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Plant care

Fortune's Basket Fern (Resurrection Fern) care

Drynaria fortunei

Also called Resurrection Fern, Huaijuye, Drynaria Fern.

RHS H2USDA 9-11Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 30-60 cm tall

Watering rhythm

7-14days

Allow the rhizome to dry out partially between waterings, roughly every 7-14 days depending on season

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Very chunky, free-draining epiphyte mix or bark mount

Humidity

50-70%

Temp

15-28°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

30-60 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Fortune's Basket Fern is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Best in bright, indirect light with a few hours of gentle morning sun. It tolerates lower light but growth slows considerably. Avoid harsh afternoon direct sun which bleaches and scorches the productive fronds. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water fortune's basket fern allow the rhizome to dry out partially between waterings, roughly every 7-14 days depending on season. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Drynaria is adapted to seasonal dry spells — the nest fronds help the plant survive drought. Water generously during active growth (spring and summer), then reduce significantly in winter. Overwatering is the most common error; soggy roots cause rapid rot.

Soil and pot

Fortune's Basket Fern grows best in very chunky, free-draining epiphyte mix or bark mount. A mix of coarse orchid bark, perlite, and a small amount of sphagnum moss works well in a pot. Many growers prefer mounting the rhizome directly on cork bark or a wooden board with a thin layer of sphagnum moss. Avoid standard potting compost. 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

Fortune's Basket Fern sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 15-28°C (59-82°F). Appreciates moderate to high humidity, though it is somewhat more tolerant of drier air than many tropical ferns due to its rhizome's water-storage capacity. Regular misting or a humidity tray is beneficial in heated indoor environments. 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 fortune's basket fern sparingly. Apply a diluted liquid fertiliser at half strength (balanced or slightly nitrogen-rich) once every 3-4 weeks during spring and summer. Avoid fertilising in autumn and winter. Over-fertilising encourages lush but structurally weak fronds. 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 fortune's basket fern in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Rhizome rot — Caused by overwatering or poorly draining media. Allow the rhizome to dry partially between waterings and use a very open, bark-based mix.
  • Brown or shrivelling productive fronds — Indicates underwatering, very low humidity, or excessively high temperatures. Increase watering frequency and improve ambient humidity.
  • Mealybugs — Check along the rhizome and frond bases. Remove with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol; follow up with diluted neem oil.
  • Frond yellowing — Can signal nutrient deficiency or insufficient light. Move to a brighter spot and apply a diluted balanced feed.
  • Failure to produce productive fronds — Often a sign of too much shade or low temperatures. Ensure bright indirect light and temperatures above 18°C year-round.

Companion plants

Fortune's Basket Fern pairs well with Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum), Hoya carnosa, Bulbophyllum orchids, and Tillandsia (air plants). These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Divide the rhizome in spring, ensuring each section has at least one growing tip and ideally some attached nest fronds. Pin divisions to a moss-covered mount or nestle them into an epiphyte mix, misting regularly until new growth appears. 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

Fortune's Basket Fern is mildly toxic to pets. Drynaria fortunei is not individually listed by the ASPCA. While true ferns are generally considered non-toxic, this genus is used medicinally in traditional herbal preparations, and its safety for pets has not been formally evaluated. Treat as mildly toxic as a precaution. 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.

Fortune's Basket Fern care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Drynaria fortunei?

Drynaria fortunei is most commonly called Fortune's Basket Fern, but it is also known as Resurrection Fern, Huaijuye, Drynaria Fern. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Fortune's Basket Fern apply identically to anything sold as Resurrection Fern.

How much light does fortune's basket fern need?

Fortune's Basket Fern grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Best in bright, indirect light with a few hours of gentle morning sun. It tolerates lower light but growth slows considerably. Avoid harsh afternoon direct sun which bleaches and scorches the productive fronds.

How often should I water fortune's basket fern?

Water fortune's basket fern allow the rhizome to dry out partially between waterings, roughly every 7-14 days depending on season. Drynaria is adapted to seasonal dry spells — the nest fronds help the plant survive drought. Water generously during active growth (spring and summer), then reduce significantly in winter. Overwatering is the most common error; soggy roots cause rapid rot. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is fortune's basket fern toxic to cats and dogs?

Fortune's Basket Fern is mildly toxic to pets. Drynaria fortunei is not individually listed by the ASPCA. While true ferns are generally considered non-toxic, this genus is used medicinally in traditional herbal preparations, and its safety for pets has not been formally evaluated. Treat as mildly toxic as a precaution.

What USDA hardiness zone does fortune's basket fern grow in?

Fortune's Basket Fern is rated for USDA zone 9-11 (indoor-only in temperate climates) and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Fortune's Basket Fern deep-dive guides

Every aspect of fortune's basket fern care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Fortune's Basket Fern qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Fortune's Basket Fern is also known as Resurrection Fern, Huaijuye, and Drynaria Fern.