AxilDB — Botanical Accession System

Nephrolepis exaltata husbandry

Keep evenly moistBright indirect lightGenerally regarded safe

Water: Keep evenly moist
Light: Bright indirect light
Toxicity: Generally regarded safe
Care notes: Warm, humid, evenly moist fern; bright filtered light, airy acidic mix, and regular light feeding.

Cadence: Water when the top 1-2 cm of mix just begins to dry; often 1-2 times per week indoors.
Moisture level: Consistently lightly moist; avoid full dry-out and waterlogging.
Drought tolerance: Low; fronds decline quickly if allowed to dry too much.
Wet/dry cycle notes: Use tepid water and soak thoroughly, then drain well; empty saucers promptly.
Seasonal adjustments: Reduce slightly in cool, low-light months; increase in warm, active growth.

Intensity: Bright indirect light; tolerates medium light but grows best with stronger filtered light.
Duration: About 10-14 hours of bright ambient light; avoid direct midday sun.

USDA zone: USDA 9-11 outdoors; commonly grown as an indoor tropical.
Cold tolerance: Short exposure near 10-12 C possible, but sustained cool temps slow growth and may damage fronds.
Heat tolerance: Prefers 18-26 C; prolonged heat above 30 C stresses plants unless humidity is high.
Frost sensitivity: Highly frost-sensitive; frost will damage or kill foliage.
Overwinter instructions: Keep indoors above 15 C if possible, with bright light and reduced watering but never bone-dry.

Range: 50-80% relative humidity preferred.
Dry air tolerance: Low to moderate; brown tips and leaflet drop increase in dry air.
Misting notes: Misting is only a short-term aid; use humidifiers, pebble trays, or grouped plants for steadier humidity.

Preferred medium: Loose, moisture-retentive but airy peat/coco-based fern mix with bark or perlite.
pH preference: Slightly acidic, about pH 5.0-6.5.
Drainage needs: Excellent drainage with high water-holding capacity.
Growth substrate habit: Epiphytic/terrestrial fern habit with fine, fibrous roots.
Substrate recipe notes: A fern or African-violet-style mix amended with fine bark and perlite works well; avoid heavy garden soil.

Type: Balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer or fern fertilizer.
Strength: Use quarter to half strength.
Frequency: Every 2-4 weeks during active growth.
Seasonal schedule: Feed spring through early autumn; pause or reduce sharply in winter.
Micronutrient notes: Occasional micronutrient-containing feed can help prevent pale growth, but avoid salt buildup.

Interval: Every 1-2 years, or when crowded and drying too fast.
Pot type: Wide pot or hanging basket with good drainage.
Root sensitivity: Moderate; roots are fine and should be handled gently.
Dormancy consideration: Best repotted in spring as growth resumes; avoid heavy disturbance in winter.
Division guidance: Divide large clumps carefully into sections with roots and crowns; replant immediately and keep humid.

Preferred methods: Division of crowns/runners; spores in controlled conditions.
Difficulty: Easy by division; moderate to difficult from spores.
Expected success: Division is usually high success; spore propagation is slower and less reliable.
Optimal timing: Spring to early summer.
Rooting hormone notes: Hormone is usually unnecessary for division.
Tissue culture notes: Possible in commercial production; not usually needed for home or accession work.

Common pests: Spider mites, scale, mealybugs, fungus gnats, and occasionally aphids.
Common diseases: Root rot, crown rot, leaf spot, and tip burn from dry air or salts.
Treatment notes: Improve airflow, isolate affected plants, wash pests off, and use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil as needed; avoid chronic soggy media.
Susceptibility level: Moderate; problems are usually cultural rather than highly disease-prone.
Preventative practices: Provide humidity, even moisture, clean foliage, fresh media, and avoid salt-heavy fertilizer.

Pets: Usually regarded as non-toxic, but ingestion may cause mild stomach upset in pets.
Humans: Generally considered low-risk; avoid ingestion and contact if sensitive.
Sap irritant: No notable sap irritancy commonly reported.
Edible?: Not considered edible.

Growth habit: Arching clumping fern with long pinnate fronds and trailing runners.

Rarity: Common in cultivation.
Conservation status: Not generally listed as threatened globally; local status may vary.
Reference links: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:172732-1 ; https://www.gbif.org/species/2684937
Protected species notes: Check local rules for wild collection if sourcing from native populations.
Collection restrictions: Usually none for nursery-propagated stock; avoid wild-collected material without permits.
Import/export concerns: May be subject to standard phytosanitary checks for soil and pests; verify destination rules.
Invasiveness: Can naturalize in warm, humid regions; monitor outdoors in frost-free climates.
Native range notes: Native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas; often epiphytic or on moist shaded sites.