Plant Care Hen and Chicken Fern

Hen and Chicken Fern

Also known as

mother fern houseplant and Mother Fern

Taxonomy

Asplenium bulbiferum
Asplenium
Aspleniaceae
Polypodiales

How to care for Hen and Chicken Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Hen and Chicken Fern

Water needs for Hen and Chicken Fern
0.5 cups
every 7

Hen and Chicken Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 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 Hen and Chicken Fern

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Hen and Chicken Fern in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Hen and Chicken Fern: 6ft from a window
6ft or less from
a window

Hen and Chicken Fern can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Hen and Chicken Fern in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Hen and Chicken Fern

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Hen and Chicken 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 Hen and Chicken Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Hen and Chicken Fern is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Hen and Chicken Fern →

Common Hen and Chicken Fern Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Hen and Chicken Fern is sensitive to dry soil and should be watered frequently. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Hen and Chicken Fern Water Frequency →

Hen and Chicken Fern Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Hen and Chicken Fern can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Hen and Chicken Fern Light Requirements →

Hen and Chicken Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Hen and Chicken 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.


💨 Humidity

Hen and Chicken Fern enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Hen and Chicken Fern Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Hen and Chicken Fern is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Hen and Chicken Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Hen and Chicken Fern →


💩 Fertilizer

Hen and Chicken 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 Hen and Chicken Fern →


🌎 Native Region

Hen and Chicken Fern is native to Worldwide.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Hen and Chicken Fern grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Hen and Chicken Fern →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Hen and Chicken Fern can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Hen and Chicken Fern Temperature Tolerance →


🍂 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 retiring old leaves.

If it seems like there’s a problem, the most likely cause of yellow leaves in Hen and Chicken Fern is underwatering. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Yellow leaves can less often be caused by overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Give your plant a good drink and it should perk back up and download Greg to make sure your plant never goes thirsty 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 Hen and Chicken Fern

Hen and Chicken Fern

Hen and Chicken Fern


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 days

Placement

< 6ft 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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