Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The Boston Fern is a classic, large-frond fern prized in moisture-loving foliage collections for its forgiving nature and strong humidity tolerance, making it ideal for hanging baskets or filling indoor spaces. Compared with the other selections here it offers a cost-effective way to achieve lush volume with lower replacement costs than the more delicate maidenhair and higher-impact coverage than low-growing options like Fittonia and Baby's Tears.
Lush arching fronds
Humidity-loving diva
Lush arching fronds
Humidity-loving diva
Review Summary
"Lush, classic house fern praised for its full, arching fronds and air-purifying presence; many owners note it looks rewarding but demands consistent humidity and regular watering, making it somewhat high-maintenance."
Air-cleaning powerhouse
Lush arching fronds form a full, trailing display ideal for hanging baskets.
Air-cleaning powerhouse
Lush arching fronds form a full, trailing display ideal for hanging baskets.
Recreational Enjoyment
Self-Improvement & Personal Growth
Skill Development & Mastery
The Boston Fern is a classic, large-frond fern prized in moisture-loving foliage collections for its forgiving nature and strong humidity tolerance, making it ideal for hanging baskets or filling indoor spaces. Compared with the other selections here it offers a cost-effective way to achieve lush volume with lower replacement costs than the more delicate maidenhair and higher-impact coverage than low-growing options like Fittonia and Baby's Tears.
Lush arching fronds
Humidity-loving diva
Air-cleaning powerhouse
Lush arching fronds form a full, trailing display ideal for hanging baskets.
Thrives with high humidity and consistent moisture but prefers bright, indirect light.
Lush arching fronds
Humidity-loving diva
Air-cleaning powerhouse
Lush arching fronds form a full, trailing display ideal for hanging baskets.
Thrives with high humidity and consistent moisture but prefers bright, indirect light.
$15-70 CAD
Button Fern (Pellaea rotundifolia)
Button Fern is a compact, slow-growing fern valued for its rounded pinnae and greater tolerance for drier spells, offering a technically simpler care profile for busy growers in moisture-oriented mixes. Financially it can be cheaper to maintain than high-humidity-dependent species like maidenhair and Fittonia, and its space-efficient habit makes it a practical alternative to the larger Boston Fern in smaller rooms or office settings.
Pebble-like leaves
Shade-happy charmer
Pebble-like leaves
Shade-happy charmer
Review Summary
"Compact and attractive with small, round fronds that reviewers find tougher and more drought-tolerant than many ferns; commonly recommended for bright, indirect light though growth is slow and spacing can be an issue."
Low-maintenance personality
Small, round leaflets create a neat, compact habit perfect for shelves and terrariums.
Low-maintenance personality
Small, round leaflets create a neat, compact habit perfect for shelves and terrariums.
Recreational Enjoyment
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Button Fern is a compact, slow-growing fern valued for its rounded pinnae and greater tolerance for drier spells, offering a technically simpler care profile for busy growers in moisture-oriented mixes. Financially it can be cheaper to maintain than high-humidity-dependent species like maidenhair and Fittonia, and its space-efficient habit makes it a practical alternative to the larger Boston Fern in smaller rooms or office settings.
Pebble-like leaves
Shade-happy charmer
Low-maintenance personality
Small, round leaflets create a neat, compact habit perfect for shelves and terrariums.
Tolerates lower light better than many ferns while enjoying moderate humidity.
Pebble-like leaves
Shade-happy charmer
Low-maintenance personality
Small, round leaflets create a neat, compact habit perfect for shelves and terrariums.
Tolerates lower light better than many ferns while enjoying moderate humidity.
$15-40 CAD
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum)
Maidenhair Fern stands out for its elegant, lacy fronds and high aesthetic value in moisture-loving collections, but it demands consistently high humidity and careful watering. It ranks as the premium, visually striking option compared with hardier choices like the Button or Boston ferns, which can translate to higher maintenance time and replacement costs for less experienced keepers.
Silvery fan fronds
Delicate lacework
Silvery fan fronds
Delicate lacework
Review Summary
"Beautiful, delicate foliage admired for its elegance but widely reported as fussy—needs steady humidity, even moisture, and careful placement; many buyers struggle to keep it healthy long-term."
Moisture muse
Fine, fan-shaped fronds give an elegant, delicate appearance.
Moisture muse
Fine, fan-shaped fronds give an elegant, delicate appearance.
