1/10

Heart Fern

3.1 out of 5 (7 experiences)

Browns easily

Fast grower

About Heart Fern

Heart Fern is a popular houseplant 🌿 that needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in moderate sunlight 🌤 and should be less than 6 feet from a window.

Plant parents describe this plant as browning easily and a fast grower with a whopping 297 being grown with Greg around the world. Check out the reviews below for more details!🌟

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Acrostichum arifolia

Genus

Acrostichum

Family

Pteridaceae

Order

Polypodiales

Also known as

Heart Leaf Fern and Tongue Fern

How to care for Heart Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Heart Fern

Heart 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 Heart Fern in your home

Heart 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 Heart Fern in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Heart Fern

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

Browse #HeartFern

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Heart 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.

Heart Fern Water Frequency →

Heart Fern Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Heart 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 🏡.

Heart Fern Light Requirements →

Heart Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Greg does not have confirmed data on this plant’s toxicity. If you, a family member, or a pet consumes plant material of unknown toxicity, it’s always best to consult a medical professional.

If you or someone else ingested this plant, call Poison Control at US (800) 222-1222. If a pet consumed this plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA at US (888) 426-4435.

🧐 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.

Common Bugs Affecting Heart Fern →

What Eats Heart Fern? →

Care Summary for Heart Fern

Heart Fern

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 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.

What other plant parents say

Browns easily 5

Fast grower 2

Survivor 1

Blooms easily 1

Large, lush leaves 1

Pest magnet 1

@@Glassfull

43 Plants

12,061 XP

Chesapeake, VA

01/23/2022

I love this plant. It has a lot of personality with its leaves and wire like stems. Like my other ferns, this fern requires some attention. It drinks a lot of water, requiring watering every 2-3 days. I keep it in a pot with drainage and check the soil every day with a chopstick. If it is almost dry I give it water. If you let it dry out completely between watering the leaves will curl up. If you get water to it fast enough they recover very quickly. If you aren’t able to tend to you plants daily, this is not the plant for you.

Fast grower

Heart Fern plant photo by @Glassfull named Pizza on Greg, the plant care app.

@Adrienne

3 Plants

72 XP

Arcadia, CA

12/14/2021

Eh as much as I love this plant it kinda sucks. I've only ever had one leaf on it, it won't grow or die, so that's something. Honestly if anyone has advice for me I'll kinda do anything.

Survivor

Browns easily

Heart Fern plant photo by Adrienne named T'pau on Greg, the plant care app.

@Lacy

7 Plants

131 XP

Austin, TX

09/14/2021

Super sensitive to over and under watering.

Blooms easily

Heart Fern plant photo by Lacy named Heart on Greg, the plant care app.

@@plantmawma

13 Plants

4,927 XP

Minneapolis, MN

07/16/2021

This plant was so lovely when I brought it home from the nursery for like three days and since then I can’t make it happy. The once-gorgeous leaves are now crispy and dried up even though I’m still tending to it and it’s not dead. Very finicky

Browns easily

Large, lush leaves

Heart Fern plant photo by @plantmawma named B!tch on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Zoeeoee

45 Plants

962 XP

Santa Clarita, CA

05/29/2021

I want to like my heart fern so bad but it’s constantly browning and dying. It won’t grow. I have it in the shade and it still dries up constantly. What am I doing wrong with this plant lol

Browns easily