's location. Make sure it's out of the sun, but is getting enough light. The leaves should be bright apple-green, firm and growing straight out. The new growth should be tight and curling up from the center of the plant.
   Finally, check it for parasites, fungus, mold, etc. and wipe any out immediately by gently washing the leaves with a very mild mixture of dish soap and warm water. You may have to hand-pick off any creepy crawlies.
   If all goes well, in just a couple of months your efforts will be rewarded with a lush, thriving plant. Enjoy your birds' nest fern.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't overwater your plant; it's easier to kill the plant by over- than underwatering. My hubby waters the patio plants once a week, and this works very well for them.
• If the plant doesn't respond within a couple of weeks, stop watering it and try misting it a couple of times a week til it comes around. If the soil gets extremely dry, water it again, but don't let the plant sit in water.
• Water the plant under the leaves; don't water it in the middle of the rosette (these plants are susceptible to rot from overwatering.)
• If, after all your efforts, the plant doesn't make it--well, there's always Lowe's. ;-)
• Don't get attached! (Unless it does really well and grows healthy and vigorous, then you can get attached.)
• Don't let the plant sit in direct sunlight; it'll turn brown and die QUICKLY.
• Don't let household pets eat your plants; this one isn't, but some are toxic.
• Keep the fertilizer out of reach of children.