How to Grow and Care for Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') Indoors

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Botanical name: Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii'
Family: Nephrolepidaceae
Common names: Lemon Button Fern, Button Sword Fern, Fishbone Fern, Little-leaved Sword Fern

Description

Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') also called Button Sword Fern, Fishbone Fern or Little-leaved Sword Fern is a compact, small-sized, hardy fern which bears gracefully drooping stems about 1 ft long.

The leaves are small, round, button-like and they release a lemony aroma when crushed, hence the common name "Lemon Button Fern".

Button Sword Fern spreads by means of underground rhizomes; clumps of wiry stems that grow beneath the soil surface.

Due to its compact growth, Little-leaved Sword Fern is ideal for a terrarium or for the small spaces.

Size

Fishbone Fern is a compact fern which grows to a height of about 1 ft and 1ft wide. It is a dwarf variety of the Boston Fern.

Origin

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' is native to the Pantropical regions of the world where it grows in swampy, damp, forest-like conditions.

Toxicity

Lemon Button Ferns (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') are non-toxic to humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. The plants are safe to grow indoors.

Where to Buy

Beautiful Lemon Button Ferns are available on Etsy. Buy Lemon Button Ferns online from Etsy.

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' Care Indoors

Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') thrives in bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' requires repotting every 2-3 years to provide adequate space for the growth of the rhizome. Regular pruning is necessary to keep it neat and tidy. Keep reading for a detailed account on these growing conditions and how to provide them.

Light Requirements

Lemon Button Fern grows best in bright, indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunlight as it may scorch the fronds.

Turn the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives adequate light on all sides for even growth of the fern.

Button Sword Fern can also grow under a grow light where natural lighting is insufficient.

Watering

Water Lemon Button Fern thoroughly during the growing season for optimum growth and keep the soil evenly moist at all times.

Cut down on watering during cold season as growth is minimal at this time to keep the soil slightly moist but never allow it to dry out completely.

Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

Temperature

Average warmth between 12-25⁰C is ideal for Lemon Button Fern. Keep it away from cold draughts as they can cause leaf drop.

Humidity

Lemon Button Fern thrives under high humidity. The fern is ideal for humid areas like the bathroom and the kitchen.

To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.

Lemon Button Fern can also be grown in a terrarium as the high humidity it requires can be maintained inside a terrarium.

Fertilizer (Feeding)

Feed Lemon Button Fern with a liquid, water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing period. Withhold feeding during the cold season as growth is reduced at this time.

Pruning

Pruning Lemon Button Fern is easy. Remove dead and damaged fronds to keep the fern neat and tidy. As it ages, the older fronds turn brown. Cut them off at the base to maintain it looking neat and tidy.

Repotting

Repot Lemon Button Fern every 2-3 years at the beginning of the growing season to provide adequate room for the growth of the rhizome.

One sign of an overcrowded fern is wilting leaves. Failure to repot an overcrowded fern can result in death of the plant.

Repot it into a pot that is 1 size larger and one that has drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

You can also be divide the Button Sword Fern into several sections during repotting and pot the sections individually to propagate new ferns.

Soil

The best soil for Lemon Button Fern should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.

Potting mixes designed for ferns like this quality ferns potting mix available at Etsy are ideal for Button Sword Fern.

Propagation

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' propagation can be done by division at the beginning of the growing season. It can also be propagated from spores but they are difficult to grow.

How to propagate Lemon Button Fern by plant division

Carefully take out the Lemon Button Fern from its pot and divide the rhizome into several sections. Ensure each section has adequate roots.

Pot these sections into individual pots while ensuring that you do not bury the rhizomes too deep but maintain the soil level that they were in the previous pot.

Place the pots in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight and maintain the soil moist through out until the new Button Sword Ferns are well established after which routine care can begin.

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' Problems

Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') problems are brown leaf tips, slow growth, wilting, yellowing, leaf drop, browning, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Brown dots or lines on the underside of fronds

Brown dots or lines on the underside of the fronds in Lemon Button Fern fronds are spores which can be used for propagation of new Ferns.

They indicate that the frond is mature and healthy. In their natural environment, these spores drop to the soil and grow into new Lemon Button Ferns.

Brown leaf tips and no growth

Lemon Button Fern brown leaf tips and no growth is die to dry air (low humidity).

Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to raise humidity. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Button Sword Fern can also be grown in a terrarium as the high humidity it requires can be maintained in a terrarium.

Brown shells scattered on fronds

Lemon Button Fern brown shells scattered on fronds is an indication of a infestation by scale insects. Isolate the affected fern to avoid spread to other houseplants and treat it with Neem oil.

Excessive leaf drop

Lemon Button Fern excessive leaf drop is indicative of too dry soil due to underwatering. Water the fern thoroughly and maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow it to dry out completely for an extended period of time.

Isolated brown and yellow leaves

Lemon Button Fern isolated brown and yellow leaves are a result of excessive (accumulated) salts in the soil either from watering or fertilizers.

Regularly flush out the salts by repeatedly running a steady stream of water thorough the soil and avoid overfertilizing in the future.

Yellowing leaves

Lemon Button Fern yellowing leaves is due to soggy soil. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

Wilting leaves

Lemon Button Fern wilting leaves is an indication of overcrowding in the current pot. Repot the fern into a larger pot or divide it up for more ferns.

Pests

Common pests in Lemon Button Fern are scale insects and mealy bugs. Isolate the affected fern to avoid spread to other houseplants and treat appropriately. Read more on how to identify and control houseplants pests.