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Oak Fern

Also known as

Western oakfern, Common oak fern and Northern oak fern

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Genus

Gymnocarpium

Family

Cystopteridaceae

Order

Polypodiales

How to care for Oak Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Oak Fern

Oak 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 Oak Fern in your home

Oak Fern love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Oak Fern does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Oak Fern

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

Does he look healthy? Finally repotted my oak today, it's been due for a while now, he does think it's spring, because he lives on top of a radiator, even tho we are just at the end of winter here. He is 3-4 years old now, grown from a acorn found outside #EnglishOak #oaktree #oakfern

Browse #OakFern

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Oak 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.

Oak Fern Water Frequency →

Oak Fern Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Oak 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 🏡.

Oak Fern Light Requirements →

Oak Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Oak 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.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

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

How and When to Prune Oak Fern →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Oak Fern can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Oak 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 shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Oak 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.