Help Needed: Bird's Nest Fern

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Yesterday, I found a truly sad looking plant in the clearance section. I put it in my cart thinking that its roots were likely unable to get oxygen and thus just needed repotting. I can only say that having calatheas is likely what made me think this would be so simple.

I got the plant home and found out that it was nested in two pots because the roots had outgrown the first pot by a large amount. It was very root bound so I made five incisions to the roots and pulled them apart as gently as possible, which was difficult because the roots were very strong.

Once I repotted it (which I now think was a mistake when it comes to ferns possibly suffering shock), I untangled its leaves. The fern was now completely limp as its tangled stems had been the only thing propping it even slightly up. I also did a quick trim of dead/yellow leaves.

After I started reading about this plant, and looking at pictures of Bird's Nest Ferns, I no longer felt so optimistic. Actually, I was horrified. I found this fern sitting on a shelf in full sun, in triple digit heat.

It has been a full 24 hours since I repotted, trimmed and watered the fern. I am keeping it in cooler conditions, and in indirect light. You can't see it, but it's sitting on a small tray filled with pebbles and water. It is beginning to show some life!

Is there any chance that this plant can recover without doing something drastic, like cutting its leaves back to the soil? If anyone has experience with this-- can you please let me know what timetable I might expect? I don't want to trim it back, risking further shock, too early. I really want it to have as much time as it needs to recover but I honestly don't know if trimming it quickly would be best for its overall health. I could really use some guidance as this is my first fern.

Thanks in advance; any advice is greatly appreciated!

Featured Answer

Sage TX 9a

5 years ago

Well, the (possibly) bad news is that it isn't an asplenium. If you look at the stems and compare against asplenium pics, you'll see a totally different leaf shape. Probably someone jammed in a tag that was lying on a shelf without regard to what the plant actually was.

The (hopefully) good news is that it looks like a peace lily (spathiphyllum), which are better at coming back from extreme heat than aspleniums. It sounds like you've done everything right so far. In fact, if you wanted to submerge the pot in a sink full of lukewarm water for an hour, that might accelerate its recovery. You'll probably lose some more leaves due to shock, but that's normal.

Peace lilies are semi-aquatic and very difficult to over-water. You'll notice the leaves unfurl from the various stems in the general clump, rather than each new leaf growing out of the center of an asplenium's roseate. Avoid placing in direct sunlight. Leaves turn yellow with too much light.

Don't fertilize for at least a few weeks -- that would be too much shock for the roots. Once it's healthy again, you can fertilize to make it bloom.

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Comments (7)

AddyBeez | CA, USA, Zone 9b
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you so much! I kept going back and forth-- looking at the leaf/stem shapes and wondering how this could be a fern. While I have seen peace lilies in stores, I'm not very familiar with them so I really appreciate your advice. Knowing it can handle water, I will give it a soak tomorrow and I'll be sure to avoid fertilizer until it looks like it's ready for it. Hopefully it can make a full recovery. Thanks again! :)
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petrushka (7b)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
it's a peace lily (spathipyllum).

you can put paper towels on top of the soil and tie a plastic bag around the rim of the pot and submerge pot and leaves completely in a tub for 30 min at least. then slowly drain it and put it in the shower after running some hot water to create a very humid and warm environment - leave it there overnight. keeping it ultra humid and warm will help. it will prolly loose some leaves anyway , but keep it moist and it should regrow. it can take partial dappled sun-light, early in the morning is best.
AddyBeez | CA, USA, Zone 9b thanked petrushka (7b)
AddyBeez | CA, USA, Zone 9b
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thank you for the advice! I will definitely let it hang out in the bathroom after a warm shower this evening. I realize now that I should have probably updated its progress. Unfortunately, even after the plant perked back up, many of the stems were damaged beyond repair-- see picture below.

So, I ended up cutting it back about a week or so after the original post, I think. This is what it looks like today.

I am so amazed that it has been able to regrow from stems that were cut. I'm starting to learn just how awesome peace lilies are and very glad to have to brought it home with me!

If you have any more advice on how I can keep it healthy and filling out, I'd love to hear it. And thanks again for your advice.
petrushka (7b)
5 years ago
it's looking quite alright considering :). i actually did not realize your posts were from a month ago! it'll take some time regrowing after a shock, but keeping it in very bright light near the window but away from hot sun will help.

also do not allow it to wilt again from lack of moisture. and give it 'humid shower spa' treatments once a week ;).
AddyBeez | CA, USA, Zone 9b thanked petrushka (7b)
AddyBeez | CA, USA, Zone 9b
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks-- I wasn't sure how quickly it might fill out. It seems like it has recovered so fast but at the same time, seeing how beautiful it is, I'm impatient for it be fully recovered! It sits near a north-facing window right now, and thankfully most of the light in my house is indirect bright light. Also nice to know that a shower treatment once a week is a good schedule. I'm going to have to try it with my calatheas as well! :)
petrushka (7b)
5 years ago
yep, calatheas will love it too - will help with mites too (mine love them :(, have to spray often).
AddyBeez | CA, USA, Zone 9b thanked petrushka (7b)