Temperature
60–75°F
Keep away from winter window glass and heating vents.
Table fern
Pteris cretica
Table fern wants medium light and water every 3 to 7 days, once the surface is barely damp. Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Light
Medium
LowMediumBright indirectDirect
A north window, or four feet back from an east one. It is a woodland floor plant and burns in any direct sun.
Water
Every 3–7 days
Baseline for a 6-inch pot indoors. Check first: water when the surface is barely damp, not on a schedule.
Humidity
50% and up
Wants 70%. Struggles in dry winter air.
Difficulty
Moderate
Scores 3 of 5: Scores 3 of 5: easier than a maidenhair and less forgiving than a blue star. It will not survive drying out once, and variegated forms need slightly more light than plain green ones.
Habit
Clumping
Grows to 12–24 inches. No support needed.
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Eating a large amount of any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.
Detail for cats → Detail for dogs →
What each authority says
- ASPCA
- No record page found under any name tested.
- NC State Extension
- Entry exists and records no poison data.
Light
Medium light. A north window, or four feet back from an east one. It is a woodland floor plant and burns in any direct sun.
Water
Every 3 to 7 days in a 6-inch pot, when the surface is barely damp.
Treat the interval as a starting point and the test as the actual instruction. Pot size, light level and season all move the number.
| Method | keep evenly moist |
|---|---|
| Test before watering | the surface is barely damp |
Soil and potting
Three parts peat-free potting soil, one part perlite.
Repot roughly every 1.5 years, or when roots come through the drainage holes and water runs straight through without absorbing.
Common problems
Ranked by how often each turns out to be the cause for this species. Each links to a diagnosis page with the causes ranked for this species.
- Brown crispy edges monitor
- Frond drop this week
- Drooping act today
Pest and disease guidance for this species consulted at the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, checked 2026-09-12.
Pests
Recorded for this species. Each links to identification and treatment.
- Scale insects this week
- Mealybugs this week
Propagation
Division in soil. Roots in 28 to 56 days.
| Preferred method | division |
|---|---|
| Medium | soil |
| Time to root | 28–56 days |
| Node required | No |
| Best season | Spring and summer |
Sources
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Pteris cretica (consulted; entry exists and records no poison data.) Checked 2026-09-12.
- Wikidata entity Q2050113 — taxonomy and entity identity.
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Plants of the World Online — Pteris cretica Checked 2026-09-12.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Pteris cretica Pest and disease guidance. Checked 2026-09-12.
- Photograph: naturewatchwidow, Wikimedia Commons , CC BY 4.0.
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-02
Tony Valcarcel is the editor and publisher of this database, not a horticulturist
or a veterinarian. Every fact above is drawn from the sources listed, and
toxicity severity is reported only where one of them stated it.
How this is sourced.
Last updated 2026-09-02