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

Some links in this post may be affiliate links

Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') prospers in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' also called Button Sword Fern, Fishbone Fern or Little-leaved Sword Fern is among the popular fern plants with gracefully, drooping stems and small, round, button-like leaves which release a lemony aroma when crushed, hence the common name 'Lemon Button Fern'.

Button Sword Fern is a compact, small-sized, hardy fern which spreads by means of underground rhizomes; clumps of wiry stems that grow beneath the soil surface.

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

Origin

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

Size

Fishbone Fern is a compact fern which grows to a height of about 1 ft and 1 ft wide. It is a dwarf variety of the Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis'). On account of its compact size, Little-leaved Sword Fern is among the best low-light small plants for the limited spaces.

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

Are you looking to add Lemon Button Ferns to your plant collection, they are available online from Etsy Link to Etsy) or from Amazon (Link to Amazon).

Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii' Care Indoors

Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') thrives in bright indirect light, average warmth of 15-25⁰C, humidity of 70-80% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose 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 (dappled light). Keep it away from direct sunlight as it may scorch the fronds.

Button Sword Fern can also be grown under grow lights if the natural lighting is insufficient. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

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

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 and death of the plant. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the right way.

Temperature and Humidity

Average warmth of 15-25⁰C is ideal for Lemon Button Fern. Keep it away from cold drafts as they can cause leaf drop.

Lemon Button Fern thrives under high humidity of 70-80%. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You may also grow the fern in the humid areas like a well-lit bathroom, kitchen and laundry area. Check out these techniques on how to elevate humidity for houseplants.

Due to its affinity for highly humid conditions, Lemon Button Fern can be grown in a closed terrarium as a high humidity can be maintained inside a terrarium. It is one of the best plants for a closed terrarium.

Fertilizer

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

Potting 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. All purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.

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. Take a look at these ceramic pots with a saucer on Amazon.

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

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.

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.

Pests

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

Brown shells scattered on fronds

Brown shells scattered on Lemon Button Fern fronds are an indication of a scales infestation. Isolate the affected fern to avoid spread to other plants and treat it with neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

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

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.

Tweet

Amazon Associates Disclosure

---

Homeplantsguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.