Button fern (tarawera) care

Light

Button fern prefers the middle of the household lighting range — bright enough to read by all day, but never in the direct path of midday sun. Medium to bright indirect light; avoid direct sun. A useful test: hold your hand a few centimetres above the leaves at noon. A faint hand shadow means good light; a sharp dark shadow means direct sun and likely too much for this species.

Watering

Water button fern when the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 days. The actual day count varies with pot size, light level, and the season — the finger test (or, better, lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a calendar. Empty any drainage saucer after watering so the pot is never sitting in water. Tolerates occasional drying better than other ferns; rot from overwatering is the main risk.

Soil and pot

Button fern grows best in free-draining alkaline mix. Compost with 25% perlite; tolerates slightly alkaline soil. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Button fern sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 15-24°C (60-75°F). Tolerates lower humidity than most ferns. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed button fern sparingly. Quarter-strength balanced feed every 6-8 weeks in growing season. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on button fern in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown crispy fronds — Dry soil; water more consistently.
• Yellow fronds — Overwatering or rot.
• Slow growth — Normal; button ferns are not rapid growers.
• Pale colour — Insufficient light or hungry — feed lightly.

Propagation

Divide established clumps in spring. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Button fern is pet-safe. Pellaea rotundifolia is not listed by the ASPCA. Considered safe around cats and dogs. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Button fern deep-dive guides

Every aspect of button fern care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Button fern watering schedule
• Button fern light requirements
• Best soil mix for button fern
• Button fern fertilizing guide
• When to repot button fern
• How to propagate button fern
• Button fern growth rate & size
• Button fern cold hardiness
• Button fern temperature & humidity
• Is button fern toxic to cats & dogs?

Related guides

Button fern is also commonly called New Zealand button fern or tarawera.

• Snake plant care — light, water and common problems
• Dracaena care — light, water and common problems
• Peperomia care — light, water and common problems
• All 200 plant care guides in the Growli library