Plant Care Crested Wood Fern

Crested Wood Fern

About Crested Wood Fern

Crested Wood Fern is a super rare houseplant 🌿 that is easy to grow and needs very little water to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

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

Crested Wood Fern belongs to the Dryopteris genus, and is native to Europe to Central Siberia, Canada to the United States.

Taxonomy

Dryopteris cristata
Dryopteris
Dryopteridaceae
Polypodiales

Also known as

Crested buckler-fern

How to care for Crested Wood Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Crested Wood Fern

Water needs for Crested Wood Fern
0.5 cups
every 12

Crested Wood Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 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 Crested Wood Fern

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Crested Wood Fern in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Crested Wood Fern: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Crested Wood Fern love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Crested Wood Fern does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Crested Wood Fern in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Crested Wood Fern

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

Browse #CrestedWoodFern
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level
💦 Water Needs

Crested Wood Fern thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Crested Wood Fern Water Frequency →

Crested Wood Fern Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Crested Wood Fern requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a 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 🏡.

Crested Wood Fern Light Requirements →

Crested Wood Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Crested Wood 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.

Is Crested Wood Fern Edible? →

Crested Wood Fern Toxicity to Cats →

Crested Wood Fern Toxicity to Dogs →

Crested Wood Fern Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Crested Wood 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 Crested Wood Fern →

Best Pots for Crested Wood Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Crested Wood Fern →

What Are Healthy Crested Wood Fern Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Crested Wood 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 Crested Wood Fern →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Crested Wood Fern grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Crested Wood Fern Lifecycle →

Crested Wood Fern Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Crested Wood 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 Crested Wood Fern, since they are very 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 Crested Wood Fern

Crested Wood Fern

Crested Wood Fern


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft 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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