In the home, ferns are an excellent choice as houseplants—their lush greenery will complement your flowering plants, they can be grown in everything from clay pots to hanging baskets, and they don’t require full sun to thrive. Here are some popular fern varieties that grow indoors:

1. __Asparagus fern__ (*Asparagus aethiopicus*) has feathery fronds and can grow up to four feet long and three feet wide.
2. __Bird’s nest fern__ (*Asplenium nidus*) has wide, flat uncut fronds and can grow up to four feet long. 
3. __Boston fern/sword fern__ (*Nephrolepis exaltata*) has arching fronds that can grow up to three feet long.
4. __Button fern__ (*Pellea rotundifolia*) has round leaflets that resemble buttons.
5. __Holly fern__ (*Cyrtomium falcatum*) has thick, segmented fronds and is very hardy.
6. __Maidenhair fern__ (*Adiantum tenerum*; *Adiantum capillusveneris*) has cascading leaflets and grows well in low-lighting.
7. __Rabbit’s foot fern__ (*Davallia fejeensis*) has furry rhizomes that grow at the base of the plant.
8. __Staghorn fern__ (*Platycerium bifurcatum*) has large leaves that resemble deer antlers.
9. __Tree fern__ (*most often Cyathea cooperi*) grows a thick woody stalk with fronds coming out of the top.
While the word “ferns” includes a wide variety of plants, most ferns when grown as indoor plants require the same basic care:

- __Pot in well-draining soil__. Ferns aren’t picky about their soil, but their roots don’t do well if constantly wet. When potting your fern plants, choose a well-draining potting mix.
- __Place in medium light__. Since ferns grow underneath canopies of trees in the wild, they prefer filtered or indirect light rather than direct sunlight. The best place for ferns is in a south-facing or north-facing window; if you want to place them near an east-facing or west-facing window, keep them a few feet away from the window to avoid burning the leaves. You don’t need a bright light in your house to grow ferns. Varieties like maidenhair and asparagus can grow well in low-light conditions. 
- __Keep the soil moist__. Ferns are water-loving plants, which means that they do best in soil that is evenly and consistently moist. To keep your ferns happy, water them thoroughly whenever it feels like the top of the soil is starting to dry out. However, avoid overwatering—while moist soil is ideal, constantly soggy soil can injure the plant and encourage a bacterial or fungal infection. 
- __Mist on occasion__. Ferns need high humidity to thrive; they’re a common choice for terrarium growing because they love moisture in the air. If your fern fronds are browning at the tips or if you’re not seeing a lot of new growth, mist them with a water bottle to keep them moist, or consider setting up a humidifier nearby. If misting doesn’t do the trick, consider moving your ferns away from dry air and into a room in your house with higher humidity, like the kitchen or bathroom. 


Grow your own food with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place.
Ferns grow delicate curled leaves that unfurl into long, lacy fronds. In the wild you’re most likely to find ferns carpeting forest floors, growing happily underneath canopies of trees, but they also make a great houseplant.

Ferns grow delicate curled leaves that unfurl into long, lacy fronds. In the wild you’re most likely to find ferns carpeting forest floors, growing happily underneath canopies of trees, but they also make a great houseplant.

How to Care for Indoor Ferns: 9 Fern Varieties to Grow Indoors

In the home, ferns are an excellent choice as houseplants—their lush greenery will complement your flowering plants, they can be grown in everything from clay pots to hanging baskets, and they don’t require full sun to thrive. Here are some popular fern varieties that grow indoors:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Asparagus fern (Asparagus aethiopicus) has feathery fronds and can grow up to four feet long and three feet wide. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) has wide, flat uncut fronds and can grow up to four feet long. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Boston fern/sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) has arching fronds that can grow up to three feet long. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Button fern (Pellea rotundifolia) has round leaflets that resemble buttons. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) has thick, segmented fronds and is very hardy. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Maidenhair fern (Adiantum tenerum; Adiantum capillusveneris) has cascading leaflets and grows well in low-lighting. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia fejeensis) has furry rhizomes that grow at the base of the plant. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 8. Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) has large leaves that resemble deer antlers. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 9. Tree fern (most often Cyathea cooperi) grows a thick woody stalk with fronds coming out of the top. </li></ol>

9 Fern Varieties to Grow Indoors

While the word “ferns” includes a wide variety of plants, most ferns when grown as indoor plants require the same basic care:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Pot in well-draining soil. Ferns aren’t picky about their soil, but their roots don’t do well if constantly wet. When potting your fern plants, choose a well-draining potting mix. </li><li class="">Place in medium light. Since ferns grow underneath canopies of trees in the wild, they prefer filtered or indirect light rather than direct sunlight. The best place for ferns is in a south-facing or north-facing window; if you want to place them near an east-facing or west-facing window, keep them a few feet away from the window to avoid burning the leaves. You don’t need a bright light in your house to grow ferns. Varieties like maidenhair and asparagus can grow well in low-light conditions. </li><li class="">Keep the soil moist. Ferns are water-loving plants, which means that they do best in soil that is evenly and consistently moist. To keep your ferns happy, water them thoroughly whenever it feels like the top of the soil is starting to dry out. However, avoid overwatering—while moist soil is ideal, constantly soggy soil can injure the plant and encourage a bacterial or fungal infection. </li><li class="">Mist on occasion. Ferns need high humidity to thrive; they’re a common choice for terrarium growing because they love moisture in the air. If your fern fronds are browning at the tips or if you’re not seeing a lot of new growth, mist them with a water bottle to keep them moist, or consider setting up a humidifier nearby. If misting doesn’t do the trick, consider moving your ferns away from dry air and into a room in your house with higher humidity, like the kitchen or bathroom. </li></ul>

How to Grow and Care for Indoor Ferns

Grow your own food with Ron Finley, the self-described &quot;Gangster Gardener.&quot; Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place.

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Ferns grow delicate curled leaves that unfurl into long, lacy fronds. In the wild you’re most likely to find ferns carpeting forest floors, growing happily underneath canopies of trees, but they also make a great houseplant.

Ferns grow delicate curled leaves that unfurl into long, lacy fronds. In the wild you’re most likely to find ferns carpeting forest floors, growing happily underneath canopies of trees, but they also make a great houseplant.
