The easiest ferns to grow indoors are the ones that tolerate dry household air: bird’s nest fern, blue star fern, rabbit’s foot fern, button fern and Kimberly queen fern. Boston fern and maidenhair fern are beautiful but less forgiving, and will drop fronds or crisp up unless you give them steady moisture and humidity. Whatever the species, the routine is similar: bright indirect light, soil that stays lightly moist but never soggy, and humidity of roughly 50% or more. Below is a rundown of the best indoor fern plants, ranked roughly from easiest to fussiest, followed by care basics and the humidity tricks that actually work.
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In this guide
Key Takeaways
- Bird’s nest, blue star, rabbit’s foot and Kimberly queen ferns handle typical indoor humidity best.
- Boston and maidenhair ferns need consistently moist soil and high humidity, often 50–70%.
- Give ferns bright, indirect light; direct afternoon sun scorches fronds.
- A humidifier is the most effective humidity fix; misting helps very little.
- Most ferns like 60–75°F and dislike drafts, heat vents and dry winter air.
The Best Ferns for Growing Indoors
| Fern | Difficulty | Light | Humidity needs | Size indoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird’s nest fern | Easy | Medium to bright indirect | Moderate | 1–3 ft |
| Blue star fern | Easy | Low to bright indirect | Moderate | 1–2 ft |
| Rabbit’s foot fern | Easy | Bright indirect | Moderate | 1–2 ft |
| Kimberly queen fern | Easy | Bright indirect | Moderate | 2–3 ft |
| Button fern | Easy to moderate | Medium to bright indirect | Moderate | Under 1.5 ft |
| Crocodile fern | Moderate | Medium indirect | High | 2–4 ft |
| Staghorn fern | Moderate | Bright indirect | Moderate to high | 1–3 ft, mounted |
| Asparagus fern | Easy to moderate | Bright indirect | Moderate | 1–3 ft |
| Boston fern | Moderate | Bright indirect | High | 1–3 ft |
| Maidenhair fern | Difficult | Medium indirect | Very high | 1–2 ft |
Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
Glossy, undivided, wavy fronds grow from a central rosette that looks like a nest. Its solid leaves lose less water than lacy fronds, so it handles average indoor air better than most ferns. Water around the rosette, not into the center, which can rot. It is one of the best ferns for a bathroom or kitchen with a bright window. See our full bird’s nest fern care guide.
Blue star fern (Phlebodium aureum)
Blue-green, deeply lobed fronds rise from furry creeping rhizomes that sit on top of the soil. This epiphytic fern tolerates lower light and drier air better than almost any other, and it forgives the occasional missed watering. Plant it in an airy mix with bark and keep the rhizomes on the surface rather than buried.
Rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia fejeensis)
Grown as much for its fuzzy, creeping rhizomes that spill over the pot edge as for its lacy fronds. Like blue star fern, it stores moisture in the rhizomes, which makes it more drought-tolerant than its fine foliage suggests. A hanging basket or shallow pot shows off the “feet.”
Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
A close relative of Boston fern with upright, sword-shaped fronds. It sheds far fewer leaflets than Boston fern and handles drier air and brighter light, which makes it the better choice for anyone who loves the Boston look but keeps losing them.
Button fern (Pellaea rotundifolia)
A small, low fern with round, leathery leaflets along arching stems. Unlike most ferns, it prefers the soil to dry slightly between waterings and rots if kept wet. Ideal for a shelf or terrarium-sized pot.
Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The classic hanging-basket fern with long, arching fronds. Indoors, it needs bright indirect light, evenly moist soil and higher humidity than most homes have in winter. If it is dropping leaflets all over the floor, humidity and watering are almost always the issue. Our Boston fern care guide goes into detail.
Maidenhair fern (Adiantum)
Delicate, fan-shaped leaflets on wiry black stems make maidenhair the most beautiful and the most demanding indoor fern. It must never dry out, and it crisps quickly in dry air. Best for terrariums, bathrooms with a window, or a spot right beside a humidifier.
Also worth growing
Crocodile fern has crinkled, scaly-patterned fronds and needs high humidity. Staghorn fern grows mounted on a board and is watered by soaking. Asparagus fern is technically not a true fern but grows like one and is fairly tolerant; note that its berries are toxic to pets.
Matching a Fern to Your Space
- Dry living room or bedroom with forced-air heat: bird’s nest, blue star, rabbit’s foot or Kimberly queen fern.
- Bright, steamy bathroom: Boston, maidenhair or crocodile fern will finally get the humidity they want.
- Hanging basket by a window: Boston or Kimberly queen fern, or rabbit’s foot fern to show off the rhizomes.
- Small shelf or desk: button fern or a young bird’s nest fern.
- Terrarium or glass cabinet: maidenhair, button fern and dwarf varieties of other species.
- Statement wall piece: a staghorn fern mounted on a board.
