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Holly Fern

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Cyrtomium caryotideum

Genus

Cyrtomium

Family

Polypodiaceae

Order

Polypodiales

How to care for Holly Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Holly Fern

Holly 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Holly Fern in your home

Holly 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 Holly Fern in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Holly Fern

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

Browse #Cyrtomium

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Holly 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.

Holly Fern Water Frequency →

Holly Fern Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Holly 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 🏡.

Holly Fern Light Requirements →

Holly Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Holly 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

Holly 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 Holly Fern →

Best Pots for Holly Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Holly Fern →

What Are Healthy Holly Fern Roots →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Holly Fern can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Holly Fern Temperature Tolerance →

Holly Fern Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Holly Fern →

When to Plant Holly Fern →

How to Plant Holly Fern →

Where to Plant Holly Fern →

Winter Care for Holly Fern →

Best Companion Plants for Holly Fern →

Is Holly Fern a Weed? →

🍂 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 Holly 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.