Black Rabbit's Foot Fern Care Instructions

Scientific name: Davallia Trichomanoides
Synonyms: Black Rabbit’s Foot Fern, Squirrel Foot Fern

The Black Rabbit’s Foot Fern may be a commoner in the indoor plant community but it has worked hard to earn it’s place. As a resilient and easy care fern no plant collection is complete without this quirky little critter.

Davallia Trichomanoides is native to Malaysia where you will find it creeping along the ground as a groundcover or happily living in the nooks and crannies of trees and rocks soaking up nutrients and moisture from the warm damp air.

With their creeping habit, Rabbits foot ferns make elegant hanging houseplants in brightly lit areas with decent humidity. As a shelf option, they'll also work well in a warm, bright bathroom or kitchen. It is important to keep your plant warm to prevent it from losing foliage and going dormant.

Please note: These plants are not considered toxic.

Black rabbit foot fern Care

Black Rabbits Foot Fern Common Symptoms

Brown edges on fronds: Like all ferns, Davallia Trichomanoides loves humidity and a lack thereof will be indicated by brown edges on the fronds. Rectify this by placing your fern in a more humid environment such as a warm bathroom or kitchen or sprits daily. For more Bathroom Plant Options read: 5 Best Houseplants for Bathrooms.
Dry rhizomes / fronds: This is an indication that your Indoor fern is not receiving the adequate amount of moisture. Water your fern more regularly to prevent the rhizomes from drying out and be sure to keep the soil lightly moist during active growth.
Leaf drop: Davallia species are deciduous meaning they drop their leaves in colder weather, be sure to check that the location you are keeping your fern in doesn't get too cold as this will cause severe leaf drop.
Pale fronds and slow/no growth: Pale to lime green fronds are an indication that your houseplant is receiving too much light and needs to be relocated to a position with less light. If the lighting is correct but your leaves are still pale and your fern has not grown much then consider feeding your plant to revitalize it.
Limp Fronds: This is a clear sign of overwatering. Reduce your frequency of watering and allow your soil to dry out partially between waterings. Make sure to check that your planter is well draining as your fern does not like wet feet. To Learn more about identifying watering issues read: Overwatering vs Underwatering.
Pests: Davallia Trichomanoides are susceptible to common indoor plant pests such as aphids, mealybug, fungus gnats and white fly. Identify which pest you have as soon as noticed and try remove manually where possible. If the infestation is extreme, treat with a weak solution of Neem Oil frequently. However, don't dredge the plant with pesticide however as they do not take well to their fronds being coated in oil.