Button Fern

Button Fern Care

Pellaea rotundifolia

What is the plant

If you have long dreamed of decorating your home with a fern but forget to water your indoor plants on time, Button Fern is the option for you.

Button Fern, also known as Round-Leafed Fern or Cliff Brakes, is native to New Zealand. This easy-care plant boasts long branches with attractive, round, rich green leaves.

It can grow up to 10-15 inches (25-38 cm) in height. Button Fern is an exclusively green plant that does not produce flowers.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Shade

Temperature

18°C - 21°C

Hardiness zone

8b - 9b

Difficulty

Hard

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Wait until the soil is completely dry between waterings to avoid root rot. Watering also depends on soil type, drainage, and time of year. In the cold period, you need to reduce watering.
Pruning
In spring, cut back all dead and wilted leaves to the base of the plant to encourage new growth.
Fertilizer
Do not forget to feed the plant every two weeks during the growing season, using a universal liquid fertilizer for indoor plants. This has a positive effect on the growth of new healthy leaves.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Button Fern prefers bright, indirect light, so you can place it away from a south-facing window or on a west- or east-facing windowsill. Make sure it receives subdued light in the summer, avoiding leaf burns.
Soil
The soil for Pellaea rotundifolia should be well-balanced, fertile, and draining. You can make it using peat, perlite, and peat moss.
Propagation
You can propagate ferns by spore sowing, although this takes time. Although we identify this plant as a fern, it cannot be propagated by division like most of its relatives.

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Temperature
This plant is generally considered cold-tolerant but does not like frost. The ideal temperature for it is 65-75°F (18-24°C), and the minimum temperature should not fall below 55°F (13°C).
Container
Change the pot every year if your plant is young; otherwise, every two years. The material doesn't matter but make sure the new container has drainage holes and fits the size of the root system.
Fun fact
Unlike other ferns, Pellaea rotundifolia does not like frequent watering and humidity.