- Forgetful waterer: blue star or rabbit’s foot fern, which store moisture in their rhizomes.
Buying tip: inspect the undersides of fronds and the crown before you bring a fern home. Avoid plants with many brown fronds, a soggy, sour-smelling root ball, or webbing and sticky spots that signal pests.
Light
Most ferns evolved on forest floors or in tree canopies with dappled light. Indoors, aim for bright, indirect light: a few feet from an east window, near a north window, or set back from a south or west window behind a sheer curtain. Direct afternoon sun bleaches and scorches fronds. Too little light causes slow growth, sparse fronds and pale color. Blue star and bird’s nest ferns tolerate lower light than Boston or maidenhair.
Watering and Soil
Most indoor ferns want soil that is consistently, lightly moist, like a wrung-out sponge. Check every few days by touching the surface. Water when the top half-inch to inch feels just dry, thoroughly, until water runs from the drainage holes. Empty saucers after 15 minutes. The exceptions: button fern, blue star and rabbit’s foot like to dry a little more between drinks.
Use a peat- or coir-based potting mix lightened with perlite and a little fine bark. Epiphytic ferns (bird’s nest, blue star, rabbit’s foot, staghorn) prefer an even chunkier, orchid-style mix. Always use pots with drainage holes. Ferns do not like being repotted often; move up one pot size every year or two in spring when roots fill the pot.
How to Give Ferns the Humidity They Need
Low humidity is the number one reason indoor ferns brown. Many homes drop to 20 to 30% relative humidity in winter with the heat on, while most ferns grow best at 50% or higher. A cheap digital hygrometer tells you where you stand. Ways to raise it, from most to least effective:
- Run a humidifier. A small cool-mist humidifier near a fern group is the only method that reliably raises humidity by a meaningful amount. Clean it regularly to prevent mold and mineral dust.
- Group plants together. Plants release moisture as they transpire, creating a slightly more humid pocket around a cluster.
- Use the right rooms. Bathrooms and kitchens with bright windows are naturally more humid.
- Grow in a terrarium or cabinet. Glass enclosures keep humidity high for small ferns like maidenhair and button fern.
- Pebble trays. A tray of pebbles and water under the pot adds a little local humidity; keep the pot above the waterline.
- Misting. Raises humidity only for minutes and can encourage leaf spots. Not worth relying on.
Keep ferns away from heating vents, radiators, fireplaces and AC units, all of which dry the air around them dramatically.
Temperature and Feeding
Most indoor ferns are happiest between 60°F and 75°F, with nights slightly cooler. Avoid cold drafts below 55°F. Ferns are light feeders: use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half strength once a month from spring through summer, and skip feeding in fall and winter. Too much fertilizer burns frond tips and roots.
Common Indoor Fern Problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Brown, crispy frond tips | Low humidity or dry soil | Humidifier; check soil more often |
| Shedding leaflets | Dry air, drying out, or a move | Raise humidity; keep evenly moist |
| Yellow fronds, mushy base | Overwatering, poor drainage | Let surface dry; repot in airy mix |
| Pale, bleached fronds | Too much direct sun | Move back from the window |
| Slow growth, few new fronds | Low light or root-bound | Brighter spot; repot in spring |
| Brown bumps on fronds | Could be spores or scale insects | Spores are in neat rows; scale scrapes off |
Before treating “bugs” on a fern, check whether the brown dots are in neat, regular rows on the frond undersides. Those are sori, the spore cases ferns reproduce with, and perfectly normal. Scale insects are irregular, scrape off with a fingernail and often leave sticky residue. For more on specific symptoms, see why your fern is turning brown.
Are Indoor Ferns Pet-Safe?
True ferns like Boston, bird’s nest, maidenhair, blue star, button and staghorn are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, which makes them popular choices in pet households. Asparagus fern is the main exception: it is not a true fern, and both its berries and foliage can irritate pets. When in doubt, check the ASPCA’s plant list for the exact species.
For more houseplant guides, containers and care routines, explore our houseplants and containers hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest fern to grow indoors?
Bird’s nest fern and blue star fern are the most forgiving. Both handle average household humidity and the occasional missed watering better than Boston or maidenhair fern.
How often should I water an indoor fern?
Check every few days and water when the top half-inch to inch feels just dry. In warm, bright rooms that might be every 3 to 5 days; in cool winter rooms, less often.
Can ferns grow in low light?
Some can tolerate it. Blue star and bird’s nest ferns manage in medium to lower light, but most ferns grow fuller with bright indirect light. Very dim corners lead to sparse, weak growth.
Do indoor ferns need misting?
Misting raises humidity only briefly. A humidifier, grouping plants or growing in a bathroom or terrarium works much better.
Why is my indoor fern dropping leaves?
Usually dry air, soil drying out between waterings, or stress from a recent move. Raise humidity, keep soil evenly moist and give it a few weeks to settle.