Fern Chester

Enjoys medium to bright indirect sunlight indoors or in full shade, frost-free outdoor areas.

Keep consistently moist but can be forgiving if neglected at times.

These plants enjoy high levels of humidity indoors and outside.

Keep this plant on the warmer side and avoid cold drafts.

Outside: Keep them in full shade on a patio out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn where nights are above 55°F

Apply at half-strength a balanced, liquid fertilizer especially formulated for indoor plants every month.  

When receiving the Lemon Button Fern, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months or if the roots are beginning to get crowded and growing through the drainage holes. They prefer to be a little crowded in their pot. 

Repot in the spring, using a 2 inches bigger pot to give the roots room to spread.

Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow to drain. Use a rich, well-draining indoor potting mix amended with 25% compost and to help with fertility. 

Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let sit an hour.

Add well-draining potting soil amended with peat moss and perlite to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen. 

Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim off with sterile pruners. If the plant is rootbound, cut through the roots to alleviate continued encircling. 

Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over. 

Water thoroughly, and unlike its cousins, they like to have a bit drier soil conditions. If settling occurs, add more soil.   

Water well to dampen the soil and let drain.

When watering your fern, it's an excellent time to trim off any browning, yellowing, or discolored leaves. Cut the stem all the way back to the base. To revitalize them, cut all the old foliage down to the crown and avoid cutting off any rolled fiddleheads that are popping up. This will eventually produce new foliage for the year and keep your plant healthy.

Propagate and divide your Lemon Button Fern in the spring.

Hydrate the plant the night before. 

Pull from the container and carefully divide or cut through the clump with a sterilized knife.                                                                

Repot the fern in rich, indoor peat-based potting soil mix amended with a rooting hormone.  Be aware that each new plant needs several leaves with sufficient roots attached. 

Use a container 2 inches bigger than the root ball with drainage and deep enough for their roots to grow. Place the plant at the same level as the previous pot adding soil at the bottom. 

Water the soil and add more soil if settling occurs.

Set them in medium to bright, indirect sunlight while they are rooting. Place a large, clear plastic bag, spritz with water on the interior and place over the new plant to create a humid environment. This particular fern does better with dryer soil conditions. Water weekly and keep on a consistent schedule. 

Check the moisture and humidity each day and add misting to keep the humidity high while the roots establish. 

After 6-8 weeks, roots will begin to establish. You can tug onto the stem to ensure the roots are anchoring well. Remove the plastic bag but keep the air humid around them with a pebble tray and misting.