Recreational Enjoyment
Self-Improvement & Personal Growth
Skill Development & Mastery
Maidenhair Fern stands out for its elegant, lacy fronds and high aesthetic value in moisture-loving collections, but it demands consistently high humidity and careful watering. It ranks as the premium, visually striking option compared with hardier choices like the Button or Boston ferns, which can translate to higher maintenance time and replacement costs for less experienced keepers.
Silvery fan fronds
Delicate lacework
Moisture muse
Fine, fan-shaped fronds give an elegant, delicate appearance.
Very humidity-loving and needs consistently even moisture and bright, filtered light.
Silvery fan fronds
Delicate lacework
Moisture muse
Fine, fan-shaped fronds give an elegant, delicate appearance.
Very humidity-loving and needs consistently even moisture and bright, filtered light.
$20-80 CAD
Fittonia albivenis 'Pink Angel'
Fittonia 'Pink Angel' delivers vivid pink venation and low-growing, carpet-like growth that excels in terrariums and humid microclimates, offering a decorative pop that complements fern foliage. Technically it requires less vertical space and often lower purchase cost than large ferns, but its strict humidity needs make it more comparable to maidenhair in maintenance intensity.
Candy-pink veins
Creeping terrarium star
Candy-pink veins
Creeping terrarium star
Review Summary
"Vibrant pink-veined foliage that performs beautifully in terrariums and as a statement houseplant; users love the color but warn it requires consistently high humidity and frequent watering to avoid leaf drop."
Humidity-dependent flirt
Striking pink veins on green leaves provide strong visual contrast in low to medium light.
Humidity-dependent flirt
Striking pink veins on green leaves provide strong visual contrast in low to medium light.
Recreational Enjoyment
Skill Development & Mastery
Fittonia 'Pink Angel' delivers vivid pink venation and low-growing, carpet-like growth that excels in terrariums and humid microclimates, offering a decorative pop that complements fern foliage. Technically it requires less vertical space and often lower purchase cost than large ferns, but its strict humidity needs make it more comparable to maidenhair in maintenance intensity.
Candy-pink veins
Creeping terrarium star
Humidity-dependent flirt
Striking pink veins on green leaves provide strong visual contrast in low to medium light.
Thrives in high humidity and evenly moist soil, making it ideal for terrariums and tabletops.
Candy-pink veins
Creeping terrarium star
Humidity-dependent flirt
Striking pink veins on green leaves provide strong visual contrast in low to medium light.
Thrives in high humidity and evenly moist soil, making it ideal for terrariums and tabletops.
$10-30 CAD
Baby's Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Baby's Tears is a fast-spreading groundcover with delicate, densely packed leaves that create an instant carpet in pots and terrariums, making it the most economical choice for quick coverage among these moisture-loving species. It propagates readily and reduces upfront planting expense compared with slow-establishing ferns, though it lacks the vertical drama of Boston or maidenhair ferns.
Tiny carpet foliage
Mossy cushion feel
Tiny carpet foliage
Mossy cushion feel
Review Summary
"Forms a charming, dense carpet favored for terrariums and as a groundcover; owners praise its lush look but frequently mention it can be temperamental about light and moisture balance and may die back if conditions fluctuate."
Rapid spreader buddy
Forms a dense, carpet-like mat of tiny leaves that works well as groundcover or in terrariums.
Rapid spreader buddy
Forms a dense, carpet-like mat of tiny leaves that works well as groundcover or in terrariums.
Recreational Enjoyment
Time-Saving Convenience
Baby's Tears is a fast-spreading groundcover with delicate, densely packed leaves that create an instant carpet in pots and terrariums, making it the most economical choice for quick coverage among these moisture-loving species. It propagates readily and reduces upfront planting expense compared with slow-establishing ferns, though it lacks the vertical drama of Boston or maidenhair ferns.
Tiny carpet foliage
Mossy cushion feel
Rapid spreader buddy
Forms a dense, carpet-like mat of tiny leaves that works well as groundcover or in terrariums.
Requires consistently moist conditions and high humidity to stay vibrant.
Tiny carpet foliage
Mossy cushion feel
Rapid spreader buddy
Forms a dense, carpet-like mat of tiny leaves that works well as groundcover or in terrariums.
Requires consistently moist conditions and high humidity to stay vibrant.
$8-30 CAD