Davallia solida var. fejeensis
I believe rabbit’s foot ferns are among the many most endearing of houseplants.
It appears to be like like a rabbit or two determined to cover out beneath the laciest ferns they may discover, solely they don’t totally match beneath the fronds and their fuzzy little toes are protruding.
Okay, full disclosure: I truly suppose the “rabbit’s toes” look extra like tarantula legs, however few indoor gardeners are going to develop a plant known as tarantula foot fern outdoors of Halloween, proper? So let’s follow the bunny reference.
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Rabbit’s foot ferns don’t thoughts the decrease humidity of the common residence atmosphere, they usually aren’t as fussy as some ferns, like maidenhairs.
Plus, they received’t damage your curious canine or cat buddies since they’re unhazardous.
In our information to rising ferns, we cowl the way to domesticate these various vegetation as a part of your indoor jungle.
Now let’s check out what makes rabbit’s foot ferns particular and what you have to learn about rising them.
Right here’s what’s forward:
Additionally known as Fijian hare’s foot, lacy hare’s foot, and lacy paw, Davallia solida var. fejeensis, previously D. fejeensis, is an epiphytic, herbaceous perennial.
Of their indigenous atmosphere within the tropical forests of the Caroline Islands and Fiji, these ferns develop on timber, attaching with their fuzzy rhizomes.
They aren’t parasites, as they don’t draw vitamins from the host plant.
Rabbit’s foot ferns hang around on timber and collect moisture and vitamins from rainfall and particles that falls into the cover.
Fast Look
Frequent title(s): Fijian hare’s foot, lacy hare’s foot, lacy paw, rabbit’s foot fern
Plant kind: Herbaceous evergreen epiphyte
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 10-11 (outside)
Native to: Caroline Islands and Fiji
Bloom time / season: Evergreen
Publicity: Vivid, oblique or dappled daylight
Soil kind: Free, loamy, effectively draining
Soil pH: 6.5-7.5, barely acidic to impartial
Time to maturity: 5 years
Mature dimension: 24 inches large x 24 inches excessive
Finest makes use of: Hanging pots, containers, houseplant
Taxonomy
Household: Davalliaceae
Genus: Davallia
Species: Solida
Selection: Fejeensis
The fronds can every develop as much as 24 inches lengthy however they typically keep smaller when grown indoors.
They’ll develop straight up, utterly horizontal, or something in between. Every leaf is ovate and made up of plenty of lanceolate pinnules, or leaflets.
These develop on easy, inexperienced stems above fuzzy, grey rhizomes that creep and department on the base of the plant.
Don’t mistake this species for the squirrel foot fern (D. trichomanoides), which appears to be like comparable however sports activities longer, narrower rhizomes.
Hare foot, often known as blue star fern (Phlebodium aureum), has fuzzy rhizomes, however the leaves aren’t in any respect lacy.
Rabbit’s foot fern might be grown outside in Zones 10 and 11, however most gardeners will select to develop it as a houseplant.
Tips on how to Develop
Rabbit’s foot ferns have comparable necessities to their kinfolk however they aren’t fussy in the event that they don’t get precisely what they need.
The 2 most vital components to caring for rabbit foot ferns (and most vegetation) are mild and water.
Mild
The sunshine requirement is pretty straightforward to nail. They need vivid, oblique mild – keep away from direct mild however discover a spot that’s as vivid as potential.
A north-facing window is an efficient possibility, as is subsequent to an east-facing window, particularly if it has sheer curtains over it.
A bit little bit of direct morning mild is ok, however the plant ought to by no means be in direct daylight in any other case. Dappled daylight is ok, too.
If the plant is uncovered to direct daylight, the fronds will burn and switch brown. These cute little rabbit toes would possibly flip brown and shrivel up.
Soil
These vegetation want a free, loamy, moisture retentive potting combine with a pH between 6.5 and seven.5.
I’m at all times singing the praises of FoxFarm’s Ocean Forest potting soil.
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
This product is constituted of sphagnum peat, forest humus, bat guano, and earthworm castings. All of the stuff many vegetation love.
You should buy a cubic foot-and-a-half bag at Amazon.
Water
As for water, preserve the soil moist always however not soaking moist. Take into consideration the feel of a sponge that you just’ve wrung out very well. That’s what the soil ought to really feel like.
If it feels soggier than that, the soil is just too moist, and if it’s any drier, you have to give it some water.
Let the highest half inch of soil dry out however the remaining ought to stay moist like a well-wrung-out sponge.
Don’t neglect once you water to empty out the ornamental container or any saucer or cachepot inside a half hour of watering.
In the event you depart water within the saucer, the soil will soak it up over time, protecting the soil moist.
Temperature and Humidity
Preserve your plant someplace the temperatures will stay between 65 and 75°F.
