If you love ferns but have trouble keeping them alive, then the lemon button fern is for you. It is a hardier version of its more finicky cousins, only asking for a bit of sunlight and water, and it will make a pretty addition to any room.
A good luck plant that symbolizes eternal youth and new life, the Nephrolepis cordifolia Duffii is perfect for anyone who loves plants and particularly ideal for a new plant lover finding their way to a green thumb.
The lemon button fern also goes by its nicknames, button sword fern, erect sword fern, little-leaved sword fern, and fishbone fern, for obvious reasons.
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A Lemon Button Fern Plant Is Good for Homes and Offices
The lemon button fern brings a bright pop of color to homes and offices of all styles and spaces. It is a relatively small plant that will drape its stems over the edge of a pot, so it can be great either hanging or on a windowsill with space to spread out.
With small, lacy leaves that give off a hint of lemon fragrance during spring and summer, this pretty bit of foliage will brighten up a lonely corner or side table, and you could even put it right on your desk.
Ferns are great for removing common household toxins from the air, including formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene, which can cause headaches, breathing troubles, and even cancer cells!
The lemon button fern will also raise the humidity in your home, cutting through winter dryness.
Are Lemon Button Fern Plants Good for the Feng Shui Flow of a Room?
The lemon button fern, as a member of the fern family, brings excellent feng shui balance to any room.
A soft, delicate plant, this foliage exudes gentleness and flow, softening up hard geometric lines in your space.
You can also count on this plant to bring calm and peace to your environment, as it is so easy to care for and can thrive in virtually any location of your home or office.
To learn more about establishing feng shui and flow in your home or office, check out the master class article on how to use feng shui.
Are Lemon Button Fern Plants Easy to Grow and Maintain?
The lemon button fern is one of the easiest plants to care for as a hardy fern, and it is certainly among the easiest of ferns.
How Do Lemon Button Fern Plants Grow?
With a little indirect sunlight and regular waterings, the lemon button fern is an ideal houseplant. Outdoors, this foliage usually grows in full shade as it will suffer and burn in direct sunlight, so be mindful that ferns are more “forest floor” plants.
What Kind of Soil Does a Lemon Button Fern Plant Need?
Lemon button ferns want an acidic soil that is moist, loamy, and well-drained, but they are not picky in terms of style or type. It can grow in a variety of environments, so you’re safe simply potting it in indoor houseplant soil.
How Much Light Does a Lemon Button Fern Plant Need?
Remember this plant is a forest floor plant, growing under the shade cover of larger trees and plants, so it wants bright, indirect sunlight, but it can tolerate lower light as well. Just be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight as it will burn.
How Much Water Does a Lemon Button Fern Plant Need?
Probably the biggest issue with the lemon button fern, like any fern, is not allowing it to fully dry out. The leaves will crisp up and fall off if it dries out.
Be sure to check your soil regularly and water it at least once a week to keep the soil constantly moist but not soggy, which can lead to root rot.
Take a look at this article on watering mistakes you’re making that are killing your plants for more tips.
Other Conditions that Are Important to a Lemon Button Fern Plant
As a plant native to dense forests, this one loves humidity, so a warm, moist environment is ideal. The typical household is usually fine, but be aware that if you have it in a dry house or office, it might help to spray the plant frequently and even run a humidifier every once in a while to keep a moister environment.
To aid in its growth, you can feed the lemon button fern a light, diluted fertilizer once every few months.
Lemon Button Fern Plant Decorating Ideas
The lemon button fern loves to show off, so you can hang it in a well-lit corner and allow it space to drape its leaves over the edge of its pot.
You can also place it among other small plants where the greenery can share moisture and produce humidity in your room.
This plant will look great in a stark white pot with geometric patterns to balance its delicate soft lines and textures. Or you could place it in a neutral shade like gray or tan to go with a minimalist decor.
Do Fake Lemon Button Fern Plants Look Real?
If you’re set on not investing in live plants, you could also opt for a fake lemon button fern, which looks just like the real thing and requires even less upkeep.
Still, this plant is so hardy and easy to care for, it is worth giving it a try. You can always buy one of each and see what happens!
Of course, it can never hurt to add another artificial plant to your collection. Check out my piece on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.
Either way, you can’t go wrong bringing this one into your home or office.
Do you already have a lemon button fern plant? How do you decorate your home or office with it? Tell me about your experience with the lemon button fern plant in the comments below.
