Java Fern Care

Java ferns are my first and only live plant so far. They're scientific name is microsorum pteropus, which is what Petco/Petsmart uses to label Java ferns when they sell them directly in those plastic tubes.

They are the easiest, least demanding plant I know. They require NO additional CO2 tablets. The fish, at the same time, benefit from the plant because the plant contains nutrients on their leaves for fish to pick at when your fish are hungry. Its a win win.

You can plant your java fern nearly anywhere. They are fine in substrate, but they also grow in driftwood! Attach the roots with a rubber band, and after a few months, the roots will completely attach itself onto the wood, combining your wood and your plant into one giant decoration. A real beauty!

Java ferns also multiply a lot. They do this in a very peculiar way. You will notice that after some time, little roots begin to grow out of the leaves. This is the foundation of a java fern plantlet (a baby plant.) Once the plantlet is completely visible and its literally sprouting outwards from the leaves, then its time to cut them off and let them develop into their own plants by themselves. Make sure not to cut the rhizome off, which is a horizontal "stem" which the leaves are based on.

As you can see, I have wound my adult java fern around driftwood with a rubber band

This is a baby java fern plantlet, which I put in my other tank for my betta to enjoy