Complete Guide To Nephrolepis Exaltata Roosevelt Fern Care and Growth

Quick Overview

The Roosevelt Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Rooseveltii’) is a stunning cultivar of the classic Boston Fern, celebrated for its gracefully arching fronds with beautiful, wavy edges. This lush, evergreen plant brings a touch of timeless elegance and vibrant green to any indoor setting.

Named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who was known to adorn the White House with these ferns, this variety offers a more textured and ruffled appearance than its common counterpart. It’s a fast-growing, air-purifying plant that thrives in high humidity, making it an excellent choice for bathrooms or kitchens, or as a show-stopping feature in a hanging basket.

Ideal Light for Roosevelt Fern

Roosevelt Ferns flourish in bright, indirect light. Think of the filtered sunlight on a forest floor-that’s the environment you want to replicate. Direct, harsh sunlight will scorch their delicate fronds, causing them to turn yellow or develop brown, crispy spots.

Place your fern near an east-facing window where it can receive gentle morning sun, or a few feet back from a south or west-facing window. A spot that gets dappled light for several hours a day is perfect. Insufficient light will lead to sparse, leggy growth and a less vibrant color.

Best & Worst Light Conditions

• Best Light Conditions:

  • Near an east-facing window.
  • In a bright room with sheer curtains over south or west-facing windows.
  • Under the canopy of larger plants in a well-lit room.

• Avoid:

  • Direct afternoon sun.
  • Low-light corners, which will cause weak growth and shedding.

Watering Needs

Watering Frequency

• Growing Season (Spring & Summer): Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry. This could be once or twice a week, depending on the temperature and humidity of your home.
• Dormant Season (Fall & Winter): Reduce watering, but do not let the soil dry out completely. Allow the top 1-2 inches to dry before watering again.

How to Water

• Water at the base of the plant, directly onto the soil, to avoid wetting the fronds excessively, which can encourage fungal growth.
• Water until you see it draining from the bottom of the pot. Discard any excess water from the saucer to ensure the plant isn’t sitting in water.
• Using lukewarm or room-temperature water is best to avoid shocking the roots.

Signs of Improper Watering

• Overwatering: Yellowing fronds, mushy base, a musty soil smell.
• Underwatering: Wilting, crispy frond tips, leaf drop, and pale green color.

What Kind of Soil Does Roosevelt Fern Like?

Roosevelt Ferns need a soil that can retain moisture while still providing good drainage and aeration. A standard peat-based potting mix is an excellent foundation. The soil should be light and airy, not heavy or easily compacted. A slightly acidic pH (6.0 to 6.5) is ideal.

The goal is to create a soil environment that mimics a humus-rich forest floor: consistently damp, but not a swamp.

DIY Soil Mix Recipe for Roosevelt Fern

You can easily create an ideal mix for your fern with this simple recipe:

• 2 parts peat moss or coco coir (for moisture retention and acidity)
• 1 part all-purpose potting soil (for substance)
• 1 part perlite (for drainage and aeration)
• A handful of compost or worm castings (for organic nutrients)

Mix these components thoroughly. When you squeeze a handful, it should hold its shape but not drip water.

Pre-Made Potting Mix Options

When and How to Fertilize

Roosevelt Ferns are not heavy feeders, but they benefit from regular, gentle feeding during their active growing period.

• Fertilizing Season: Feed your fern from spring through early fall.
• Frequency: Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer (e.g., 20-20-20) once a month.
• Strength: Always dilute the fertilizer to half the recommended strength on the label. Over-fertilizing can burn the sensitive roots and fronds.
• Pause in Winter: Stop fertilizing in late fall and winter when the plant’s growth slows down.

How to Apply Fertilizer Safely

• Always water the plant thoroughly before you fertilize. Applying fertilizer to dry soil can scorch the roots.
• Pour the diluted fertilizer solution directly onto the soil, avoiding the foliage.
• Every few months, flush the soil with plain water to prevent the buildup of fertilizer salts, which can harm the plant.

Signs of Fertilizing Issues

• Over-fertilization: Brown or crispy leaf tips, stunted growth, or a white crust on the soil surface.
• Under-fertilization: Pale green or yellowish fronds and slow growth during the growing season.

Ideal Temperature Range

Roosevelt Ferns prefer average to warm household temperatures. They are not frost-tolerant and should be protected from cold.

• Ideal Range: 65-75°F (18-24°C).
• Minimum Temperature: They can tolerate temperatures down to 50°F (10°C) but will not thrive.
• Avoid: Keep them away from cold drafts from windows or doors, as well as sudden temperature fluctuations from heating or AC vents.

Why Humidity is Crucial

This is the most critical aspect of Roosevelt Fern care. As tropical natives, they crave high humidity. Dry air is the number one cause of crispy, brown fronds and overall decline.

• Ideal Humidity: 50% or higher. They will truly thrive in 70-80% humidity.

How to Increase Humidity

• Misting: Mist your fern daily with a fine spray of lukewarm water.
• Humidifier: Place a small humidifier near the plant. This is the most effective method.
• Pebble Tray: Set the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water. The evaporating water will increase local humidity. Ensure the pot sits on the pebbles, not in the water.
• Grouping Plants: Group your fern with other plants to create a humid micro-environment.
• Location: Place it in a naturally humid room, such as a well-lit bathroom or kitchen.

