Bluestar Fern

Plant Profile: Blue Star Fern (Phlebodium aureum)

Ferns are one of my favourite plant types, indoors and out, and they have been since I was a child when I fell in love with how their fronds unfurl.

Ferns as houseplants tend to be one of the trickier species to make thrive due to our dry, centrally heated homes. However, the Blue Star Fern is one of the easiest houseplant ferns there is and it is a real stunner.

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Native habitat

Found naturally in the tropical rainforest of South America, the Blue Star Fern is an epiphyte, meaning it attaches itself to, and grows on trees. Often found in the canopy of rainforests but also on the lower levels on the forest too. This means it will like a warm, humid environment out of direct sunlight.
Light

As with other ferns the Blue Star can tolerate low light levels, however it will thrive in medium light levels with a decent amount of indirect light, with no direct sunlight shining onto the plant. Near to an East or West facing window would be suitable. Too much direct light and the fronds will become brown and crispy. Too little light and the leaves will become very pale in colour.

Water

The Blue Star Fern will like to be kept moist, unlike most houseplants that are happy to dry out a bit between watering, the Blue Star Fern will not like to be dry. The soil should be kept moist but not soggy. I water mine once a week. If the top of the soil is just starting to dry then it is time to water.

You will see the orangey brown hard rhizomes at the base of the plant, these will not like to get wet so you can water very close to the edge of the pot away from the rhizomes or water from the underneath. You can sit the plant in the sink or bath for 30 mins or until the top of the soil is moist. Take care not to leave the plant sitting in water for too long, otherwise this could lead to root rot. A larger pot will take longer than a smaller pot to take up the water, and you might find it a bit ineffective as I do for my largest ferns - in this case I gently water around the edge of the plant.

If you live in a hard water area your Blue Star Fern will benefit from room temperature rain water or distilled water if possible.