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Nephrolepis Cordifolia

4.1 out of 5 (28 experiences)

Survivor

Browns easily

About Nephrolepis Cordifolia

The erect sword fern is native to the Hawaiian Islands where it is known as kupukupu, okupukupu or ni'ani'au. It has been introduced to several habitats where it has become an invasive species, such as New Zealand and Florida. To protect your local ecosystems (especially if you live in a warm, tropical climate) we suggest growing this plant only indoors. 🪴

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Nephrolepis cordifolia

Genus

Nephrolepis

Family

Nephrolepidaceae

Order

Polypodiales

Also known as

Erect Sword Fern, Erect Sword Fern, Duffy Fern, Fishbone Fern, Herringbone Fern, Ladder Fern and Lemon Button Fern

How to care for Nephrolepis Cordifolia

💦 Water

How often to water your Nephrolepis Cordifolia

Nephrolepis Cordifolia needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 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
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Erect Sword Fern in your home

Nephrolepis Cordifolia can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Nephrolepis Cordifolia

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

Browse #ErectSwordFern

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Nephrolepis Cordifolia 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!

Benefits of Growing Erect Sword Fern →

Common Erect Sword Fern Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Nephrolepis Cordifolia 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.

Erect Sword Fern Water Frequency →

Erect Sword Fern Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Nephrolepis Cordifolia can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing 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 🏡.

Erect Sword Fern Light Requirements →

Erect Sword Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Nephrolepis Cordifolia 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.

💨 Humidity

Nephrolepis Cordifolia prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Erect Sword Fern Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Nephrolepis Cordifolia 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 Erect Sword Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Erect Sword Fern →

💩 Fertilizer

Nephrolepis Cordifolia 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Erect Sword Fern →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Nephrolepis Cordifolia to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Nephrolepis Cordifolia is native to Worldwide.

🌸 Flowers

Nephrolepis Cordifolia does not flower.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Nephrolepis Cordifolia is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

How and When to Prune Erect Sword Fern →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Nephrolepis Cordifolia can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Erect Sword Fern Temperature Tolerance →

🌱 Propagation

Nephrolepis Cordifolia 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

🍂 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 retiring old leaves.

If it seems like there’s a problem, the most likely cause of yellow leaves in Nephrolepis Cordifolia is underwatering. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Yellow leaves can less often be caused by overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Give your plant a good drink and it should perk back up and download Greg to make sure your plant never goes thirsty 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.

Care Summary for Nephrolepis Cordifolia

Nephrolepis Cordifolia

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 days

Placement

< 6ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Survivor 13

Browns easily 11

Fast grower 7

Large, lush leaves 4

Blooms easily 3

Easy to propagate 1

@@LeahR05

7 Plants

321 XP

01/03/2022

i find it hard to keep alive, but watering it a little more often than the app suggests seems to do the trick

Browns easily

Nephrolepis Cordifolia plant photo by @LeahR05 named necari on Greg, the plant care app.

@@mossycabbages

66 Plants

3,455 XP

12/28/2021

Picky with humidity and doesn’t like tap water. Does grow quickly and with gorgeous bright green growth. I keep mine at ~85% humidity with grow lights and spagnum moss covering the soil for extra moisture

Fast grower

Survivor

Browns easily