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May 7, 2020 in Indoor plants

Low-light Crocodile Fern is a must-have houseplant

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The Crocodile Fern
crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’)
Ferns are fabulously fun!

 

Native to Australia and tropical regions, the crocodile fern has spear-like, wrinkled leaves mimicking a crocodile’s hide.

The light green, segmented leaves are puckered with dark green veins that give off a an elegant, even graceful appearance. Agree?

So aptly named for the scale-like texture the leaves display, the crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’) is an incredible low-light houseplant to own.

But know what blows my mind? This epiphytic fern grows on things in the wild like tree trunks and between rock cracks. The crocodile fern plant will absorb all nutrients and water it needs through the air, rain, or tree.

So grow your crocodile plant in a container but also consider affixing it to a wooden plank on your wall. Hello green vertical flair!

The crocodile fern’s wavy edges will certainly win your heart especially with the little fuss this fern causes. Talk about an easy indoor plant to grow.

Here’s all you need to know for the crocodile fern to survive and thrive in your space now because this pandemic is causing us all to invest in houseplants!

Your indoor space must be relaxing so spirits can revive and thrive!

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium 'Crocydyllus')

 

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’)

Fast fern facts

Growing zone:

 

Botanical name:

Place or Origin:

Mature height indoors:

​Mature height outdoors (in the wild)

Mature width:

Light requirement:

Water requirements:

​Humidity requirements:

Ideal Temperature:

Ideal pH:
​
Toxicity:

Funnest fact of all:

9-11

 

Microsorum musifolium

Australia and South East Asia
​
12-24 inches

​2 to 5 feet

12-24 inches

Low-light to bright indirect light

Likes to stay moist

Likes it very humid

Between 65 and 75 degrees F.

Prefers slightly acidic ~ between 6.0 – 8.5

Pet friendly, safe for cats, dogs, humans

The crocodile fern is sometimes called an alligator fern, too!

Crocodile Fern fun fact!

At maturity,  the crocodile fern can reach a height of 2 to 5 feet with a similar width.

 

Although the broad green leaves appear to arise directly from the soil, the fronds actually grow from rhizomes that emerge just under the surface! Who knew?

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium 'Crocydyllus')

 

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’)

The crocodile fern will light up your life!

I love low-light indoor plants because my house is rather dark.

 

​Even in the wild, the crocodile fern doesn’t get much natural light because it lives under a canopy, protected from direct sunlight by the foliage of other plants. 

So crocodile ferns prefer low-light, indirect sunlight because that what it’s used to in its natural environment. 

A northern or eastern window provides the best light exposure. A spot in front of a sunny window with too intense light and heat may scorch those wavy and scale-like fronds.

My plant is affixed in my vertical wall planter but if yours is in a pot, turn the plant once or twice each month to encourage even growth.

Failure to shift your pot around results in a lopsided looking plant so ensuring each side gets its share of light is essential.

Also consider growing your crocodile fern under the guise of a curtain to provide bright, but indirect light. This dappled light is just what the plant doctor ordered!

Cool to average room temperatures are fine, but avoid heating vents, drafts or air conditioners.

Remember: ferns love humidity and heating vents and air conditioners will dry out the plant!

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium 'Crocydyllus')

 

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’)

Soil & potting requirements

Your crocodile fern prefers a rich, well-drained potting mix that is loamy and contains lots of vegetative compost.

 

I used an African violet mix but you could make your own by mixing one part charcoal chips, one part coarse sand, two parts garden soil and two parts composted leaves. I’d throw in some perlite for good measure.

By mixing the above ingredients together you’ll create a rich, well-drained medium. This prevents roots getting soggy and mold forming at the bottom of the pot.

The irony of potting the crocodile fern is that although it likes and needs regular waterings, the plant won’t survive in poorly drained soil either.

The easiest solution for me was to line the bottom of my planter with orchid bark chips  filling in the top half with a commercial African potting mix like Miracle-Gro.

Transplant your crocodile fern into a pot that is about twice as large as the root ball giving the roots room to expand and mature.

Due to its shallow root structure, the crocodile fern plant does not need to be buried deep.

Fertilizer fun!

To ensure your crocodile fern has adequate nutrients to keep it looking its best, provide a diluted water-soluble fertilizer or a special fern fertilizer once every month during spring and summer.

 

Read the instructions carefully. Too much fertilizer won’t make your plant grow faster. In fact, it may kill the plant.

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium 'Crocydyllus')

 

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’)

When it comes to ferns…wetter is better!

You already know that most ferns require plenty of water and the crocodile fern loves a good drink! Regular waterings are a must. 

 

But since trapped water tends to increase the risk of fungal diseases and mold, use a pot that contains at least one drainage hole in the bottom.

Only water the crocodile fern whenever the surface feels slightly dry, providing enough water to force a few drops through the pot’s drainage holes. Poke your finger down two inches in the pot, if it feels “dry” it’s time to water.

When watering, do not pour the water directly on the crocodile fern (therefore touching the leaves) but instead directly into the soil surrounding the plant. Pouring water in the center of the plant encourages water to sit and potential rot.

Always use a pot filled with loose soil and a drainage hole and let the pot drain thoroughly. Never let the bottom of the pot stand in water or the roots will rot.

Picture

 

 
Ferns love humidity and is always a concern for those of us trying to make ferns happy indoors. And since the crocodile fern originates from the tropics, it likes a humid environment to help it thrive.

