Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Check if the soil is dry to the touch.
- Look for signs of pests like slugs or snails on the fronds.
- Feel the air around the plant to see if it is near a heater or draft.
Likely causes
Dehydration
Most likelyHow to tell: The fronds lose their rigidity and flop over. The soil feels dry to the touch.
What to do: Give the plant a thorough soak until water drains out the bottom. Keep the soil consistently moist moving forward.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The fronds droop and the edges look dry or curled. This often happens in homes with forced air heating.
What to do: Place the fern on a pebble tray filled with water. You can also mist the foliage occasionally or move it to a more humid room like a bathroom.
Find out what's wrong with your hart's tongue fern
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
When to worry
Drooping is usually a temporary sign that the plant needs water. If the plant stays droopy after a thorough watering, check the roots for damage.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and keep the plant away from direct heat sources. High humidity helps keep the fronds upright and firm.
Keep your hart's tongue fern healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Will my fern perk up after watering?
- Yes, if the drooping is caused by thirst, the fronds should recover within a few hours. Make sure to water evenly across the soil surface.
- Does temperature affect drooping?
- Extreme heat can cause the plant to droop as it loses moisture quickly. Keep your fern in a cool, shaded spot to prevent this stress.
More problems with Hart's tongue fern
- Why are my Hart's tongue fern's leaves getting brown tips?
- Why are there spots on my Hart's tongue fern?
- Why does my Hart's tongue fern have pests?
- Why are my Hart's tongue fern's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Hart's tongue fern suffering from root rot?
- Why is my Hart's tongue fern dropping leaves?
- Why is my Hart's tongue fern looking leggy?
- Why are my Hart's tongue fern leaves curling?
Back to the Hart's tongue fern guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.