Ferns Don't Flower

No, ferns, including the Roosevelt Fern, do not produce flowers or blooms. They belong to an ancient group of plants that reproduce through spores, not seeds from flowers.

The “fronds” are the fern’s leaves, and on mature plants, you may sometimes see small, brown dots on the undersides. These are sori, which contain the spores. This is a sign of a healthy, mature plant, not a disease or pest.

One of Many Beautiful Cultivars

This beautiful fern is part of the large and diverse Nephrolepis exaltata family. While it has its own unique charm, it is just one of over 40 distinct types of Boston Ferns, each offering different textures, sizes, and growth habits.

Many gardeners begin their journey with the classic Boston Fern, which is celebrated for its gracefully arching, feathery fronds. To see how this particular variety compares to others-from the densely ruffled ‘Fluffy Ruffles’ to the giant ‘Macho Fern’-explore our complete visual guide.

👉 Discover all 42 Boston Fern Varieties (With Pictures)

Pests That May Affect Roosevelt Ferns

The dense, overlapping, and wavy fronds of the Roosevelt Fern provide ample hiding places for pests, making diligent inspection a necessary part of its care. Check deep within the plant’s crown and along the stems.

• Spider Mites - The number one pest for indoor ferns, thriving in the low-humidity conditions that these plants detest. Look for fine webbing and a generally dusty or faded appearance on the fronds.
• Mealybugs - These white, cottony insects will cluster in the dense base of the plant and where the fronds emerge, sucking sap and weakening the fern.
• Scale Insects - Appear as small, hard brown bumps attached to the stems (stipes) and the central vein of the fronds. Their camouflage makes them difficult to spot.
• Fungus Gnats - The consistently moist soil required by ferns is a perfect habitat for these small flying pests. Their larvae in the soil can damage the fern’s delicate root system.
• Aphids - Less common, but they may attack the tender, new fiddleheads as they unfurl.
• Whiteflies – Tiny, moth-like insects that fly up in a cloud when the plant is disturbed. They cluster on the undersides of leaves to suck sap, leading to yellowing and sticky residue. Use yellow sticky traps and insecticidal soap to control them.

To manage pests, isolate the fern immediately and treat with insecticidal soap, ensuring good coverage throughout the dense foliage. Maintaining high humidity is the best defense.

Troubleshooting Roosevelt Fern Issues

Like all its Boston Fern relatives, the Roosevelt Fern is dramatic about its two main needs: high humidity and consistent moisture. Its uniquely ruffled fronds can make it even more prone to drying out.

• Brown, Crispy Edges - This is the most frequent complaint and a tell-tale sign of air that is too dry. The wavy edges of the fronds will be the first to show damage. Mist daily, group with other plants, or use a humidifier.
• Yellowing Leaves - This points to a watering problem. If the soil is constantly soggy, it’s overwatering. If the fronds are pale yellow and the soil is light and dry, it’s underwatering. The oldest, innermost fronds yellowing and dying is a normal part of the plant’s life cycle.
• Leaf Drop - A stressed fern will shed its tiny leaflets, creating a constant mess. This is a stress response to the soil drying out completely, cold drafts, or abrupt changes in its environment.
• Wilting & Drooping - This can be confusing. It is an obvious sign of thirst if the soil is dry. However, if the soil is wet and the plant is still wilting, it is a critical sign of Root Rot, where the damaged roots are no longer able to absorb water for the plant. Always check the soil before watering a wilting fern.
• Stunted Growth - If your fern isn’t producing new fiddleheads during the growing season, it likely needs more bright, indirect light or is ready for a diluted dose of fertilizer.
• Pest Damage - Any stippling, sticky residue, or distorted growth that isn’t clearly related to a cultural issue is likely the result of an active pest infestation.
• Sunburn or Leaf Scorch – Appears as large, bleached, white, or crispy brown patches on leaves exposed to too much direct sunlight. This is damage from intense light and heat, not a disease.
• Nutrient Deficiency – Can manifest as slow or stunted growth, pale or yellowing leaves, and a general lack of vigor. It indicates the plant has exhausted the available nutrients in its soil and requires feeding with a balanced fertilizer.

Propagating by Division

Division is the easiest and most common way to propagate a Roosevelt Fern. The best time to do this is in the spring when you are repotting.

1. Gently remove the entire plant from its pot.
2. Identify natural clumps in the root ball. Carefully tease the roots apart or use a clean, sharp knife to cut the root ball into two or more sections.
3. Ensure each new section has a healthy portion of roots and several fronds.
4. Pot each division into its own container with fresh, appropriate soil.
5. Water well and keep it in a warm, humid spot out of direct light until new growth appears.

Propagating by Runners

Mature Roosevelt Ferns often send out long, fuzzy runners (stolons). You can use these to create new plants.

1. Identify a runner that has started to form a small plantlet with tiny leaves.
2. Pin the plantlet down into a small pot of soil placed next to the mother plant, while it’s still attached.
3. Keep the soil in the new pot moist.
4. Once the new plantlet has established a good root system (you can check by gently tugging it), you can cut the runner connecting it to the mother plant.

Is a Roosevelt Fern the same as a Boston Fern?

Why are the fronds on my Roosevelt Fern getting crispy and brown?

Is the Roosevelt Fern safe for cats and dogs?

How often should I water my Roosevelt Fern?

Should I cut the brown fronds off my fern?

Does the Roosevelt Fern need direct sunlight?