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Photo: Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
IndoorExotic

Bird's nest fern

Asplenium nidus

A glossy fern with whole, wavy leaves in a funnel-shaped rosette. Less thirsty than Boston fern but still wants humid air. Not on the ASPCA list, so treat with caution around pets.

Mature size0.3–0.9 m tall, 0.3–0.9 m spreadGrowthModerateSunPart shadeWaterModerate
Drought: 1 of 5
Shade: 3 of 5
Ease of care: 3 of 5
Use in a designGet it looked after

Indoors in Dubai

Bird's nest fern indoors

Light it grows well in

  1. Low (does not suit it)
  2. Medium (suits it)
  3. Bright (suits it)
  4. Sun (does not suit it)

Bright, indirect light or light shade, such as a north-facing window (NC State). Keep it a metre or two back from tinted glass and out of hot summer sun, which scorches the leaves (RHS).

Dry, air-conditioned air

2 of 5

1 means it needs humidity help, 5 means it does not mind.

Under air conditioning: Dry AC air browns the leaf edges. Keep it out of the vent's airflow and cold draughts, add a humidifier or grow it in a windowed bathroom, and water only when the compost feels dry.

Cats and dogs

Not pet-safe

Not on the ASPCA list, so its safety for cats and dogs is unconfirmed; treat with caution and keep it out of reach. The ASPCA does list another Asplenium, the hen and chickens fern (A. bulbiferum), as non-toxic, but that is a different species. Eating any plant can upset a stomach.

Size
MediumA medium pot on the floor or a sideboard
Rooms
BathroomLiving roomBedroom
In Dubai shops
Easy to findMost garden centres and supermarkets
Outdoors
Indoors only
All indoor plants for DubaiMore plants for medium light

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Bird's nest fern behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
24°
26°
29°
34°
38°
40°
42°
42°
40°
36°
31°
27°

Buy and pot up

Feb – Apr

Diluted orchid feed

Apr – Oct

Check for scale and mealybugs

Mar – Oct

Hot glass and dry AC air

Jun – Sep

  • Buy and pot up: Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov

    Cooler months, so the plant is not carried home in summer heat. The RHS says repot when roots are crowded.

  • Diluted orchid feed: Apr–Oct

    The RHS says diluted orchid fertiliser from spring to autumn, April to October.

  • Check for scale and mealybugs: Mar–Oct

    NC State lists scale and mealybugs; the RHS says mottled leaves can mean spider mites.

  • Hot glass and dry AC air: Jun–Sep

    Leaves scorch in direct summer sun (RHS); keep it clear of vents too.

Bird's nest fern keeps its glossy rosette all year, so the calendar is mostly about pace, water and humidity. From April to October the RHS says to feed with diluted orchid fertiliser. The hot months, from about June to September, are the hard ones: dry air-conditioned air browns the leaf edges, and summer sun scorches the leaves (RHS), so keep it clear of vents and hot glass. Check regularly for scale and mealybugs; the RHS says mottled leaves point to spider mites or mealybugs. October to November and February to April are the months to buy and pot up, so the plant is not carried home in summer heat.

Meet the plant

Meet the Bird's nest fern

Meet bird's nest fern, the fern that does not look like one. Instead of feathery fronds it makes a rosette of glossy, wavy-edged, bright green blades that fan out of a central funnel like a nest. Set against white tile or travertine it reads as sculpture more than foliage.

NC State Extension says the funnel traps leaf litter, which becomes its own nutrient supply. The RHS lists it with the epiphytic ferns, which like bright but indirect light, warm, humid air above 16°C, and compost that is watered only once it starts to feel dry. That is a gentler rule than Boston fern's never-dry soil, but the humid air still counts in an air-conditioned flat.

Its natural home is a bright bathroom with a window: the RHS lists it among the large plants that suit bathrooms, as long as there is natural light.

Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus) is an evergreen epiphytic fern in the spleenwort family. NC State gives 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in the right conditions; plants sold in Dubai are usually 30 to 60 cm, and Plantsworld lists 30 to 40 and 50 to 60 cm.

Light should be bright but indirect. The RHS says east- or west-facing windows suit it, or a south-facing room behind a sheer curtain, and that leaves scorch in direct summer sun. NC State says bright light or light shade, such as a north-facing window. In Dubai that means a bright room a metre or two back from tinted or low-E glass, with no hot afternoon sun.

Water only once the compost starts to feel dry (RHS); damp compost for long periods can kill the roots. The RHS prefers rainwater or filtered water, because hard (alkaline) tap water works against the acidic conditions the fern likes. It needs humid air: the RHS says a steamy bathroom is ideal, and NC State suggests a pebble tray. In a dry air-conditioned room use a humidifier and keep it away from vents, cold draughts and heat sources.

Handle the fronds gently, because they are fragile (NC State). Scale and mealybugs are the usual pests, and mottled leaves point to spider mites or mealybugs (RHS). We could not find bird's nest fern on the ASPCA lists for dogs and cats, so its safety is unconfirmed: treat it with caution.

Design

Where to use it

Bathroom sculptureLiving-room accentBright shelf or plinthHumid grouping

Use bird's nest fern where a single, calm shape is wanted: a bathroom shelf or window ledge, a plinth in a bright hallway, a living-room corner with a sheer curtain. The RHS says a bathroom with no window is not suitable for live plants, so check there is real daylight. Keep it a metre or two back from tinted glass, away from the vent, and out of reach of pets until you know it is safe.

