Photo: Daderot, Public domain · source
Pruning guide · Houseplant
Button fern: when and how to prune
Pellaea rotundifolia
Button fern is best pruned in March–April.
| Pruning months | March–April |
|---|
Button fern: when to prune it?
In March–April, just before new growth starts. You can also cut off withered fronds at any time of year.
Button fern: how to prune it?
- Cut brown or withered stalks off right at the base with clean scissors.
- Leave healthy green fronds in place: the plant needs them to grow.
- On a bare or untidy plant you can cut the oldest fronds off at the base in spring; new fronds come from the rhizome.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March–April.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- A houseplant lives indoors, so wildlife hardly notices the pruning. Healthy clippings can go on the compost.
Caution: Do not cut too much at once: a plant with too few leaves recovers slowly.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Button fern · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.