How to care for Button Fern
Pellaea rotundifolia · Pteridaceae
A charming New Zealand native, the button fern lines its arching dark stems with small, round, leathery leaflets like rows of buttons. Unusually for a fern, it prefers to dry slightly between waterings and dislikes soggy feet. Compact and tidy, it suits shelves and terracotta pots where many ferns would sulk. Water roughly every 5 days while it's growing (about every 9 in winter), give it a bright room away from the window, kept above 50°F (10°C) — average room humidity suits it.
Care at a glance
Let the top couple of centimeters dry before watering — it tolerates slight dryness far better than sitting wet.
Medium, indirect light such as an east window; strong direct sun fades and crisps the leaflets.
Dilute balanced fertilizer at quarter strength every 6 weeks in the growing season — it is a light feeder.
Mistakes that kill this plant
- Watering it on a 'fern schedule' — this one hates constantly wet soil.
- Deep plastic pots with poor drainage.
- Swinging between bone dry and waterlogged instead of steady, moderate moisture.
Seasonal tips
- Water noticeably less in winter; cool plus wet is fatal.
- It appreciates being a touch pot-bound — don't rush to upsize.
- Trim old browned stems at the base in spring to keep it tidy.
Is it safe for pets?
Our records list Button Fern as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
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Toxicity here is informational, not a safety guarantee. Those are our own records, compiled by following the ASPCA's published toxic and non-toxic plant lists and Pet Poison Helpline's plant poison list rather than copied from them — confirm anything that matters against the ASPCA's published lists, which this one is matched to, or with your vet. If your pet ingested this plant, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.