A slight deviation from this vary is ok, however something excessive will hurt and doubtlessly kill your plant. Temperatures beneath 55°F for any size of time will trigger injury.
Keep away from putting the fern close to a door, beneath an HVAC vent, or subsequent to a single-pane window when you stay someplace with freezing winter climate.
It’s particularly vital to keep away from HVAC vents as a result of these will cut back humidity and dry out the plant.
Rabbit’s foot ferns will survive simply superb in low humidity, but when the fronds have brown suggestions or simply don’t look as large and full as they must, low humidity is prone to be the wrongdoer.
Use a humidifier or place your plant in a kitchen or toilet, the place the humidity is normally increased.
In different phrases, they’ll survive low humidity, however they’ll be happier when it’s above 50 p.c.
Fertilizing
These aren’t hungry ferns. You solely must fertilize as soon as a month throughout the spring and summer time. Cease in mid-fall and don’t feed in any respect throughout the winter.
Use a gentle, balanced meals, with an NPK ratio of 1-1-1 or 2-2-2.
I take advantage of Dr. Earth’s Pump and Develop meals, because it’s appropriate for therefore many vegetation. Plus, it’s constituted of grocery retailer meals waste and is available in a useful pump bottle.
Dr. Earth Pump and Develop
You will discover it at Arbico Organics in a 16-ounce bottle.
The place to Purchase
There’s just one widespread cultivar of this species, and it’s price looking for.
‘Plumosa’ takes the attractive form and dimension of the species, together with the lovable fuzzy rhizomes, but it surely stands aside with extraordinarily lacy, feather-like foliage that arcs gracefully from the plant.
Rabbit’s Foot Fern
In the event you’re searching for the species plant, it’s obtainable from the Rooted Retailer by way of Amazon in four- or six-inch rising pots.
Upkeep
Until a frond or rhizome dies, don’t fear about upkeep. As long as you might be feeding and watering your rabbit foot fern, it doesn’t want any further babysitting.
If a frond will get damaged, dies, or reveals indicators of illness, prune it off immediately. Equally, if one thing appears to be like amiss with one of many rhizomes, give them the ol’ snip-snip.
Ensure the pruners or scissors that you just use are clear. You possibly can wipe them with isopropyl alcohol or scrub them in sizzling, soapy water.
Propagation
Most of us will purchase our first rabbit’s foot fern, however you can even simply propagate them from rhizome cuttings.
From Cuttings
Because the rhizomes spill over the pot and crawl down, they may ultimately sprout fronds. You possibly can take away these for propagation.
To do that, lower a piece of rhizome that has just a few fronds and is not less than three inches lengthy.
Fill a small container with potting medium and set the reducing part on prime of the soil. Take a small part of horticultural wire and bend it in a “U” form.
Use a bit or two of wire to anchor the reducing in place and moisten the soil.
Tent some plastic over the pot or set it beneath a humidity dome. Place the container in vivid, oblique mild.
Preserve the soil moist and mist the reducing each couple of days. New fronds will start forming and that’s when you already know the cuttings have taken.
You possibly can transfer them into bigger containers at this level.
Transplanting
If you carry a plant residence from the shop, you’ll ultimately need to transfer it into a bigger container.
I believe the earlier the higher since you’re going to disturb a few of the rhizomes and if you wish to encourage and show them, you have to get the plant right into a long-term residence as quickly as potential.
Fill the bottom of the brand new container together with your alternative of potting combine. Fastidiously pry up the prevailing rhizomes after which squeeze the pot to loosen up the roots and soil or use a clear butter knife to loosen the soil from the sting of the pot.
Gently set the rabbit’s foot fern within the new container and carry up the rhizomes. Pour some potting medium across the roots.
Managing Pests and Illness
When grown indoors, rabbit’s foot ferns will not be typically topic to issues with pests and illness.
The same old houseplant bugs like aphids, mealybugs, and scale could present up. These might be handled by utilizing neem oil.
Whereas it’s not essentially brought on by a illness, brown suggestions will develop on the fronds if the humidity is just too low.
Browning, necrotic, or water-soaked areas on the fronds is proof of root rot. Rotting roots is perhaps brought on by pathogens or just brought on by an excessive amount of water and oversaturated soil.
Keep in mind that of their native habitat, these vegetation stay within the timber, and also you’d higher consider that water doesn’t accumulate on tree branches.
Study extra about root rot in houseplants right here.
Hop to It
Whether or not you see the resemblance to a bunny’s foot otherwise you share my tarantula visions, rabbit’s foot ferns are attention-grabbing vegetation.
All that magnificence doesn’t come at the price of intensive care, although. These are fairly easy-going ferns.
Are you rising these ferns? If that’s the case, what do you see once you have a look at these fuzzy rhizomes? Share your concepts within the feedback part beneath.
In the event you’re a fan of rising ferns as houseplants, there are many different species on the market to find out about. Have a learn of those guides subsequent:
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