American Chestnut
About American Chestnut
American Chestnut is a super rare houseplant šæ that is a fun challenge to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light āļø and should be less than 1 foot from a window.
American Chestnut likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.
American Chestnut belongs to the Castanea genus, and is native to Eastern Canada to the Northern Central and Eastern United States.
Taxonomy
Castanea dentata
Castanea
Fagaceae
Fagales

How to care for American Chestnut

How often to water your American Chestnut

every 9
American Chestnut needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesnāt get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot located in Austin, Texas.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.
Austin, Texas
45% Low

Growing American Chestnut in Austin right now
Plant growth potential is currently low š
February 7th, 2023
Sunlight intensity as measured by ānet radiationā in Austin is currently low š.
The availability of high quality sunlight in your home impacts ability for plants to thrive and is key in determininā¦
Sunlight will increase by 28.6% āļø
February 7th, 2023
Austin is trending towards greater sunlight intensity!
The amount of sunlight in Austin is expected to increase by 28.6% over the next 2 weeks to an average of 12.7 megajoules of energy per m2 perā¦
Daylight will increase by 0.9 hours š
February 6th, 2023
This month, Austin is getting an average of 7.4 hours of clear sky sunlight per day.
Hours of daylight will increase by 8.3% over the next two weeks. Your plants will get 11.1 total hours of dayliā¦
Finding light for American Chestnut in your home

a window
American Chestnut love being close to bright, sunny windows š.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive during this time of reduced sunlight intensity in Austin, Texas ā .
American Chestnut does not tolerate low-light š«.

How to fertilize American Chestnut

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 itās likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your American Chestnut after it doubles in size or once a yearāwhichever comes first.

American Chestnut can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!
Water Needs
American Chestnut 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.
Sunlight Needs
American Chestnut requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŖ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home š”.
Toxicity
American Chestnut 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
American Chestnut 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!
Fertilizer
American Chestnut grows very slowly and doesnāt require added fertilizer. Replacing your plantās potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Growth Pattern
American Chestnut grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
American Chestnut can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Care Summary for American Chestnut
American Chestnut
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on your location in Austin, Texas, the 4ā pot your plant is in, and that it doesnāt get direct sunlight.
