Plant Care Leather-Leaf Fern

Leather-Leaf Fern

About Leather-Leaf Fern

Leather-Leaf Fern is a popular houseplant 🌿 that needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in abundant sunlight ☀ and should be less than 3 feet from a window.

Leather-Leaf Fern likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Taxonomy

Pyrrosia eleagnifolia
Pyrrosia
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiales

Also known as

Ota

How to care for Leather-Leaf Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Leather-Leaf Fern

Water needs for Leather-Leaf Fern
0.5 cups
every 9

Leather-Leaf Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Leather-Leaf Fern

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Leather-Leaf Fern in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Leather-Leaf Fern: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Leather-Leaf Fern may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Leather-Leaf Fern in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Leather-Leaf Fern

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Leather-Leaf Fern: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Leather-Leaf Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Leather-Leaf Fern prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Leather-Leaf Fern Water Frequency →

Leather-Leaf Fern Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Leather-Leaf Fern may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Leather-Leaf Fern Light Requirements →

Leather-Leaf Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Leather-Leaf Fern is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


🪴 Soil

Leather-Leaf Fern does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Leather-Leaf Fern →

Best Pots for Leather-Leaf Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Leather-Leaf Fern →


💩 Fertilizer

Leather-Leaf Fern grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Leather-Leaf Fern →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Leather-Leaf Fern, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Leather-Leaf Fern

Leather-Leaf Fern

Leather-Leaf Fern


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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