Microsorium pteropus, commonly known as Java Fern, is one of the hardiest and most versatile plants in the aquarium hobby. It is especially valued for its ability to thrive under almost any lighting conditions and its unique growth habit.
Growth and Placement
The Java Fern is an epiphyte, meaning it should not be planted with its rhizome (the horizontal root stalk) buried in the substrate. If the rhizome is buried, the plant will often rot and die. Instead, it should be attached to rocks, driftwood, or other decorations using fishing line or cyanoacrylate gel. I have had great success keeping them in pots, which makes it incredibly easy to move them around when catching fish or setting up a breeding tank.
Care and Resilience
It is a slow-growing plant that does not require intense light or CO2, making it ideal for beginners or low-tech aquariums. Its leaves are leathery and tough, which means most herbivorous fish leave it alone. If the plant starts to dwindle, it is often due to a lack of micronutrients in the water, as it absorbs all its nutrients directly through its leaves and exposed roots.
Propagation
Java Fern has a fascinating way of reproducing. It forms small new plantlets (adventitious plants) directly on the tips or edges of older leaves. These small offshoots can be gently removed and attached elsewhere once they reach a certain size. It is common to see even torn-off leaves floating at the surface starting to produce tiny new ferns.
