Asplenium Antiquum | Lava Rock & Tray

A tropical-looking fern growing on a lava rock. Position: indirect light Rate of growth: slow Hardiness: tender (indoors only) Current height: approximately 18cm (+ or – 10% including the pot) We loved these when they first came into the office, and we all wanted one for our desks – and that’s because we had never seen anything quite like them! It’s quite a sculptural piece composed of a bird’s nest fern, which rather than being grown in a pot, has been attached to a piece of real lava, allowing the roots to grow down and around the stone. The fern forms a nest-like cluster above the lava (which will vary in shape, so it may not look like the stone in our photo), and it will flourish in a humid environment such as a bathroom or kitchen. Home care: It is vital to keep the tray three-quarters full of water at all times or the plant will be unlikely to survive. The plant takes up water via capillary action, with the porous rock soaking up moisture which is then absorbed by the plant’s roots. Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight as this will quickly deplete the store of water, and ideally use only filtered or rain water to prevent limescale turning the rock white. Mist the leaves regularly with water to improve the humidity around the plant, and feed with a diluted liquid fertiliser (only one quarter the recommended strength), when watering from late spring to early autumn. Maintain temperatures above 15°C.