What type of soil should I use for my Soft Shield Fern?

Soft Shield 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.

Should I fertilize my Soft Shield Fern?

Soft Shield 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!

What is the growth pattern for Soft Shield Fern?

Soft Shield Fern is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Can Soft Shield Fern be grown outdoors?

USDA Hardiness Zone Soft Shield Fern can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 7a-9b . Find your local hardiness zone here .

How can I propagate my Soft Shield Fern?

Soft Shield Fern 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

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Soft Shield Fern

Q: Is Soft Shield Fern easy to care for?

Soft Shield Fern 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!

Q: How often should I water my Soft Shield Fern?

Soft Shield 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.

Q: How much sunlight does my Soft Shield Fern need?

Soft Shield 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 🏡.

Also known as

Soft shield fern

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Polystichum setiferum

Genus

Polystichum

Family

Dryopteridaceae

Order

Polypodiales

How to care for Soft Shield Fern

Water

How often to water your Soft Shield Fern

Soft Shield Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

38% Low

Growing Soft Shield Fern in Colorado Springs right now

Plant growth potential is currently low 📉

January 26th, 2023

Sunlight intensity as measured by “net radiation” in Colorado Springs is currently low 📉.

The availability of high quality sunlight in your home impacts ability for plants to thrive and is key in …

Daylight will increase by 0.9 hours 📈

January 27th, 2023

This month, Colorado Springs is getting an average of 8.7 hours of clear sky sunlight per day.

Hours of daylight will increase by 9.7% over the next two weeks. Your plants will get 10.4 total hour…

Light needs and placement for plant Soft Shield Fern: 1ft from a window

Soft Shield Fern love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive during this time of reduced sunlight intensity in Colorado Springs, Colorado ⛅.

Soft Shield Fern does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Soft Shield Fern

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

FAQs

Difficulty Level

Soft Shield Fern 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!

Water Needs

Sunlight Needs

Toxicity

Soil

Fertilizer

Growth Pattern

Growing Outdoors