Asplenium Antiquum (Bird's nest fern)
- Regular price
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€28,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€28,95
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Frequently asked questions
Why are the tips of my Asplenium antiquum’s fronds turning brown? It’s almost always due to low ambient humidity — the dry air in heated apartments is the main cause. Increase misting frequency, place the pot on a tray of damp clay pebbles, or move the plant to a more humid room like the bathroom.
Is Asplenium antiquum safe for cats? Yes, Asplenium antiquum is classified as non-toxic to cats and dogs — you can place it worry-free in a home with pets. This is a rare advantage for such a decorative and air-purifying fern.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Smooth, glossy fronds • 🎨 Elegant, classic rosette growth habit • ☀️ Partial shade • 💧 Regular watering • 🌬️ Air-purifying • 🐾 Non-toxic
Asplenium antiquum, also known as the bird's nest fern, is an elegant, timeless indoor fern native to the humid tropical forests of Southeast Asia and Australia, where it naturally grows as an epiphyte in shaded undergrowth. Its perfectly smooth, glossy green fronds with regular edges form a spectacular rosette - a clean, sculptural look that fits just as well in a minimalist interior as in a lush urban jungle.
Air-purifying, non-toxic, available in several sizes. Pair it with indoor ferns and bathroom plants. Also available as a ready-to-display version with a black Selin basket.
Which Asplenium variety should you choose?
The Asplenium genus offers several varieties with distinct frond textures, all sharing the same light and humidity requirements:
- Asplenium antiquum (this plant) - perfectly smooth, glossy fronds with a classic, clean growth habit. The timeless, elegant version.
- Asplenium 'Osaka' - slightly wavy fronds with a balanced growth habit. The middle ground between smooth and wavy.
- Asplenium 'Campio' - highly wavy, spectacular fronds with a compact growth habit. The version with pronounced waves.
- Asplenium 'Crispy Wave' - very crinkled, dense fronds with a bushy growth habit. The ultra-graphic miniature version.
- Asplenium nidus 'Crissie' - wavy fronds with crinkled edges and a generous growth habit. The classic wavy version.
- Asplenium nidus - broad, smooth fronds with a generous, imposing growth habit. The classic large-size version.
Why choose Antiquum? Its perfectly smooth, glossy fronds create a clean look that wavy varieties cannot replicate - the classic and most elegant form of the bird's nest fern, available in 4 sizes to suit every space.
Light and placement
Asplenium antiquum thrives in partial shade with soft indirect light — it tolerates low light better than most ferns. Ferns depend on a good balance between light and humidity.
- Light: partial shade, soft indirect light — tolerates low light, avoids direct sun.
- Ideal: bathroom, office, bedroom, living room, or low-light room.
- Temperature: 18 to 24 °C, without sudden changes or drafts.
- Substrate: light, rich, and well-draining — potting soil for ferns or green plants with perlite.
The bathroom is its ideal location — the room's natural humidity replicates its original habitat, and its fronds shine with a particularly distinctive glow there.
Watering & care
Asplenium antiquum likes consistently slightly moist substrate — its main sensitivity: never water directly into the center of the rosette; always water around the base to prevent rot. The finger test remains the most reliable method.
- Watering: regular — keep the substrate slightly moist without waterlogging it.
- Frequency: 1 to 2 times per week in spring and summer, reduced slightly in winter.
- Drainage: essential — use a pot with drainage holes and a well-draining substrate.
- Humidity: thrives in 60 to 80% humidity — mist regularly or place near a humidifier.
- Fertilizer: once a month in spring and summer with liquid fertilizer for green plants diluted by half.
Gently dust the fronds with a damp cloth — on the Antiquum, the smooth fronds collect dust more visibly than wavy varieties, and clean foliage reflects light much better.
Decorating ideas & plant pairings
Its smooth, glossy fronds create a clean, sculptural effect — a fern that fits just as naturally into a minimalist interior as it does into a dense urban jungle.
- Pairing: pair it with a Spathiphyllum for a complete air-purifying arrangement, or discover our Asplenium + Spathiphyllum + Epipremnum air-purifying trio directly — three air-purifying plants with complementary foliage.
- Ideal pot: a white ceramic embossed decorative pot — its sculpted texture contrasts elegantly with the perfectly smooth surface of the fronds.
- Atmosphere: perfect as an accent plant in a bright bathroom, living room, or office — its rosette makes it a naturally structured and calming focal point.
The smooth, glossy fronds reflect light and create a sense of visual depth — the brighter the location (without direct sun), the more spectacular the effect.
Verdeia Tips
- High humidity, water at the base — mist the fronds regularly, but always water around the base, never in the center of the rosette. Standing water in the center quickly causes the central bud to rot — the only real mistake to avoid with this fern.
- Brown frond tips indicate air that is too dry — double the misting frequency or place the pot on a saucer of moist clay pebbles. During the winter heating season, dry air is Asplenium antiquum's main enemy.
- Air-purifying and non-toxic — Asplenium antiquum absorbs formaldehyde and xylene found in indoor air, without posing any risk to cats, dogs, or children. Its benefits for indoor air are detailed in the analysis plants and air quality.
- Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring — into a slightly larger pot with fresh substrate. Asplenium antiquum prefers to be slightly root-bound — there is no need to repot it into a pot that is too large all at once.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Asplenium antiquum
- Common name: Bird's nest fern
- Family: Aspleniaceae
- Origin: humid tropical forests of Southeast Asia and Australia
- Variant XS: H25 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
- Variant S: H30 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
- Variant M: H45 cm | Pot Ø17 cm
- Variant L: H60 cm | Pot Ø23 cm
- Mature size: up to 60–80 cm indoors
- Light: partial shade, soft indirect light — tolerates low light
- Watering: regular, slightly moist substrate — never at the heart of the rosette
- Care: easy
- Pet toxicity: non-toxic
- Decorative style: Tropical / Elegant / Minimalist
- Feature: classic smooth, glossy fronds, air-purifying, non-toxic, 4 sizes available
Each plant is unique: the photos show a representative example. Foliage density naturally varies depending on the season and growing conditions.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.