The Tiger Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Tiger’) is a sought-after houseplant known for its striking visual appeal and relatively straightforward care requirements. This cultivar is a variegated selection of the common Boston Fern. Its distinctive appearance features bold, contrasting stripes across its fronds, making it a popular choice for adding a tropical element to any indoor space. This guide provides a framework for cultivating a thriving Tiger Fern in a home environment.
What Makes the Tiger Fern Unique
The Tiger Fern is classified as a cultivar of the Nephrolepis exaltata species, placing it in the family of sword ferns. These ferns are native to tropical and subtropical regions across the Americas, Africa, and Polynesia. The ‘Tiger’ cultivar stands out due to a spontaneous genetic mutation resulting in variegation.
The physical appearance is defined by its striking foliar pattern of medium green fronds dramatically streaked with chartreuse or golden-yellow. These stripes run irregularly across the pinnae, creating a marbled effect that earns the plant its common name. The sword-shaped fronds initially grow upward before arching gracefully outward, forming a dense cascade that can reach up to two feet in height. Specific lighting conditions are required for the variegation to remain prominent, as insufficient light will cause new growth to revert to solid green.
Creating the Ideal Environment for Growth
Providing the right light is the first step in maintaining the Tiger Fern’s vibrant coloration and overall health. The plant thrives in bright, indirect light, mimicking the filtered light it would receive beneath a forest canopy. Placing the fern a few feet away from an east or west-facing window works well, but direct sun exposure should be avoided entirely, as intense rays can quickly scorch the delicate fronds and leave them with dry, brown patches.
The watering regimen must focus on maintaining consistent moisture within the substrate without allowing the plant to sit in soggy conditions. The soil should be kept continuously damp. You can check this by inserting a finger into the potting mix; when the top inch feels only slightly dry, it is time to water thoroughly until liquid runs from the drainage holes. Reducing the watering frequency slightly during the short days of winter prevents the roots from becoming waterlogged when the plant’s growth naturally slows.
As a tropical fern, this cultivar requires high ambient humidity, ideally between 50% and 70%, to prevent the foliage from drying out. A lack of moisture in the air is the most common cause of crispy, brown tips and edges on the fronds. Placing the fern on a pebble tray filled with water or using a small room humidifier nearby are effective strategies for replicating its native, humid environment.
Maintaining a stable temperature range is important for the Tiger Fern’s well-being, with ideal conditions falling between 60°F and 75°F (15°C to 24°C). The plant is sensitive to sudden temperature shifts. Position it away from cold drafts from windows or air conditioning vents, as well as heat sources like radiators.
The ideal potting medium should be a well-draining, moisture-retentive, humus-rich mixture. A peat-based blend amended with perlite works well. This ensures aeration and prevents compaction around the roots.
Routine Maintenance and Propagation
The Tiger Fern benefits from a regular, but restrained, feeding schedule during its active growth period from spring through early fall. Applying a weak, balanced liquid fertilizer once a month provides the necessary nutrients without risking fertilizer burn, which can occur with excessive application. It is important to stop feeding entirely during the winter when the plant enters a period of dormancy, relying instead on the residual nutrients in the soil.
Pruning is necessary to keep the plant looking tidy and to encourage new growth by removing old or damaged foliage. Any fronds that have turned yellow, brown, or appear damaged should be cleanly cut away near the base of the plant with sterile shears. If the fern has suffered a major setback, such as severe drying, the entire plant can be cut back to within two inches of the soil line to stimulate a complete flush of new, healthy fronds.
The easiest and most common way to propagate the Tiger Fern is through division, which is often done when the plant is being repotted. When the roots have become congested and are circling the pot, typically every one to two years, the root ball can be gently separated into two or more smaller sections, each with its own set of roots and foliage. These sections can then be potted individually in fresh, well-draining soil.
The Tiger Fern also produces specialized structures that can be used for propagation. The plant naturally spreads via horizontal stems called runners or stolons, which can be pegged down onto the surface of new soil to root and form a new plant. Occasionally, grape-sized nodules known as bulbils can be found on the roots; these small, water-storing growths can be detached and planted in moist substrate to grow a new specimen.