Rabbit’s Foot Fern / Hare’s Foot Fern
Davallia solida var. fejeensis
description
Rabbit’s Foot Fern is an epiphytic fern with furry rhizomes that creep over the pot edge.
benefits
- Low—light tolerant
- Pet-friendly, non-toxic to animals
- Suitable for containers
How to care for Rabbit’s Foot Fern
sunlight
In tropical forest canopies, Rabbit’s Foot Fern grows in filtered light rather than open sun. Give it a bright spot with softened light to keep the fronds full and green.
Medium indirect light
It will grow in a room with moderate daylight, a little back from an east or north window. Growth may slow in lower light.
Bright indirect light
This is ideal near an east window or behind a sheer curtain at a brighter window. Keep it out of hot, direct afternoon sun, which can scorch the delicate fronds.
watering
Keep the potting mix lightly and consistently moist, but never waterlog it. Let only the top 1-2 cm dry before watering, as the fine roots dislike both drought and stagnant soil.
Spring - summer
Water thoroughly about every 5-8 days in bright, warm conditions, letting excess drain away. Check the surface and pot weight first: water when the top layer feels just dry and the pot is noticeably lighter, while the root ball still feels faintly moist.
Autumn - winter
In lower light or cooler rooms, water roughly every 10-14 days. Growth slows, so wait a little longer between drinks, but do not allow the mix to become dry all the way through.
Watering changes with light, warmth, humidity, pot size, pot material, and the airiness of the mix. Small terracotta pots dry faster than larger plastic pots, so use the moisture check rather than a fixed calendar.
humidity
Humidity
As an epiphyte from humid tropical forests, Rabbit's Foot Fern is happiest in moderately humid air. Average homes around 40-50% are usually workable if the compost is not allowed to dry out, but it prefers 50-70%.
Brown, crisp frond tips or edges, especially near heating or air conditioning, usually mean the air is too dry. Keep it away from radiators and strong drafts.
- Run a humidifier nearby, especially in winter.
- Group plants together or place the pot on a pebble tray with water below the pot base.
temperature
Preferred range
Winter minimum
Native to warm, humid tropical forests, Rabbit’s Foot Fern prefers steady indoor warmth. Keep it away from chilly windows in winter and from hot, dry air from radiators or vents.
nutrition
March - August
Feed about every 4-6 weeks while new fronds are growing, using a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half the label strength. Apply to already moist compost. Stop feeding in autumn and winter unless the fern is actively making new growth in warm, bright conditions.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen supports the soft green fronds. A diluted balanced fertilizer provides enough without pushing weak, overly lush growth.
soil
Loose, airy, moisture-retentive soil
Its fine roots need oxygen but should not dry out completely. Use a fluffy mix of coco coir or peat, fine orchid bark, and perlite, in a pot with drainage holes.
pH 5,5 - 6,5
This is slightly acidic, like the organic debris it grows in as an epiphyte. Most peat or coco coir based houseplant mixes fall close to this range, so no special adjustment is usually needed.