Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides)
Also called resurrection fern, miracle fern, little gray polypody, Polypodium polypodioides (synonym).
More about resurrection fern
About Resurrection fern
Pleopeltis polypodioides · also called resurrection fern, miracle fern · houseplant
Resurrection fern is an epiphytic fern from the Americas and Africa that grows on oak bark and rocks. Its fronds curl and look dead in drought, then unfurl within hours of rain. Indoors it wants shade, high humidity, and a mounted or bark substrate. Not individually listed by the ASPCA; verify with your vet.
Preferred mix: Epiphytic bark or sphagnum mount, not pot soil
Watch for — Fronds staying curled after watering: If repeated rewetting brings no recovery the rhizome has likely rotted from being kept soggy in dense soil.
Why resurrection fern needs this mix
Resurrection fern is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Resurrection fern is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons resurrection fern struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates resurrection fern's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for resurrection fern.
pH — does it matter for resurrection fern?
Resurrection fern is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for resurrection fern as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all resurrection fern needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh resurrection fern's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for resurrection fern covers the timing and technique step by step.
Resurrection fern soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for resurrection fern?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Resurrection fern is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for resurrection fern?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates resurrection fern's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for resurrection fern as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does resurrection fern need a special pH?
Resurrection fern is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for resurrection fern?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for resurrection fern as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for resurrection fern?
Refresh resurrection fern's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all resurrection fern needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Resurrection fern care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water resurrection fern — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting resurrection fern — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
- Best soil for snake plant
- Best soil for dracaena
- Best soil for peperomia
- All 569 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library