1/1

Western Sword Fern

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Polystichum munitum 'Incisum'

Genus

Polystichum

Family

Dryopteridaceae

Order

Polypodiales

How to care for Western Sword Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Western Sword Fern

Western 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Western Sword Fern in your home

Western Sword Fern love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Western Sword Fern does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Western Sword Fern

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

Browse #Polystichum

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Western 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.

Western Sword Fern Water Frequency →

Western Sword Fern Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Western Sword 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 🏡.

Western Sword Fern Light Requirements →

Western Sword Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Western 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.

🪴 Soil

Western Sword Fern is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Western Sword Fern →

Best Pots for Western Sword Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Western Sword Fern →

What Are Healthy Western Sword Fern Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Western 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Western Sword Fern →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

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

Western Sword Fern Temperature Tolerance →

Western Sword Fern Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Western Sword Fern →

When to Plant Western Sword Fern →

How to Plant Western Sword Fern →

Where to Plant Western Sword Fern →

Winter Care for Western Sword Fern →

Best Companion Plants for Western Sword Fern →

Is Western 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 Western 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.