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Java Fern
Leptochilus pteropus pteropus
An incredibly hardy and popular epiphytic fern. It features tough, dark green, lanceolate leaves. It must be attached to wood or rocks; burying the horizontal green rhizome in gravel or sand will cause it to rot and die.
Class:Polypodiopsida
Order:Polypodiales
Family:Polypodiaceae
Subfamily:Microsoroideae
Genus:Leptochilus
Species:Leptochilus pteropus pteropus
Formerly known as:Microsorum pteropus
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Water Temperature
20 - 28 °C
pH Value
6 - 8
Water type
Freshwater
Light
Bassa / Media
CO2
Bassa (Non Necessaria)
Expected height
35 cm
Expected width
20 cm
GH
4 - 20 dGH
KH
2 - 15 dKH
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Microsorum pteropus is native to Southeast Asia, widely distributed across countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It is a rheophilic aquatic fern that grows anchored to rocks and driftwood along shaded forest streams and rivers. In the wild, it is found both submerged and emersed in areas with very high atmospheric humidity.
Taxonomy & Genetics: Belonging to the Polypodiaceae family, it is commonly known as "Java Fern." Genetically, it is an extremely hardy and stable plant, known for producing dark spores on the underside of its leaves for sexual reproduction, alongside vegetative propagation from the rhizome.
Physical Structure: It features a creeping, woody rhizome from which brown adventitious roots and erect, lanceolate fronds up to 20-30 cm long develop. The roots are designed to anchor the plant securely to hard surfaces rather than absorb nutrients from the soil.
Color & Texture: The leaves display a uniform, deep dark green color. The texture is robust and wrinkled (bullate), with clearly visible main veins. The texture is leathery and rigid to the touch, protecting the plant from herbivorous fish.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Lighting & CO2: Requires low to moderate lighting. Under too intense light, the leaves tend to burn, turn black, and get covered in algae. CO2 injection is not essential, but it promotes steadier growth and healthier fronds.
Nutrition & Substrate: It is an epiphytic plant and the rhizome must never be buried in the substrate (sand or gravel), as the lack of oxygen will cause it to rot and kill the plant. Anchor it to driftwood or rocks. It absorbs nutrients from the water column, demanding potassium.
Water Chemistry: Extremely tolerant of various chemical parameters. It thrives in temperatures between 18 and 30°C (64-86°F), with an optimal pH range of 5.0 to 8.0. It adapts well to soft or very hard water.
Space Management & Placement: Positioned in the midground or background anchored to the hardscape. It should be placed in shaded or indirect light areas. Secure it to the support using thread or cyanoacrylate glue.
Pruning: Pruning is limited to removing old or blackened fronds by cutting them at the base of the rhizome. It propagates by dividing the rhizome into sections with at least 3-4 leaves, or by harvesting adventitious plantlets that form on leaf tips.
Risks & Diseases: Rhizome rot if buried is the main risk. Potassium deficiency manifests as black spots and holes in the leaves. The dark spots (sori) on the underside of the leaves are not a disease, but the plant's reproductive spores.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Microsorum pteropus is native to Southeast Asia, widely distributed across countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It is a rheophilic aquatic fern that grows anchored to rocks and driftwood along shaded forest streams and rivers. In the wild, it is found both submerged and emersed in areas with very high atmospheric humidity.
Origin
South and Southeast Asia
Plant profile
- Placement
- No verified data available
- Botanical form
- No verified data available
- Growth
- No verified data available
- Substrate
- No verified data available
- Column fertilization
- No verified data available
- Root fertilization
- No verified data available
- Trimming
- No verified data available
- Propagation
- No verified data available
- Nutrients
- No verified data available
- Sensitivity
- No verified data available
- Layout role
- No verified data available
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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