Plant Care Nephrolepis Falcata

Nephrolepis Falcata

Also known as

Fishtail Fern, Fishtail Fern and Macho Fern

Taxonomy

Nephrolepis falcata
Nephrolepis
Nephrolepidaceae
Polypodiales

How to care for Nephrolepis Falcata

💦 Water

How often to water your Nephrolepis Falcata

Water needs for Nephrolepis Falcata
0.5 cups
every 7

Nephrolepis Falcata 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 Nephrolepis Falcata

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Fishtail Fern in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Nephrolepis Falcata: 6ft from a window
6ft or less from
a window

Nephrolepis Falcata 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 Nephrolepis Falcata in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Nephrolepis Falcata

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

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Nephrolepis Falcata is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Fishtail Fern →

Benefits of Growing Fishtail Fern →

Common Fishtail Fern Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Fishtail Fern →

Outdoor Care Guide for Fishtail Fern →


💦 Water Needs

Nephrolepis Falcata 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.

Fishtail Fern Water Frequency →

Fishtail Fern Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Nephrolepis Falcata 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 🏡.

Fishtail Fern Light Requirements →

Fishtail Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Nephrolepis Falcata 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 Fishtail Fern Edible? →

Fishtail Fern Toxicity to Cats →

Fishtail Fern Toxicity to Dogs →

Fishtail Fern Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Nephrolepis Falcata 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.

Fishtail Fern Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Nephrolepis Falcata 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 Fishtail Fern →

Best Pots for Fishtail Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Fishtail Fern →

What Are Healthy Fishtail Fern Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Nephrolepis Falcata 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Fishtail Fern →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Nephrolepis Falcata 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

Nephrolepis Falcata is native to Worldwide.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Nephrolepis Falcata grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Fishtail Fern Lifecycle →

Fishtail Fern Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Fishtail Fern →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

Nephrolepis Falcata can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Fishtail Fern →


🍂 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 Nephrolepis Falcata 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 Nephrolepis Falcata

Nephrolepis Falcata

Nephrolepis Falcata


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.

Trending in your area

Similar to Nephrolepis Falcata

Discover rare plants