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Microsorum pteropus - Java Fern
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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2
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1770
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Tue February 20, 2007
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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$4.00
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10.0
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Description:
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Common Name: Java Fern
Scientific Name: Microsorum pteropus
Light:Very Low toMedium
Co2:Not essential to growth
Level of Difficulty: Easy
M. pteropus is one of the most commonly available plants in the aquarium trade. It is an aquatic fern from Asia and has large, dark green lanceolate leaves that grow on stems that branch from a rhizome. Naturally, it is found attached along streams or rivers both in and out of water.
Java fern is one of the least demanding plant species available to the hobbyist and is commonly available. It will grow in low light conditions without Co2 or good water column fertilization but it also thrives in mid to high light conditions with Co2 and fertilization. It tolerates a wide range of conditions. All of this combines to make Java fern an ideal beginner plant for the novice, as well as a beautiful option for the expert.
Adult specimens can get quite large (12-14”), however, and so are only suitable for medium to large aquariums over the long term. M. pteropus attaches itself to wood and rocks and makes an ideal cover for these structures. Cotton or nylon thread, or water safe staples and tacks, can be used to secure this plant to wood or rocks. In time, the roots will anchor themselves around the object and will retain a firm grasp on their own. Care must be taken not to bury the rhizome of this plant as it will rot away and the plant will die if it becomes covered with gravel.
As the fern ages, it will develop long, hair-like brown roots which dangle from the rhizome. When hanging from an elevated piece of driftwood, these roots give an utterly natural and swamp or lake-like feel to the aquascape. These roots provide hiding places for small fish and light shy species such as otos and small plecos find refuge in the tight growing leaves, often hiding along the stems or rhizome structures.
The leaves of this species are quite tough and are not normally eaten by herbivorous fish.
Propogation can be performed by making a sharp cut through the rhizome, leaving at least one or two leaves per section of rhizome. These will continue to spread from the rhizome, forming new leaves and roots. Alternatively, the plant will produce adventitious plantlets that form underneath the “mother” leaves. While developing, these leaves will be attached to the main leaf. In time, they will detach on their own. The aquarist may choose to separate these from the main leaf once they have reached a suitable size (at least 1-2” in length) and they can be planted as one wishes.
If the aquarist notices black spots forming on the bottom side of leaves, they should not be alarmed; this is not a disease, but rather the “reproductive organs” of the plant, which will soon lend themselves to producing adventitious plantlets.
After this plant has become well established and reached adulthood, it has a tendency to produce trilobate, bilobate, or multilobate leaves; that is, some leaves will become forked, others will have three leaf tips, others will have as many as five.
First photo courtesy of Tydirian.
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Author
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Balloon Fish
Super Fish
Registered: July 2004
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 3025
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Review Date: Wed June 1, 2005
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Would you recommend the profile? Yes |
Price you paid?: $4.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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great plant, low maintence
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Cons:
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roots grow thick
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Java fern is a wonderful plant for beginers because the plant is so undemanding and doesn\'t take much maintence and experience to grow. A quick and easy way to propogate this plant is to cut off a leaf and let it float around and in less then a week (if its over a week then it didn\'t work) a new plantlet will start growing on the side of the leaf and you can peel it off and stick it back into the substrate and you have an new java fern plant.
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ninamarie
Super Fish
Registered: January 2006
Location: Kalifornia, Silicon Valley
Posts: 1266
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Review Date: Tue February 20, 2007
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Would you recommend the profile? Yes |
Price you paid?: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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I like this plant and so does my Betta
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