Kangaroo Paw Fern / Kangaroo Fern
Microsorum diversifolium
description
Kangaroo Paw Fern is a spreading fern with leathery irregularly lobed fronds.
benefits
- Low—light tolerant
- Pet-friendly, non-toxic to animals
- Suitable for containers
How to care for Kangaroo Paw Fern
sunlight
In its native forest habitat, Kangaroo Paw Fern grows beneath a canopy, where light is filtered and gentle. Give it a bright spot out of harsh sun indoors.
Bright indirect light
Best for full, steady growth. Place near an east-facing window, or a few feet back from a south- or west-facing window behind a sheer curtain. Direct sun can scorch the leathery fronds.
Low indirect light - tolerated
It can manage a shadier room, but will grow more slowly and may produce fewer fronds. Move it closer to brighter indirect light if new growth is sparse or stretched.
watering
Keep the potting mix lightly and evenly moist, but never soggy. Kangaroo Paw Fern has shallow, spreading rhizomes that dislike drying out completely and can rot in waterlogged soil.
Spring - summer
Water about every 5-8 days, or when the top 1-2 cm of mix feels dry. Water thoroughly until excess drains away, then empty the saucer.
Autumn - winter
Expect to water roughly every 10-14 days in lower light or cooler rooms. Check deeper into the root ball before watering, as the surface can dry while the centre remains moist.
Use these intervals as a starting point. Bright light, warmth, dry air, a small pot, and a chunky mix make it dry faster, while low light and a dense mix slow it down.
humidity
Preferred humidity
In its sheltered forest habitat, Kangaroo Paw Fern receives consistently moist air. It is usually comfortable in a typical home above 40%, but grows fuller and keeps cleaner frond edges with moderate humidity.
Acceptable indoors
Dry air can cause brown, crisp tips or edges, especially near heating, air conditioning, or a sunny window. Very dry conditions may also make new fronds unfurl poorly.
- Group it with other plants to create a slightly more humid pocket.
- Keep it away from radiators, vents, and persistent drafts.
- Check humidity more often in winter, when indoor heating can dry the air quickly.
temperature
Preferred temperature
Winter minimum
Native to sheltered Australian forests, Kangaroo Paw Fern prefers steady, mild warmth indoors. Keep it away from chilly windows in winter and from hot, dry air from radiators or vents.
nutrition
March - August
Feed about once a month while the fern is making new fronds, using a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half the label strength. Apply it to already moist soil. Stop feeding in winter, or if growth has slowed in low light.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen supports the fern's leafy green fronds. A gentle, balanced fertilizer provides enough without pushing soft, weak growth.
Potassium
Potassium supports sturdy growth and general resilience. It is supplied by a standard balanced fertilizer, so extra supplements are unnecessary.
soil
Humus-rich, airy, moisture-retentive soil
Its fine roots prefer an organic mix that stays lightly moist but still lets air through. Use a peat-free houseplant or fern mix loosened with perlite and fine orchid bark, in a pot with drainage holes.
pH 5,5 - 6,5
This is slightly acidic soil. Most peat-free fern or houseplant mixes fall close to this range; avoid adding lime or using very alkaline garden soil.