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Pteris Fern

Plant care guide

How to care for Pteris Fern

Pteris cretica (Silver Ribbon); Fern 'Silver Lace' is typically Pteris ensiformis 'Evergemiensis'

Care level: ModerateNon-toxic to cats & dogs

Pteris ferns have slim, ribbon-like fronds, and these varieties are striped down the center with silvery white, which brightens up a shady corner. They are compact, tidy ferns that look great on a desk or shelf and stay manageable in size.

Also known as: Pteris fern, brake fern, ribbon fern, Cretan brake fern, Silver Ribbon fern, table fern, Silver Lace fern, silver brake fern, Pteris cretica, Pteris ensiformis

Just arrived? Your first week at home

  1. Unbox it right away and gently straighten any fronds that were pressed during shipping.
  2. Feel the soil; if the top half inch is dry, water thoroughly, and if it is still moist, wait a day or two.
  3. Place it in medium to bright indirect light, like a few feet from an east window, with no direct sun.
  4. It may drop or brown a frond or two from the trip; trim those at the base.
  5. Keep it away from heating vents, radiators, and cold drafts.
  6. Hold off repotting for about two weeks so it can settle in.

Every plant is covered by our 30-day plant health guarantee. If your plant arrived damaged or isn't doing well, email a few photos to support@rootandreachbotanicals.com and we'll help you troubleshoot or make it right.

Light

Bright to medium indirect light keeps the silver variegation crisp, such as near an east window or a few feet back from a west window. Too much direct sun burns the fronds, while very low light can fade the silver stripes and make growth leggy.

Water

Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy, watering when the top half inch feels dry, often every 4 to 7 days. Brown, crispy fronds mean it dried out; yellowing fronds and a sour smell from the soil mean it is staying too wet.

Humidity

Moderate to high humidity, around 50 percent, keeps the frond tips from browning. Use a pebble tray, group it with other plants, or run a humidifier in winter. It does well in bright bathrooms.

Temperature

Comfortable between 60 and 75 F. Keep it away from heat sources and cold windows in winter. It can tolerate brief dips into the 50s F but will not like frost or drafts.

Soil & repotting

Use a well-draining, peat- or coir-based potting mix with a little perlite. Repot in spring every year or two when roots fill the pot, going up one size. Make sure the pot has drainage holes.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter. Overfeeding can burn the fronds, so go light.

Troubleshooting common problems

  • Brown frond tipsdry air or uneven watering; add humidity and keep soil evenly moist.
  • Fronds turning yellowoverwatering or old fronds aging out; let the surface dry slightly and trim old growth.
  • Silver stripes fadingtoo little light; move it to a brighter spot without direct sun.
  • Scorched or bleached patchesdirect sun; move it back from the window.
  • Scale or mealybugswipe them off with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and check weekly.

Tips to help it thrive

  • Its compact size makes it a great terrarium or small shelf fern.
  • Trim old fronds at the base to keep the silvery new growth front and center.
  • Pair it with dark-leaved plants to make the silver stripes pop.
  • Pteris often self-sows spores in humid greenhouses; tiny new ferns may appear in nearby pots and can be potted up.

Pet safety

Pteris Fern is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. As with any houseplant, it's still best to discourage pets from chewing the leaves, which can cause a mild upset stomach.

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