Variety of Java fern
Needle leaf java fern
Leptochilus pteropus 'Needle Leaf'
One of 15 varieties of Leptochilus pteropus · See all varieties →
Also known as Microsorum pteropus 'Needle Leaf', Microsorum pteropus 'Needle', Leptochilus pteropus 'Needle', Microsorum pteropus 'True Needle Leaf', Java fern Needle Leaf, Needle 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
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Epiphyte
- Type
- Rhizome
- pH
- 5.0–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Spread
- 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Family
- Polypodiaceae
- Origin
- Tropical Asia (trade form, exact origin unknown)
Overview
Needle leaf java fern is a beginner fern that grows on wood or stone rather than in the substrate.
Did you know
Two different ferns are sold as Needle Leaf. Flowgrow keeps the name for this small one with 3 to 5 mm leaves. It calls the larger form 'Taiwan', with leaves up to 2 cm wide and 45 cm long.
Caring for Needle leaf java fern
Tie or glue Needle leaf java fern to wood or stone and keep the rhizome out of the substrate, where it would rot. A young clump suits a nano tank or the front of the hardscape, and an older one suits the midground.
It grows in low light with no CO2. Keep the light low, because strong light can scorch the thin tips. It feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better than root tabs. It takes 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C) and also tolerates brackish water.
Growth is very slow. Leaves stay near 10 cm for a long time and reach about 30 cm on old plants. Split the rhizome or pull off plantlets from older leaves to propagate it.
Good to know
Needle leaf is a form of java fern in the family Polypodiaceae, now Leptochilus pteropus but still sold as Microsorum pteropus. Its leaves are limp, strap-shaped ribbons, medium to dark green, with a wavy edge and a thick midrib. It sets its leaves close together on the rhizome, and dark brown scales cover their undersides. Narrow leaf java fern, by contrast, has lance-shaped leaves 1 to 2 cm wide.
In the wild
Needle leaf java fern is a trade form, and no reliable record shows where it was first collected. Flowgrow gives tropical Asia as the fern's origin, and US shops list Indonesia. The parent species, Leptochilus pteropus, grows on wet rocks, roots and wood along forest streams in Southeast Asia. It sits above or below the waterline as stream levels change.
Common questions
Is Needle leaf java fern a different species from java fern?
No. Needle leaf java fern is a variety of java fern, Leptochilus pteropus, and it is grown the same way as the species.
Does Needle leaf java fern need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Needle leaf java fern grows attached to rock or wood, so tie or glue the rhizome in place. If you plant its roots, keep the rhizome above the substrate, since a buried rhizome rots.
Does Needle leaf java fern need CO2?
No. Needle leaf java fern grows well without added CO2 and suits a low-tech tank.
How much light does Needle leaf java fern need?
Needle leaf java fern is a low-light plant, and the light that comes with a standard tank kit is enough for it.
Does Needle leaf java fern need root tabs?
No. Needle leaf java fern feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better. Root tabs only help if its roots reach into the substrate.
How do you propagate Needle leaf java fern?
Needle leaf java fern propagates by rhizome division and plantlets. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece. Small plantlets form on the plant and can be detached once they have a few roots.
How tall does Needle leaf java fern grow?
Needle leaf java fern grows to about 11.8 in (30 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.