Davallia solida var. fejeensis
I believe rabbit’s foot ferns are among the many most lovable of houseplants.
It appears like a rabbit or two determined to cover out underneath the laciest ferns they might discover, solely they don’t completely match underneath the fronds and their fuzzy little toes are protruding.
Okay, full disclosure: I truly assume 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 stick to the bunny reference.
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Rabbit’s foot ferns don’t thoughts the decrease humidity of the typical residence surroundings, and so they aren’t as fussy as some ferns, like maidenhairs.
Plus, they received’t damage your curious canine or cat associates since they’re unhazardous.
In our information to rising ferns, we cowl 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 must find out 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 surroundings within the tropical forests of the Caroline Islands and Fiji, these ferns develop on bushes, 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 bushes and collect moisture and vitamins from rainfall and particles that falls into the cover.
Fast Look
Widespread identify(s): Fijian hare’s foot, lacy hare’s foot, lacy paw, rabbit’s foot fern
Plant sort: Herbaceous evergreen epiphyte
Hardiness (USDA Zone): 10-11 (outdoor)
Native to: Caroline Islands and Fiji
Bloom time / season: Evergreen
Publicity: Brilliant, oblique or dappled daylight
Soil sort: Free, loamy, properly draining
Soil pH: 6.5-7.5, barely acidic to impartial
Time to maturity: 5 years
Mature dimension: 24 inches vast x 24 inches excessive
Greatest 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 often keep smaller when grown indoors.
They’ll develop straight up, utterly horizontal, or something in between. Every leaf is ovate and made up of quite a few lanceolate pinnules, or leaflets.
These develop on clean, 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 related however sports activities longer, narrower rhizomes.
Hare foot, also called blue star fern (Phlebodium aureum), has fuzzy rhizomes, however the leaves aren’t in any respect lacy.
Rabbit’s foot fern might be grown outdoor in Zones 10 and 11, however most gardeners will select to develop it as a houseplant.
Easy methods to Develop
Rabbit’s foot ferns have related necessities to their family however they aren’t fussy in the event that they don’t get precisely what they need.
The 2 most necessary parts to caring for rabbit foot ferns (and most vegetation) are gentle and water.
Mild
The sunshine requirement is pretty simple to nail. They need shiny, oblique gentle – keep away from direct gentle however discover a spot that’s as shiny as potential.
A north-facing window is an efficient choice, as is subsequent to an east-facing window, particularly if it has sheer curtains over it.
A bit little bit of direct morning gentle is okay, however the plant ought to by no means be in direct daylight in any other case. Dappled daylight is okay, too.
If the plant is uncovered to direct daylight, the fronds will burn and switch brown. These cute little rabbit toes may flip brown and shrivel up.
Soil
These vegetation want a unfastened, loamy, moisture retentive potting combine with a pH between 6.5 and seven.5.
I’m all the time singing the praises of FoxFarm’s Ocean Forest potting soil.
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
This product is produced from sphagnum peat, forest humus, bat guano, and earthworm castings. All of the stuff many vegetation love.
You should purchase a cubic foot-and-a-half bag at Amazon.
Water
As for water, maintain the soil moist always however not soaking moist. Take into consideration the feel of a sponge that you simply’ve wrung out rather well. That’s what the soil ought to really feel like.
If it feels soggier than that, the soil is simply too moist, and if it’s any drier, you must give it some water.
Let the highest half inch of soil dry out however the remainder ought to stay moist like a well-wrung-out sponge.
Don’t neglect while you water to empty out the ornamental container or any saucer or cachepot inside a half hour of watering.
For those who depart water within the saucer, the soil will soak it up over time, conserving the soil moist.
Temperature and Humidity
Maintain your plant someplace the temperatures will stay between 65 and 75°F.
A slight deviation from this vary is okay, however something excessive will hurt and probably kill your plant. Temperatures under 55°F for any size of time will trigger injury.
Keep away from inserting the fern close to a door, underneath an HVAC vent, or subsequent to a single-pane window if you happen to stay someplace with freezing winter climate.
It’s particularly necessary 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 fantastic in low humidity, but when the fronds have brown suggestions or simply don’t look as huge and full as they should, low humidity is more likely to be the perpetrator.
Use a humidifier or place your plant in a kitchen or toilet, the place the humidity is often greater.
In different phrases, they’ll survive low humidity, however they’ll be happier when it’s above 50 %.
Fertilizing
These aren’t hungry ferns. You solely have to fertilize as soon as a month in the course of the spring and summer season. Cease in mid-fall and don’t feed in any respect in the course of the winter.
Use a gentle, balanced meals, with an NPK ratio of 1-1-1 or 2-2-2.
I exploit Dr. Earth’s Pump and Develop meals, because it’s appropriate for thus many vegetation. Plus, it’s produced from grocery retailer meals waste and is available in a helpful 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 searching 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
For those who’re in search of the species plant, it’s obtainable from the Rooted Retailer through 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 exhibits indicators of illness, prune it off instantly. Equally, if one thing appears amiss with one of many rhizomes, give them the ol’ snip-snip.
Ensure the pruners or scissors that you simply use are clear. You may wipe them with isopropyl alcohol or scrub them in scorching, soapy water.
Propagation
Most of us will purchase our first rabbit’s foot fern, however it’s also possible to simply propagate them from rhizome cuttings.
From Cuttings
Because the rhizomes spill over the pot and crawl down, they are going to finally sprout fronds. You may take away these for propagation.
To do that, reduce a bit of rhizome that has a number of fronds and is not less than three inches lengthy.
Fill a small container with potting medium and set the chopping part on high 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 chopping in place and moisten the soil.
Tent some plastic over the pot or set it underneath a humidity dome. Place the container in shiny, oblique gentle.
Maintain the soil moist and mist the chopping each couple of days. New fronds will start forming and that’s when you recognize the cuttings have taken.
You may transfer them into bigger containers at this level.
Transplanting
While you convey a plant residence from the shop, you’ll finally 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 must get the plant right into a long-term residence as quickly as potential.
Fill the bottom of the brand new container together with your selection of potting combine. Rigorously pry up the present 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 elevate up the rhizomes. Pour some potting medium across the roots.
Managing Pests and Illness
When grown indoors, rabbit’s foot ferns should not 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 attributable to a illness, brown suggestions will develop on the fronds if the humidity is simply too low.
Browning, necrotic, or water-soaked areas on the fronds is proof of root rot. Rotting roots could be attributable to pathogens or just attributable to an excessive amount of water and oversaturated soil.
Keep in mind that of their native habitat, these vegetation stay within the bushes, and also you’d higher consider that water doesn’t accumulate on tree branches.
Be taught 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 in depth care, although. These are fairly easy-going ferns.
Are you rising these ferns? If that’s the case, what do you see while you have a look at these fuzzy rhizomes? Share your concepts within the feedback part under.
For those who’re a fan of rising ferns as houseplants, there are many different species on the market to study. Have a learn of those guides subsequent: