Easy Fern Safe for pets

Holly Fern

Cyrtomium falcatum

A tough, attractive fern with glossy, dark green fronds composed of stiff, holly-shaped leaflets.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 7 days
Light

Medium light
Humidity

40–60 %
Temperature

10–25 °C

How to care for your Holly Fern

Everything you need to keep your Holly Fern healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

The Holly Fern is a robust and adaptable fern admired for its distinctive, leathery, dark green fronds. Each frond bears leaflets that resemble holly leaves, giving the plant its common name. It is more tolerant of dry air and cooler temperatures than many other ferns, making it a good choice for less-than-ideal indoor conditions. It prefers consistently moist, well-draining soil and low to medium indirect light, and can be grown outdoors in mild climates.

Watering your Holly Fern

Every 7 days

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Allow good drainage.

How to know it needs water

Topsoil dry to the touch
Fronds appearing slightly dull

How much light a Holly Fern needs

Medium light

Low to medium indirect light. Tolerates deeper shade than many ferns.

Direct sun tolerated: 0 to 1 h a day
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, North-west, West

Humidity and misting

40–60 %

Medium (40-60%). More tolerant of average household humidity than other ferns. Mist occasionally if air is very dry, but generally not as demanding as other ferns.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 60 days

Fertilize sparingly during spring and summer; once every 2 months is sufficient.

Recommended feed: Half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer. · 1-1-1

Repotting your Holly Fern

Every 24 months

Repot into a slightly larger pot with a well-draining, humus-rich potting mix.

When: Spring
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre

The tell-tale signs

Roots circling the pot
Growth becoming stunted
Soil depletion

Pruning your Holly Fern

As needed. Remove old, yellowed, or damaged fronds at the base with clean, sharp shears.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 8 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 6 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

Its dark green, stiff leaflets resemble holly leaves, giving it its common name.
One of the more drought-tolerant ferns, also tolerating cooler temperatures.

Frequently asked questions about the Holly Fern

How do you care for a Holly Fern?

Water it every 7 days. Give it medium light. Ideal humidity: 40–60 %. Ideal temperature: 10–25 °C. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Allow good drainage.

How often should you water a Holly Fern?

Every 7 days Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Allow good drainage. How to know it needs water : Topsoil dry to the touch ; Fronds appearing slightly dull.

How much light does a Holly Fern need?

Medium light Low to medium indirect light. Tolerates deeper shade than many ferns. 0 to 1 h a day

Is the Holly Fern toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the Holly Fern is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my Holly Fern leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Holly Fern?

Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Repot into a slightly larger pot with a well-draining, humus-rich potting mix.