Botanical specimen in the Lyman Plant House, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA.

Boston fern

Boston fern's finely cut, arching fronds contrast with the nest's whole, glossy leaves, and the pair share a taste for bright, indirect light and humid air.

Phalaenopsis orchid, white colored cultivar growing in a Florida garden.

Moth orchid

A white moth orchid adds a flower to the fern's green leaves in a bright bathroom, with a similar liking for bright, indirect light.

Peace lily - 1 - cropped

Peace lily

Peace lily's broad glossy leaves and white spathes echo the nest's glossy blades, and both like moist, bright, indirect conditions. Peace lily is toxic to pets.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering

Summer: Water only once the compost starts to feel dry, then water thoroughly (RHS). Never leave it standing wet for long: damp compost can easily kill the roots. Use rainwater or filtered water where you can, at room temperature.

Winter: Keep to the same rule: water only when the compost feels dry, which will be less often as growth slows. Keep it above 16°C and away from cold draughts (RHS).

Soil
A fern potting mix with plenty of organic matter and an acidic pH (NC State). For repotting the RHS suggests two parts peat-free ericaceous compost, one part perlite and one part medium orchid bark.
Feeding
Diluted orchid fertiliser from April to October (RHS).
Pruning
No pruning is needed; cut off damaged or dead fronds at the base.
Planting
Repot only when the roots are densely crowded or poke through the drainage holes, into a slightly larger pot (RHS). It reproduces by spores (NC State), so buy a young plant rather than trying to propagate one at home.
Pests
Scale insectsMealybugsSpider mites

Avoid these

Common mistakes

  • Treating it like a Boston fern and keeping the compost permanently wet. The RHS says damp compost for long periods can easily kill the roots; water when it starts to feel dry.
  • Putting it in hot, direct sun. NC State says to avoid excessive direct sun, which yellows the leaves, and the RHS says the leaves scorch in summer sun.
  • Using hard tap water every time. The RHS says it can neutralise the acidic conditions the fern prefers; use rainwater or filtered water when you can.
  • Standing it by an AC vent or a heater. Both RHS and NC State warn against draughts and direct heat.
  • Assuming it is pet-safe because it is a fern. Boston fern is non-toxic on the ASPCA list, but we could not find bird's nest fern there, so keep it out of reach.

Extra notes

Good to know

  • We could not find Asplenium nidus on the ASPCA lists for dogs or cats. Other Asplenium species, such as hen and chickens fern (A. bulbiferum), are listed as non-toxic, but absence from the list is not a safety rating. Treat it with caution.
  • The funnel-shaped rosette traps leaf litter, which gives the plant its own nutrient source (NC State). Handle the fronds gently, because they are fragile.
  • NC State says it cannot survive below 4°C (40°F), and the RHS wants it above 16°C. Dubai flats are warm enough; a cold vent is the risk.
  • On 7 October 2026 Plantsworld listed a 30 to 40 cm bird's nest fern from AED 79, backordered at the time. Prices, sizes and stock change.

Toxicity: Not on the ASPCA list, so its safety for cats and dogs is unconfirmed; treat with caution and keep it out of reach. The ASPCA does list another Asplenium, the hen and chickens fern (A. bulbiferum), as non-toxic, but that is a different species. Eating any plant can upset a stomach.

Pros

  • Glossy, whole-leaf rosette gives a calm, sculptural shape
  • Waters only when the compost starts to feel dry (RHS)
  • Does well in light shade or a north-facing window (NC State)
  • Suits a bright, humid bathroom with a window
  • Widely sold in Dubai in several sizes

Cons

  • Still wants humid air, so it browns at the edges in dry AC rooms
  • Not on the ASPCA list: pet safety is unconfirmed, so treat with caution
  • Fragile fronds mark easily when handled (NC State)
  • Hard tap water and scorching summer sun both damage the leaves

FAQ

Common questions

Is bird's nest fern safe for cats and dogs?
We cannot confirm it. Bird's nest fern is not on the ASPCA lists for dogs and cats, so treat it with caution and keep it out of reach. If a pet chews it and seems unwell, call your vet.
Is bird's nest fern easier than Boston fern?
A little. The RHS says to water once the compost starts to feel dry, whereas NC State says Boston fern's soil should never dry out. Both still want humid air, so a windowed bathroom suits both.
Can I grow it in a bathroom with no window?
No. The RHS says plants need natural light, so bathrooms with no windows are not suitable for live plants. Use a bright room with a humidifier instead.
Why are the leaf edges turning brown?
The RHS lists too much water, hard tap water, sun scorch, low humidity, a cold draught or being too close to a heat source. In a Dubai flat check the position first: away from the vent and out of hot afternoon sun.
What water should I use for bird's nest fern?
The RHS says rainwater or filtered water, at room temperature, because hard tap water works against the acidic compost it prefers. Filtered water is the practical choice in a flat.

Not sure how it suits your garden?

Ask about Bird's nest fern on WhatsApp

Sources

  1. 1. RHS: How to grow epiphytic ferns
  2. 2. RHS: Best bathroom plants for humid spaces
  3. 3. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Asplenium nidus
  4. 4. ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List — Cats (no Asplenium nidus entry)
  5. 5. ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List — Dogs (no Asplenium nidus entry)
  6. 6. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Houseplant humidity
  7. 7. Plantsworld: bird's nest fern (price, checked 7 October 2026)

Last reviewed 2026-10-07 by Plant Guide horticulture desk.

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