Table Fern (Ladder Brake Fern) care

Light

In the wild table fern grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Bright, indirect light or gentle morning sun. Tolerates medium light better than Boston or maidenhair ferns, but harsh midday sun scorches the thin pinnae. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for when the top 1-2 cm of soil is just barely dry, roughly every 4-7 days for table fern, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Keep evenly moist, never soggy and never bone dry. Water from below or onto the soil to avoid crown rot; let excess drain fully. Fronds crisp quickly if the rootball dries out.

Soil and pot

Table Fern grows best in loose, humus-rich, free-draining mix. Peat-free or coir-based potting mix lightened with perlite and a little fine bark. Slightly acidic to neutral. Good drainage is essential to prevent root and crown rot. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Table Fern sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 16-24°C (60-75°F). Prefers above-average humidity. Group with other plants, stand on a pebble-and-water tray, or run a humidifier. More forgiving of average room air than maidenhair ferns, but dry winter heating browns frond tips. If you keep the room above 16 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed table fern sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid feed diluted to half strength. Ferns are salt-sensitive, so dilute well and flush the pot occasionally. Stop feeding in winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on table fern in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Crispy brown frond tips — Low humidity or letting the soil dry out fully. Raise humidity and keep moisture steadier.
• Yellowing, limp fronds — Overwatering or poor drainage causing root rot. Let the surface dry slightly and check the pot drains freely.
• Scorched, bleached patches — Too much direct sun on the thin pinnae. Move to bright, filtered light.
• Scale or mealybugs — Sap-suckers hide along stems and frond undersides. Wipe off and treat with insecticidal soap, avoiding harsh oils on delicate fronds.

Propagation

Divide established clumps in spring, ensuring each piece has roots and growing fronds. Can also be grown from spores sown on sterile, moist medium under cover, though this is slow. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Table Fern is pet-safe. ASPCA lists the table fern (Pteris sp., "Silver Table Fern") as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. As with any plant, nibbling can cause mild stomach upset. Note the nickname "arsenic fern" refers to its ability to take up arsenic from contaminated soil, not to any inherent poison; avoid eating fronds grown in unknown ground. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Table Fern deep-dive guides

Every aspect of table fern care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Table Fern watering schedule
• Table Fern light requirements
• Best soil mix for table fern
• Table Fern fertilizing guide
• When to repot table fern
• How to propagate table fern
• Table Fern growth rate & size
• Table Fern cold hardiness
• Table Fern temperature & humidity
• Is table fern toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is table fern toxic to cats?
• Is table fern toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Table Fern qualifies for 8 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and forgiving of forgotten watering — the easiest safe choices for a busy pet household.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Table Fern is also known as Table Fern, Ladder Brake Fern, and Arsenic Fern.

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