Java fern (Leptochilus pteropus)

Leptochilus pteropus, commonly known as Java fern (formerly Microsorum pteropus), is a highly popular aquatic fern native to tropical Asia—particularly Java (Indonesia), Malaysia, Thailand, Northeast India, and parts of southern China.

Features:

• Growth habit: It is an epiphyte/semi-aquatic plant that attaches to rocks, roots, or driftwood along stream banks. It thrives fully or partially submerged, as long as its rhizome remains wet.

• Fronds: Lanceolate (narrow), olive to dark green, 10–30 cm long (broad-leaf forms can reach 30–40 cm), attached individually to a creeping rhizome.

• Variability: Many cultivars exist—e.g., Windelov, Trident, Latifolia, Needle Leaf, and Black Forest—with diverse leaf shapes and textures.

Care Tips:

• Ease of care: Renowned for being easy to grow; tolerant of varying light, water hardness, and fertilization levels. Ideal for beginners.

• Water parameters:

  • Temperature: 22–28 °C (68–82 °F), tolerates down to ~16 °C.

  • pH: 5.5–8.0; soft to hard water accepted.

• Substrate: Do not bury the rhizome—attach it using thread, fishing line, or glue to driftwood or stones.

• Lighting & fertilization: Thrives in low to medium light; minimal fertilization needed as it absorbs nutrients from water and fish waste.

• Propagation: Easily by rhizome division or adventitious plantlets from leaf margins that eventually root themselves.