One nice aspect of Java fern, apparently it’s not very tasty. That plant would completely overrun something like a 5 gallon. I have mature ferns with leaves that are almost a foot long (30 cm) and the base of the plant is easily 8 inches (20.3 cm) around. It grows slowly, but it can eventually get pretty big. I really wouldn’t put Java fern in a tank smaller than 10 gallons. It’s slow growing, so it doesn’t eat up a ton of excess nutrients out of your water, but it does use up at least some of the nitrates (NO3-) in your tank, helping to keep the water column clean. Mature plants make a great place for young or shy fish to find cover. Many aquarists attach Java fern to other decor to help create a more natural looking environment in their tanks.įish and shrimp love to hide and play in it. Java ferns make a great addition to the decor of your planted aquarium. Various Uses for Java Fern and Compatibility The first time I saw one, I thought a hungry fish had come by and shredded the plant! The look has grown on me, though, and I think it adds an interesting texture to the tank. The leaves on Windeløv look the same as regular Java fern until it gets to the ends, which separates into a bunch of frilly forks that curl around on themselves. Instead of the leaf coming to a single point, each one is forked with several fingers coming off the main leaf, kind of like the trident carried by Poseidon. The long thin leaves look almost crinkly and it’s hard at first glance to tell it’s even Java fern. The leaves on needle leaf are even thinner than narrow leaf. As the plant matures, the leaves get a slight twist to them that looks really interesting. Narrow leaf Java fern has much thinner leaves.

They are all listed as Microsorum Pteropus, but with the variety name in quotation marks after the scientific name (e.g. But clearly, the scientific community did not consult me on this decision.

I know, it’s weird, you would think each one would be its own species. Some leaves may be forked, narrow or even twisted.ĭespite these differences, they’re all still considered to be the same species. You may see Java ferns available that have different leaf shapes. Eventually, they break off from the adult plant and get washed downstream until they can attach themselves somewhere and start a life of their own. The plantlets develop roots and several small leaves. Each plantlet is a perfect replica of the adult plant. Underneath the leaves of mature plants, tiny baby plants, called plantlets, start to grow. Instead of producing seeds that need to be fertilized, Java ferns clone themselves. Java fern reproduces by a process called apomixis. It pulls these directly from the water column, instead of from underground. However, Java fern works a little differently. Most plants draw water and nutrients from soil through their roots. Java fern is an epiphyte, meaning its roots attach it to something, like a piece of driftwood or tree roots, instead of rooting itself in sand or soil. But instead of absorbing nutrients, these roots mainly function to anchor the plant to something, like a log or rock, and keep it from being swept away in the current. Roots – dark brown, fuzzy roots grow off of the rhizome. The rhizome is what absorbs most of the water and nutrients the plant needs. The leaves grow out of the top of the rhizome and the roots grow out of the bottom. They grow along the surface of whatever the Java fern is attached to. Rhizome – rhizomes look kind of like dark green roots, but they’re actually stems. In the natural form of the plant, the leaves are bright green, long, narrow and pointed Leaves – these can be anywhere from ¼ inch to 12 inches long. It can also be grown with the leaves sticking out of the water, but the rhizome and roots have to stay underwater at all times or the plant will dry out and die. It is a true aquatic plant, meaning that it can grow and thrive while completely immersed in water. It grows along the banks of freshwater rivers and streams in Thailand, Malaysia, India and China. It was first described by Dutch-German botanist Karl Ludwig Blume in 1833.

Java fern (microsorum pteropus) is an aquatic plant native to parts of Southeast Asia. You’ll learn everything you need to know to be successful, even if you’re a complete beginner. In this guide, I’m going to share my knowledge and experience with you about this popular aquarium plant. I love it and have had great success with it. In fact, java fern is one of the first plant species I ever tried to grow and propagate in my planted aquarium. Java fern: super popular, looks great, and is pretty simple to care for.

Aquarium java fern