Button Fern Care Instructions

Taxonomic Name: Pellaea rotundifolia

Brake Fern Family

Nonflowering Herbaceous Plant

The delightful little button fern is one of the most popular ferns sold in the Chalet greenhouse. Its appearance is most distinctive. Instead of having the customary lacy and deeply cut fronds characteristic of most ferns, this species has tiny, button-like leaflets arranged along a wiry black stem. Further, the plant is remarkably enduring; it tolerates medium and low light levels that would undo most other houseplants.

How to Care for Your Plant:

LIGHT: The button fern tolerates everything from filtered sunlight to artificial lighting. Bright indirect sunlight--for instance, that of an unobstructed northern window--is ideal.

WATERING: Water as soon as the soil surface feels dry to the touch. At least a little water should come out of the pot's bottom drainage holes, but the plant should not stand in saucer water for more than thirty minutes.  

FEEDING: Apply plant food only when the plant is growing actively, and then do so sparingly. Use a high-nitrogen (high first number) houseplant fertilizer applied at half the concentration and frequency listed in the product directions.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: Like almost all ferns, button ferns need high humidity. Consider placing a water-filled gravel tray under your plant, or place the plant near a room humidifier. Separately, if your plant wilts because its soil dried out too much, don't give up on it immediately. Give it a good drink of water; it may revive.