Java Fern: Exquisite Aquatic Greenery for Your Aquarium

Java Fern, or Microsorum Pteropus, is a Low-Maintenance Potted Plant.

Regarding aquarium plants, Java Fern is among the most popular options. It is a huge success in aquariums because of its sluggish growth rate, unusual leaf form, and reproductive strategy. Java Fern tolerates various lighting settings and environments – from soft, acidic water to alkaline conditions and even brackish tanks! Another good place to look is your neighbourhood fish market; if you are still looking for it there, you can always order some from our website.

If you have come across this post, you are seeking further information on Java Fern. Planting Java Fern is easy; throw it into your water. Really – even if you drop it in, it’ll start growing. Java fern does best when floating, but it can also attach itself to anything its roots can grip, thanks to the current. You can direct its growth by planting the roots in gravel or affixing it to a decorative object like a rock, piece of wood, or anything else you like. My favourite approach to plant Java Fern is to use super glue gel. Put a little glue bead on the ornament you wish to attach the fern.

After 30 seconds of holding it against the adhesive, remove it and allow it to air dry for three more minutes. To see it flourish, drop it into the aquarium. Be careful not to bury the rhizome, which is like a twig, because that’s the only thing to be cautious about. This rhizome is the origin of all the plant’s roots and leaves. It will decompose if buried in sand or gravel. Java Fern is perfect for bare-bottom aquariums since it doesn’t need substrate, which is a huge plus for the plant.

Any light will suffice for the growth of Java Fern. Any light that comes its way, it will surely be grateful for! Java Fern is open about the spectrum of lighting you’re using and the number of watts. A 6700k spectrum bulb, nevertheless, will be ideal for Java Fern. The perfect lighting conditions for this plant are anywhere between medium-high and low. You can burn or melt it at a very high-end range of light.

So, hold off on making your aquarium look like the Sahara. Java ferns can survive for weeks in a bucket with very little light, which has baffled many aquarists. For example, I had a breeding tank with a burned-out bulb for a few months, but every time I illuminated it to collect the fry, the Java Fern looked beautiful!

Your Java Fern, provided you’ve planted it and are providing it with enough light, will begin to produce offspring very soon. At the very margins of the leaves, little Java ferns sprout. As soon as they reach maturity, they plummet to the ground and affix themselves to the surface. Another option is to tear off pieces of leaves and place them in the aquarium to float.

The plant even has an emergency contingency – if it starts to die, it immediately produces new plantlets, sometimes as many as 20 babies per leaf. This is an excellent approach for getting ready to construct a new tank or propagating it to give to a new fish companion.

Another perk is that these plants are a favourite swimming route for fish in aquariums. It can create an ever-evolving jungle for them to swim in. Because of how slowly this plant grows, many opt to give it a single major trim every year and then sit back and enjoy the natural beauty it adds to their tank. Java fern has an unpleasant flavour that prevents many fish, including those that normally eat plants, from consuming it. There are thick, rough leaves as well. Even when attacked by a giant cichlid or a school of playful goldfish, they will recover quickly.

Sourcing some Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus) should be relatively easy. The following varieties of Java Fern are available once you’ve located and begun propagating it: Java Fern Trident, Java Fern Needle Leaf, Java Fern ‘Windelov’, Java Fern Narrow Leaf, and a few others that are less well-known. Though they all have distinct appearances, they all have the same development needs, as we have previously established.

When beginning a tank with Java Fern, it is important to exercise caution and not prune too heavily all at once. This plant’s modest growth rate makes it a formidable adversary in the battle against algae. Its chances of victory are greatly improved with a strong squad of algae eaters and sucker fish. Planting it with Vallisneria or another fast-growing plant will also help it grow.

If you find yourself defeated by algae, all you have to do is remove a few leaves and place them in a dish of water with some sunshine. Once seedlings have emerged, you can harvest and replant them in an algae-free environment, where they have a better chance of survival. Then why sit around? Toss in some Java Fern, kick back, and relax!

Also Read: Preserving Lifelines: Understanding the Importance of Rivers

Distribution

Java ferns are native to the Southeast Asian tropical rainforests and typically grow partially or submerged on rocks and near waterfalls.

Availability

Almost every pet store that carries aquarium plants will have Java ferns for sale. Size determines the usual price range of $4 to $9.

This aquatic plant is available for purchase at AquariumFish or AquariumCoop.

Size and Appearance

The rhizome and leaves are the two primary parts of the verdant, leafy Java fern plant. The rhizome is a network of microscopic brown stalks that cling to surfaces and support the fern’s stem.

This plant’s verdant leaves’ varied shapes and colours are its most striking feature. A bushy appearance is achieved by the fern’s long, narrow leaves that can grow thickly.

The average monthly growth rate for these plants is about an inch. When completely grown, you may expect your fern to reach a height of 13–14 inches. Dark brown lumps may appear on the leaves as the plant ages.

Aside from the typical Java fern, there are a few uncommon varieties that look different:

• Java fern with slender, acutely angled leaves is one variety. The average height of a narrow-leaf Java fern is twelve inches.
• Compared to the normal kind, Windelov Java ferns are on the little side, growing only 8 inches tall on average. A fork-like effect is created when the leaves of this variety break into three smaller leaves.
• Its extremely thin leaves characterise the needle leaf Java fern much more than the row leaf fern. This uncommon variety reaches a maximum height of barely 6 inches.
• The rare Trident Java fern’s distinctive triangular, lobed leaves set it apart from other varieties. This variation is shorter than the thin leaf fern but develops faster.