Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Lemon Button Fern
Nephrolepis cordifolia "Duffii"
A compact, forgiving fern with a faint lemon scent. Much easier than most ferns and stays small.
- Terrarium type
- Closed
- Terrarium size
- Small
- Light
- Medium
- Care level
- Easy
- Growth habit
- Upright
- Pet safety
- Non-toxic to pets
Buy a live Lemon Button Fern
In stock at Lively Root, shipped across the US as a healthy potted plant.
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Growing Lemon Button Fern in a terrarium
Where to place it
A compact, upright fern for the mid-ground under medium indirect light. It stays small, so it won't crowd a modest vessel.
Watering & humidity
Keep the substrate evenly moist; the closed setup keeps humidity high with little effort. Far more forgiving of a missed watering than most ferns.
Watch out for
One of the easiest ferns, but yellowing fronds signal the substrate has stayed waterlogged. Trim tired fronds to keep it tidy.
Reference: Nephrolepis cordifolia "Duffii" on Wikipedia.
Lemon Button Fern FAQ
Can Lemon Button Fern grow in a closed terrarium?+
Yes — Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia "Duffii") thrives in a closed terrarium. The sealed glass traps the constant, high humidity it needs, and it tolerates the lower light inside a covered vessel.
Can Lemon Button Fern grow in an open terrarium?+
It isn't recommended. Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia "Duffii") wants the constant humidity of a sealed, closed terrarium and will quickly dry out and crisp up in an open, airy one.
What size terrarium does Lemon Button Fern need?+
Lemon Button Fern suits a small terrarium — jars & bottles. It has a upright growth habit, so plan its position with that in mind and trim or divide it if it starts to outgrow the glass.
Is Lemon Button Fern easy to care for?+
Lemon Button Fern is rated easy to care for in a terrarium. A compact, forgiving fern with a faint lemon scent. Much easier than most ferns and stays small. One of the easiest ferns, but yellowing fronds signal the substrate has stayed waterlogged. Trim tired fronds to keep it tidy.
How much light does Lemon Button Fern need?+
Lemon Button Fern does best in medium light. Keep it out of direct sun, which magnifies through glass and scorches leaves. A compact, upright fern for the mid-ground under medium indirect light. It stays small, so it won't crowd a modest vessel.
Is Lemon Button Fern safe for cats and dogs?+
Lemon button fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') is non-toxic to cats and dogs — Nephrolepis ferns are listed as pet-safe by the ASPCA.
