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Downy Oak

About Downy Oak

Downy Oak is a super rare houseplant 🌿 that is easy to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Downy Oak likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Downy Oak belongs to the Quercus genus, and is native to Southern Europe and Asia.

⚠️ Downy Oak is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Quercus pubescens

Genus

Quercus

Family

Fagaceae

Order

Fagales

Also known as

Pubescent Oak

How to care for Downy Oak

💦 Water

How often to water your Downy Oak

Downy Oak 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 Downy Oak in your home

Downy Oak love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Downy Oak does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Downy Oak in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Downy Oak

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

Browse #Quercus

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Downy Oak is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Downy Oak →

Benefits of Growing Downy Oak →

Common Downy Oak Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Downy Oak →

💦 Water Needs

Downy Oak 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.

Downy Oak Water Frequency →

Downy Oak Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Downy Oak 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 🏡.

Downy Oak Light Requirements →

Downy Oak Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Downy Oak is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Is Downy Oak Edible? →

Downy Oak Toxicity to Cats →

Downy Oak Toxicity to Dogs →

Downy Oak Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Downy Oak 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 Downy Oak →

Best Pots for Downy Oak →

When and How to Successfully Repot Downy Oak →

What Are Healthy Downy Oak Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Downy Oak grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Downy Oak →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Downy Oak will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Downy Oak Lifecycle →

Downy Oak Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Downy Oak →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Downy Oak can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Downy Oak Temperature Tolerance →

Downy Oak Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Downy Oak →

When to Plant Downy Oak →

How to Plant Downy Oak →

Where to Plant Downy Oak →

Winter Care for Downy Oak →

Best Companion Plants for Downy Oak →

Is Downy Oak 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 shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Downy Oak, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered 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.