Plant Care Bold Sword Fern

Bold Sword Fern

Also known as

Macho Fern, Crisped Feather Fern, Nephrolepis biserrata., Australian Sword Fern and Macho Giant Sword Fern

Taxonomy

Nephrolepis biserrata
Nephrolepis
Nephrolepidaceae
Polypodiales

How to care for Bold Sword Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Bold Sword Fern

Water needs for Bold Sword Fern
0.5 cups
every 7

Bold Sword Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 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 Bold Sword Fern

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Bold Sword Fern in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Bold Sword Fern: 6ft from a window
6ft or less from
a window

Bold Sword 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 Bold Sword Fern in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Bold Sword Fern

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

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💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Bold Sword Fern is sensitive to dry soil and should be watered frequently. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Bold Sword Fern Water Frequency →

Bold Sword Fern Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Bold Sword 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 🏡.

Bold Sword Fern Light Requirements →

Bold Sword Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Bold Sword 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 Bold Sword Fern Edible? →

Bold Sword Fern Toxicity to Cats →

Bold Sword Fern Toxicity to Dogs →

Bold Sword Fern Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Bold Sword Fern prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Bold Sword Fern Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Bold Sword 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!

When and How to Successfully Repot Bold Sword Fern →

What Are Healthy Bold Sword Fern Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Bold Sword Fern should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Bold Sword Fern to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

Bold Sword Fern is native to Worldwide.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

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

Bold Sword Fern Lifecycle →

Bold Sword Fern Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Bold Sword Fern →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Bold Sword Fern can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Bold Sword Fern Temperature Tolerance →

Bold Sword Fern Hardiness Zones →

Is Bold Sword 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 retiring old leaves.

If it seems like there’s a problem, the most likely cause of yellow leaves in Bold Sword Fern is underwatering. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Yellow leaves can less often be caused by overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Give your plant a good drink and it should perk back up and download Greg to make sure your plant never goes thirsty 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 Bold Sword Fern

Bold Sword Fern

Bold Sword Fern


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 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.

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