Rabbit's Foot Fern Care - Teak And Terracotta

Rabbit’s foot fern care is straight forward as long as your keep them wet but don’t over water and keep them out of direct sunlight...

Rabbit’s Foot Fern Care Summary

Light needs:	Low and medium indirect light.
Watering needs:	They like to be kept wet, water them once the top layer of soil (an inch or 3 cms) has dried out.
Fertilizer:	Multipurpose fertilizer once a month in spring and summer, well diluted.
Soil:	A well draining peat based potting compost.
Humidity:	60% or more.
Temperature:	18-25°C (64-77°F). Normal household temperatures, but don’t let your ferns get down to below 10°C (50°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops.
Other names:	Davallia Fejeensis.
Common issues:	Yellowing due to overwatering.

Introduction

Welcome to our guide to rabbit’s foot fern care. The rabbits foot fern has furry rhizomes that often grow out the pot round the edge, which give it it’s strange appearance and name.

Rabbit’s Foot Fern Light Needs

A rabbits foot fern will do well in low and medium indirect light conditions.

How Often to Water

Rabbits foot ferns like to be kept a bit wet, water them once the top layer of soil (an inch or 3 cms) has dried out. Check the soil each week and water it if the top half or more is dry. Make sure you tip out any excess water afterwards to avoid the plant sitting in heavy wet soil and getting root rot.

Tip: Keep the soil slightly moist but not soaking which can cause root rot.

Fertilizer

You can feed your rabbits foot fern and multipurpose fertilizer, once a month in spring and summer. Make sure to dilute it down by using twice the recommend amount of water as ferns like this can be sensitive to burn from fertilizer.

Soil

Use a well draining peat based potting compost for your rabbits foot fern.

When To Repot Rabbit’s Foot Fern

Repot your fern in spring and do it at least every two years, up one pot size.

Humidity

Aim for 60% or more, which is relatively high. Keep them with other plants or put a wet pebble tray under the plant.

Tip: they love humidity, but don’t need it. It’ll be ok in normal household humidity, but will grow faster in higher.

Temperature

Aim for 18-25°C (64-77°F). Don’t let your ferns get down to 10°C (50°F) for too long as the cold can damage them. Other than this they like normal household temperature ranges.

How To Propagate Rabbit’s Foot Fern

You can take cuttings from the rhizome and propagate new plants from that. You want to cut off one of the “rabbits feet” and then put it on a bed of moist sphagnum moss or soil. Keep it warm and moist and it should root root in a month or so, then start to produce foliage after that. At that point you can pot it up.

You can also propagate it via its spores too.

Is It Toxic to Cats?

They are non-toxic to cats

Rabbit Foot Fern Losing Leaves

They lose leaves for a few reasons. Dropping temperatures or a lack of light are common issues, as well as overwatering.

Can Rabbits Foot Fern Be Planted Outside?

As long as it does not get down to 10°C (50°F) very often they can live outside.

Where To Buy A Rabbit’s Foot Fern

You can find rabbits foot ferns in your local plant nurseries from time to time. Or try Etsy.

Other Names for Rabbit’s Foot Fern

Davallia Fejeensis

Rabbit’s Foot Fern Care FAQs and Common Problems

Overwatering can cause root rot as well as yellowing of leaves. Be careful to water your fern regularly but do not let it sit in water, and allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again.