Indoor ferns are one of the best plants that can help bring the calming atmosphere of the outdoors inside. They’re compact in size, so they’re perfect whether you have a huge home or a small office.
Here, we’ll help you choose the best type of indoor ferns to grow and gift to make sure you and your friends can enjoy the benefits they can give!
What are the benefits of having indoor ferns?
Indoor ferns help improve air quality, increase humidity, and reduce stress. They can also add a tropical vibe to your home and make it feel more cozy.
Ferns have the ability to absorb and break down harmful gasses and VOCs like formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene, allowing the spaces they’re in to have better air quality.
They also release moisture into the air through transpiration, which can be helpful, especially during winter when humidity is quite low.
Lastly, numerous studies have shown that exposure to nature and taking care of plants like ferns help reduce stress levels. They help create a cozy and peaceful ambiance in both your home and office.
What are the best indoor ferns to grow indoors?
Bird’s Nest
Botanical Name: Asplenium nidus
Origin: Southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii, eastern Africa
Size: 2 feet when grown indoors
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Once a week
Feeding: Feed with half-strength houseplant fertilizer once a month during spring and summer
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Asplenium nidus, commonly known as bird’s nest, has fronds that can add personality to your homes and offices.
The fronds are bright green with a glossy and leathery texture. The wavy and crinkled edges of the fronds help add to the fern’s unique beauty.
The fronds grow from the center of the fern, causing it to resemble a bird’s nest.
It can only grow to a mature height of 2 feet, so it won’t take up a lot of space at home.
The fern grows best in medium to bright indirect light, so you won’t face much problem growing them indoors. It can also tolerate less humidity compared to other ferns.
Best for: Colleagues who recently got promoted since a bird’s nest fern symbolizes prosperity. It will also bring some life to their office and help reduce stress.
Boston Fern
Botanical Name: Nephrolepis exaltata
Origin: South and Central America
Size: 1 to 3 feet when grown indoors
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Once a week or when the upper part of the soil is dry
Feeding: Feed with half-strength houseplant fertilizer once a month during spring and summer
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Boston ferns are among the most popular houseplant choices because of their small and beautiful appearance. Their size typically ranges between one to three feet when grown indoors, the perfect size for almost every room in your home.
These ferns have long arching fronds that are composed of multiple leaflets. They have a rich green color and can appear bushy when grown well.
They prefer bright indirect light but can tolerate some shade. They also thrive in environments with high humidity levels.
Best for: People who work at home or have a baby. Boston ferns are known to be excellent air-purifying plants which can be beneficial for the baby and the rest of the family.
Rabbit’s Foot Fern
Botanical Name: Davallia fejeensis
Origin: Fiji
Size: 1 to 2 feet when grown indoors
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Once a week or when the surface of the soil is dry
Feeding: Feed with ¼ strength liquid houseplant fertilizer once every 2 to 3 weeks from spring to fall
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Rabbit’s foot fern, scientifically known as Davallia fejeensis, is a unique and intriguing fern species named after its furry, creeping rhizomes that resemble a rabbit’s foot.
The rabbit’s foot fern has finely dissected, light to dark green fronds.
This fern’s main charm lies in its rhizomes, which are covered in soft, brownish hairs. These over the surface of the soil and the fern’s pot or basket, effectively adding a striking element to the fern’s appearance.
These ferns require bright indirect light, so consider growing them in hanging baskets located near a window.
Best for: Friends and relatives who love unique-looking plants
Staghorn Fern
Botanical Name: Platycerium
Origin: Southeast Asia, Africa, and Australia
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall when grown indoors
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Once a week or when the surface of the soil is dry
Feeding: Feed with a water-soluble fertilizer or organic fertilizer once a month during spring and summer
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Staghorn ferns are an unusual and striking type of fern that’s native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa.
Their fonds resemble the branching horns of a stag, hence the name. They’re usually dark green covered with white hairs, which it uses to absorb moisture.
They’re an epiphytic plant, meaning they grow by attaching themselves to other plants or objects. As such, they’re mostly grown in plaques rather than pots.
Although they’re not really considered difficult to grow, staghorn ferns can require more care than other ferns, so they’re not recommended for first-time growers.
Best for: Friends who recently moved to a new home. A staghorn plant on a wooden plaque can serve as decoration for their accent wall and give life to their new home.
Maidenhair Fern
Botanical Name: Adiantum
Origin: South America
Size: 1 to 3 feet when grown indoors
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Every day or every other day
Feeding: Feed with a half-strength liquid fertilizer once a month
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Maidenhair ferns are graceful-looking ferns known for their lacy foliage and elegant appearance. Their fronds are composed of small, fan-like leaflets which makes the fern look delicate.
These ferns, though, are not only delicate in appearance. They also require constant monitoring, making them quite high maintenance and difficult to grow.
They require bright, indirect light and regular watering. They can’t tolerate much drought, which can cause some growers to overwater it.
Nonetheless, they offer great ornamental value to every home they’re in, so they’re sought after by many homeowners despite their high-maintenance nature.
Best for: Experienced fern growers, as it can be too stressful to grow for first-time growers
Lemon Button Fern
Botanical Name: Nephrolepis cordifolia
Origin: Hawaii, Asia, and Australia
Size: 1 foot when grown indoors
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Once a week
Feeding: Feed with balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer once every 2 weeks during spring and summer
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Lemon button ferns, scientifically called Nephrolepis cordifolia, are popular indoor ferns that are well known for their yellow-green sword-like fronds.
Their fronds are decorated with small, rounded leaflets that resemble buttons. They grow in clusters and have a very compact and lush appearance.
These ferns are known to emit a mild citrus scent during its growing season. This scent helps mask unpleasant odors and keeps spaces smelling clean and fresh.
Lemon button ferns are also low-maintenance, easy-to-grow plants. They can tolerate drought and can survive both bright and low light conditions.
Best for: People with toddlers, as their appearance and scent can help make homes feel fresh even with the mess kids typically make
Kimberly Queen Fern
Botanical Name: Nephrolepis obliterata
Origin: Australia
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall when grown indoors
Light: Medium indirect light
Water: Once a week or when the top part of the soil is dry
Feeding: Feed with balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month during summer and spring
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Kimberly queen ferns are a popular fern variety that’s loved for their striking and elegant appearance. They have leathery and glossy, dark green fronds that grow upright, giving them a tidier look compared to other ferns.
They prefer medium indirect light and need high humidity levels. They can also be sensitive to underwatering and overwatering, so make sure to always check if the surface of the soil is still moist.
While they’re relatively easy to grow, the plants are vulnerable to pests like aphids, fungus gnats, and spider mites, so it’s best if you have prior experience with growing other houseplants.
Best for: People who live in houses or apartments that don’t receive much sunlight. Excessive bright light may fade the fern’s color, so it’s best to keep it in places that receive medium indirect light.
Button Fern
Botanical Name: Pellaea rotundifolia
Origin: New Zealand
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall when grown indoors
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Small amount of water every other day
Feeding: Feed with half-strength liquid fertilizer once a month
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
Native to New Zealand, button ferns are another popular fern variety that look similar to lemon button ferns. However, button ferns usually have a richer shade of green.
Button ferns also have long fronds consisting of small, rounded leaflets that resemble a button. They usually grow in a rosette-like arrangement and appear more bushy than lemon button ferns.
These plants can grow to a height of 2 feet indoors and are not toxic to both pets and humans, making them a perfect decoration for tables and windows.
Best for: People who do not live in areas that experience harsh winters. Button ferns prefer warm temperatures and can’t handle temperatures below 13°C.