 

Create adequate amounts of humidity by placing your plant on a tray or plate with a layer of wet pebbles under the pot. Also spray the leaves with a gentle mist several times a week.

Another option is simply choosing a location in your home that naturally gets more humidity like a bathroom or kitchen.

Especially if you are growing vertically, your crocodile fern will love your bathroom.

Every time you shower or take a bath with your crocodile fern (I won’t tell if you won’t tell) your plant will relish the humidity and benefit.

A telltale sign that your plant isn’t getting enough humidity are those crispy brown tips that appear on the foliage. Of course, brown tips could also signal that your crocodile fern isn’t getting enough water.

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium 'Crocydyllus')

 

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’)

Propagation

Dividing crocodile fern plants is the easiest and fastest way to propagate your plants to increase your collection. This way you’ll have extra for yourself and a few to share with neighbors and friends. 

 

With your fingers, gently divide offsets and repot them into a well-drained and organically rich potting soil. Do not allow to dry out for several weeks. As with the mother fern plant, the new offsets will require moist soil and high humidity.

You can also propagate your Crocodile Fern plant through root division. I like this method a bit less because if you are not careful, you’ll damage the roots.

So not only do you not end up with more plants but you kill your existing plant. Way too sad!

Instead of using a trowel, I would  attempt root division by gently prying the roots apart with your fingers. Make sure each plant gets enough of the root system to survive and thrive. New plants require enough root for them to take.

Place each plant into new potting soil, water thoroughly (make sure the plants can drain) and you should be good to go.

Even so, not all sections will take. Some will flourish, but others will die. Its best to wait until you have a substantial plant to work with or don’t attempt root separation in the first place.

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium 'Crocydyllus')

 

crocodile fern (Microsorium musifolium ‘Crocydyllus’)

Mold in pots?

From time to time I discover a little mold on the top of my pots. Even my felt vertical planter can harbor a bit of mold at the top.

 

Mold of this kind is attributed to dead and rotting material in the planter or pot. Now this can be a good thing for plants because they like composted nutrients for food.

However, mold doesn’t look great and it can also be a sign that your plant is a little too wet.

A fabulous way to knock out a little surface mold is to fill a spray bottle with 1/3 rubbing alcohol 2/3 tap water with four to five drops of a biodegradable type of soap/detergent.

This nice, powerful spray will clean up that top mold nicely! This mixture is also good as a preventative measure against insects keeping those pests at bay.

What are some of your favorite houseplants?

128 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sherylyn says

    October 17, 2020 at 1:23 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful tips… God bless

    Reply
  2. Chris Civitello says

    January 10, 2021 at 11:43 pm

    Pretty fern and I never seen this variety before.

    Reply
  3. Phyllis Skoglund says

    January 10, 2021 at 11:46 pm

    Every green plant is an oxygen producer. Scientists believe phytoplankton in the Earth’s oceans produce between 50 and 85 percent of the planet’s oxygen.

    Reply
  4. Hana says

    January 11, 2021 at 3:02 am

    Thank you – I love fern

    Reply
  5. ellen beck says

    January 11, 2021 at 5:03 am

    I like how this plant looks up close. It sounds very easy to maintain~

    Reply
  6. Liz Kilcher says

    January 11, 2021 at 10:51 am

    i need som new plants. thanks!!

    Reply
  7. Jeffrey Jones says

    January 11, 2021 at 2:36 pm

    Never heard of this fern but love learning about new greenery to grow!!

    Reply
  8. Amy Forsyth says

    January 11, 2021 at 2:39 pm

    Cool looking plant!

    Reply
  9. Madeline Lonergan says

    January 11, 2021 at 2:51 pm

    Love ferns!

    Reply
  10. Chris C says

    January 11, 2021 at 2:55 pm

    This plant looks very interesting!

    Reply
  11. Tami Lewis says

    January 11, 2021 at 3:16 pm

    I’ve never seen a crocodile fern before, just may give it a go!

    Reply
  12. Phyllis Briggs says

    January 11, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    Amarillis blooms bring breath of spring into a winter home

    Reply
  13. Sheila gagnon says

    January 11, 2021 at 3:24 pm

    I had never even heard of this fern. I am so excited to learn

    Reply
  14. Alison says

    January 11, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    I’ve never seen this type of fern before. Great info!

    Reply
  15. DeeAnn S says

    January 11, 2021 at 3:52 pm

    Right now I have a house full of Christmas cacti, A Jade plant, and plants in for the winter. I’d like to try this fern. Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  16. Tesa Shelton says

    January 11, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Interesting article. May try ferns again – I used to be pretty good at killin’ ’em. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Michael Coovert says

    January 11, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    I think ferns are beautiful, but this one looks very plain to me. Nothing too exciting.

    Reply
  18. Martha DeMarco says

    January 11, 2021 at 4:05 pm

    NEVER saw this 1 before. I am trying a spider plant, again, and a zebra succulent. I am really trying not to kill these this time.

    Reply
  19. juanita russell says

    January 11, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    I love all ferns. It is nice to learn about a new one. Thank you!

    Reply
  20. Kathy Lane says

    January 11, 2021 at 4:16 pm

    This is a beautiful plant! I love ferns but have never seen this one before.

    Reply
  21. Michelle Proper says