Variable Wood Fern

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Thelypteris heterocarpa

Genus

Thelypteris

Family

Thelypteridaceae

Order

Polypodiales

How to care for Variable Wood Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Variable Wood Fern

Variable Wood Fern 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 Variable Wood Fern in your home

Variable Wood Fern love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Variable Wood Fern does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Variable Wood Fern

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

💡 FAQs

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Variable Wood 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 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Variable Wood 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

Variable Wood 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!

💩 Fertilizer

Variable Wood 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!

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

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

🧐 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.