orange fern

Orange fern, scientific name Microsorum pteropus, variety “Orange Narrow”. It is a selective form of the Thai fern, characterized by gradient (from green and orange to red) leaf tips. Bred in the nursery of aquarium plants Tropica (Denmark). Does not occur in the wild.

In favorable conditions, the fern forms a large shrub with a creeping stem with a dense root system. The leaves grow up to 30 cm in length with a width of 2–3 cm. The leaf blade is whole, indivisible, narrowly lanceolate. However, in some cases, lateral outgrowths may form on the tips of old leaves.

It is considered a sterile variety, does not form spores and reproduces exclusively by lateral shoots (asexually). Each new sprout can be safely separated and will become a young plant.

The orange fern is one of the unpretentious and hardy species (in this case, varieties). Not picky about the growing environment. Grows well over a very wide temperature and pH/dGH range. It does not need additional introduction of fertilizers and is not sensitive to the level of illumination.

The only important point is that it is an epiphyte, so it must be planted on some surface, for example, fixed on a snag. Does not grow on the ground. Roots covered with substrate quickly rot.