Rabbit's foot fern
Also called Hare foot fern, Squirrel foot fern, Ball fern.
| Light | medium light |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 5 days in the growing season, every 10 in winter |
| Humidity | high |
| Difficulty | moderate |
| Height | Up to 40 cm (16 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats safe, dogs safe |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Rabbits Foot Fern entry.
The furry rhizomes are the whole attraction: pale brown, densely hairy, and creeping out over the rim of the pot and down the sides like something alive, which is where every one of its common names comes from. Above them the fronds are fine and lacy. It grows on trees in Fiji, so it wants an open bark rich mix, a shallow pot and the rhizomes left sitting on the surface rather than buried, which is the mistake that kills most of them. Keep it lightly moist and humid, out of direct sun, and off the radiator. It is also one of the ferns the ASPCA lists as safe for cats and dogs, which is worth knowing since asparagus fern is not.
Ailments observed
| Brown crisp edges on the leaves | Dry air, which is what most indoor ferns are complaining about. Group it with other plants, stand it on a tray of damp gravel and keep it off the radiator. Misting helps for about ten minutes and no longer. |
|---|---|
| A soft or mushy base to the stem | Rhizomes buried in compost or kept wet. Lift them back onto the surface. They are meant to creep over the top of the pot and along the outside of it. |
Filed underPlants that will not poison the cat, Plants for a bathroom, Plants for humid air, Plants for a balcony or a small space
Neighbouring entries
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