Variety of Java fern
Narrow Mini java fern
Leptochilus pteropus 'Narrow Mini'
One of 15 varieties of Leptochilus pteropus · See all varieties →
Also known as Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow Mini', Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow Leaf Mini', Java fern Narrow Mini, Java fern Narrow Leaf Mini, Mini Narrow Leaf java fern
FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome divisionPlantlets
Varieties · Leptochilus pteropus
See all 15 →
Care at a glance
- Light
- Low light
- CO2
- No CO₂ needed
- Temperature
- 64–82°F
- 18–28°C
- Max height
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Epiphyte
- Type
- Rhizome
- pH
- 5.0–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Spread
- 3.9 in (10 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Family
- Polypodiaceae
- Origin
- Cultivated form (nursery selection, no wild range)
Overview
Narrow Mini java fern suits nano tanks and fine detail on hardscape in bigger scapes. Tie or glue the rhizome to a small stone or thin branch and keep it out of the substrate. At 5 to 10 cm it works in the foreground or midground. Keep light low to hold the compact shape, since brighter light makes it stretch and feeds algae. It needs no CO2 and takes its food from the water. Snap off plantlets from older leaves once they have roots and a few leaves, and attach them nearby to thicken the patch.
In the wild
Narrow Mini java fern is a cultivated dwarf with no wild population. A Thai grower sells it beside its Narrow Dwarf and Petite as three separate products, and Buce Plant has listed it since 2018. The parent species grows on stream rocks and roots across Southeast Asia, both underwater and on wet banks.
Good to know
Narrow Mini is a dwarf cultivar of Leptochilus pteropus (family Polypodiaceae), sold as Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow Mini' or 'Narrow Leaf Mini'. Shops describe it as Narrow Leaf's slim, lance-shaped blade at dwarf size, about half an inch (1.3 cm) wide on a plant 5 to 10 cm tall. Narrow Leaf grows that blade 20 to 30 cm long. Petite matches its height, but its leaves are wavier and often fork at the tip.
Did you know
Narrow Mini is one of three dwarf java ferns a Thai grower sells side by side, with Narrow Dwarf and Petite, all listed at 10 cm or less. Leaf shape tells them apart better than height does.