Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus) an Easy Aquatic Plant.

Java Fern is one of the world’s most widely used plants in planted aquariums. It slow growth, unique leaf structure, and reproduction method makes it an aquarium smash hit. Java Fern can tolerate all lighting conditions and environments, including alkaline and soft acidic. It is also easy to find in most local fish stores; but if not, there is always some available on our website.

Java fern

Now if you’ve found this article, you’re obviously looking for more info on Java Fern. It is very easy to plant Java Fern. All you have to do is add it to your water. Really – even if you just drop it in, it’ll start growing. Java Fern will grow while floating. The current can also allow it to attach itself to something that its roots can hold on to. You can also choose where it will go by burying the roots in some gravel or tying it onto a piece of wood, rock, or other decor. Super glue gel is my preferred method for planting Java Fern. Make a simple glue bead from the decor piece you wish to attach the fern to. It should be held against the glue for at least 30 seconds. Then let it dry in the air for 3 minutes. Place it in the tank and watch it grow! You must make sure that the rhizome, the twig-like portion of the plant, is not buried. All the roots and leaves extend out of this rhizome. It will rot if it is submerged in gravel or sand. This plant has a great advantage: it doesn’t need substrate. Java Fern is a great choice for tanks with bare bottoms.

It doesn’t matter what light you use to grow Java Fern. It will appreciate any light that is available to it. Java Fern isn’t picky about which spectrum of lighting you’re using or even the number of watts. Java Fern does best when provided with a 6700k spectrum light bulb. This plant can tolerate any light level, from very low to extremely high. It can be burned or melted at very high levels of light. So resist the urge to recreate the Sahara Desert over your tank. The Java Fern can survive on very little light. Many aquarists have left it in a bucket for weeks and it still has life! For example, one of my breeding tanks had a bulb burned out for several months; yet every time I shined a light into the tank to catch the fry, the Java Fern looked great!

Assuming you’ve got it planted and are giving it some light, your Java Fern will soon be reproducing. Tiny Java Ferns are formed at the edge of the leaves. When they reach maturity, they will drop off and attach themselves to where they belong. You can also break leaves off and let them float in the aquarium. You can also break off leaves and let them float in the aquarium. If it dies, it will immediately produce new plantslets. Sometimes it can have as many as 20 babies per plant. This is a great way for setting up a new aquarium or to propagate the plant to get a fish friend.

As an added benefit, aquarium fish love to swim through these plants. Java Ferns can make a jungle for fish to swim in. With the slow growth factor of this plant, many people only do 1 big trim every year and then let nature takes its course decorating their aquarium au natural. Most fish do not like the taste of Java Fern, so even many plant eating fish will not eat it. The leaves are very tough and thick. They can take a beating from a large cichlid or some goldfish who just like to play with them.

Sourcing some Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus) shouldn’t be too difficult. Once you have found the Java Fern and begun to propagate it, it is worth knowing that there are many other Java Fern varieties available. These include Java Fern Trident and Java Fern Needle Leaf. Java Fern Windelov’ and Java Fern Narrow Leaf. There are also other lesser-known varieties. Each of these has a unique look to them with all the same growth requirements we already learned.

Java fern ‘Windelov’

It is important to avoid over-pruning Java Fern plants or starting a new tank. This plant is slow to grow and can get into trouble with algae. A good crew of algae eaters and sucker fish go a long way to ensuring it wins the battle. It can also be planted with fast-growing plants like Vallisneria.

If you do lose the battle to algae, just pull off a couple of leaves and float them in a dish of water under some light. After it has made some plantlets, you can remove them and put them back into the tank. You may win the battle. So, what are you waiting? Enjoy Java Fern!