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!
Fast fern facts
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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: Funnest fact of all: |
9-11
Microsorum musifolium Australia and South East Asia 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!
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?
The crocodile fern will light up your life!
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!
Soil & potting requirements
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!
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Read the instructions carefully. Too much fertilizer won’t make your plant grow faster. In fact, it may kill the plant.
When it comes to ferns…wetter is better!
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.
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.
Propagation
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.
Mold in pots?
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.
Thank you for the wonderful tips… God bless
Pretty fern and I never seen this variety before.
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.
Thank you – I love fern
I like how this plant looks up close. It sounds very easy to maintain~
i need som new plants. thanks!!
Never heard of this fern but love learning about new greenery to grow!!
Cool looking plant!
Love ferns!
This plant looks very interesting!
I’ve never seen a crocodile fern before, just may give it a go!
Amarillis blooms bring breath of spring into a winter home
I had never even heard of this fern. I am so excited to learn
I’ve never seen this type of fern before. Great info!
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.
Interesting article. May try ferns again – I used to be pretty good at killin’ ’em. 🙂
I think ferns are beautiful, but this one looks very plain to me. Nothing too exciting.
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.
I love all ferns. It is nice to learn about a new one. Thank you!
This is a beautiful plant! I love ferns but have never seen this one before.
I’ve never saw this plant before! Wow!
Pretty plant! I have never seen one like this before!
I have a low light home also, this would be great for me!
I love how delightful this fern is – I’m putting it on my must-have plant list now!
Interesting
This is the first time I’ve heard of this fern. It is an interesting looking plant.
This is an odd little plant.
So very unique and pretty!
I would love this fern in my collection. Cool!
This is a very pretty plant. Thanks for all the information on it.
This sound’s like a plant I couldn’t drown!
Beautiful
This would be great in my bathroom
LOL it really does look like crocodile hide!!
I adore indoor plants
That is a beautiful fern. I could keep one as to the fact it is okay in indiect light. Thank you for the care instructions.
It is a beautiful fern and sounds easy and grow.
Very cool plant! Always looking t9 add more pet friendly greenery in my home! Thanks!
I would love to grow these
This would look great in my garden.
Never heard of this! But the fact that it doesn’t need soil makes it a fun and wonderful plant to try out!
❤🌿
I love the Prayer Plant, but I am never successful in caring for them. I really love them, smh!
They are such pretty plants.
What an interesting plant. I can’t wait to get some for around my home and garden.
The lovely yellow green shade, combined with the leaf patterning, captured my attention & I fell in love with this stunning plant!
Very interesting. Wouldn’t have guessed that was a fern
This is a nice looking fern. I find the leavesoretty and interesting.
I love the boston ferns
This is a new one for me. Its beautiful. I love indoor plants.
The color is stunning! I can see how it gets its name.
This is a beautiful plant, I am excited to try growing it!
Love your blog
Not a pretty name but a pretty plant
Love learning which ones are great for low light areas.
This plant is aptly named. It looks very much like crocodile skin!
This plant sounds like it would do wonderful here in my FL landscape. I live in N.E. Florida and most of my ferns never die all the way back and even if they do they come back in the spring. This is so pretty I would love to introduce it into my landscape. It’s would also be beautiful inside, but I unfortunately have a terrible record with indoor houseplants.
Love Ferns they add so much to a room or a yard .
Very pretty! I am always looking for some low light options for my fairly dark office and this might just work 🙂
Like that it doesn’t take much light, as we only have one window in our home that gets even halfway decent light, and it’s pretty much filled up!
I have never heard of this fern prior to this article. Thanks.
I’ve never seen this variety!
I have never heard of a crocodile fern before! I will have to check to see if it is at my local nursery.
I would love to win the Bulbs, they would greatly brighten my day.
I love the look of this plant! I need to find one near me.
Very interesting love the look. Thanks for the info. Will be on the lookout.
Wow, that is such a unique plant. I really do like it!
We used to have ferns growing up, but I don’t remember one like this. very unique looking
I love ferns and all your planting tips are very helpful!
It’s been quite a while since I grew ferns, this plant looks very nice.
I have never seen this plant before and I really like the name!
Love that leaf texture!
I love ferns so green!
I never heard of this fern before, but it actually sounds as if it might be one that I would not kill!
I love ferns… grew up with a yard full
We are always looking for cool new houseplants, thank you for sharing this one!
I like Succulents, ferns, and any easy care plant .
Beautiful fern. Love plants that are easy to care for
A beautiful plant! I can see why it’s named the way it is.
I have a crocodile fern! I am hoping I don’t killI it. So far, so good!
Ferns are the best look and feel great
What a cool plant- hadn’t heard of these before
I find this fern a charmer and adore it’s unique yellowish-green overall coloration! However, your tip for knocking out surface mold is practical and needed by most of us plant growers. I really dislike that moldy smell & appreciate this simple method of stopping it! Thank you! 🙂
This plant is definitely new to be. It would be a real attention getter if it isn’t planted in a pot.
I have to be careful with my houseplants. I have cats – that sometimes get into things they should not
I’ve never seen this plant before but it’s beautiful.
Personally, I’ve never met a plant I didn’t like.
i love this plant
great info!
Thanks for introducing me to such a neat looking fern.
I like the Boston fern.
It’s so difficult to find pretty houseplants that will thrive in low light. Thanks for the recommendation and information.
I’ve never seen this plant before. It looks cool!
Love your helpful messages and your products
Thanks for introducing the Crocodile Fern plant.
This is a beautiful fern. I don’t have a green thumb, but I would love to try to grow this. May be it will be successful.
I never heard this plant before
Pretty plant. Wouldn’t have guessed it was a fern
Beautiful house plant! I wish the newer homes had the deep windows like the older homes. It’s hard to have houseplants in my newer house.
My favorite is my Hibiscus which have four different colored flowers. I keep it outside during the summer and tenderly care for it during the winter
I’ve never seen this before. It’s so pretty.
Nice plant, but I already have way too many to care for properly
Lovely!
Love the look of this fern. I’m surprised how big it could grow!
This is a really nice Crocodile Fern plant.
I am not a big fan of the crocodile fern. To me, it is just boring. It has no character to it. But that is just me.
I think I would like one of these.
I love the look of the leaves on this. So cool
It is a beautiful looking plant.
You always provide so much great info!
I love all of this! And congratulations on that beautiful baby.
I haven’t seen this type of fern before and see where it gets its name. It’s pretty.
nice fern need to get some to go with my other fern
I absolutely love this fern. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to see such beauty.🌞
I’ve never heard of this fern til your post very interesting thanks for sharing
Not familiar with this fern, but see how it could make a great houseplant – we have very little direct sunlight in our current house.
What a great article! You have such through explanations! I need that fern!!
I cant believe that I have never heard of, nor seen this plant Just when u think youve seen it all-I really love the color and texture of this one
Looks like a very nice fern!
Absolutely a pretty looking fern, New to me and I like it.
I certainly think it’s a pretty fern. It’s new to me but I like it. This is a very interesting blog.
Love to learn about new plants! Thank you.
I’ve never heard of the crocodile fern and now I want one!
This is a new plant to me. I want one!
What a cool plant. I wish so bad that I had a green thumb.
I love your green thumb tips!!
Beautiful plant. Never heard of it before. I have one plant that some call mother in laws tongue. It’s over 10 years old now.
I call my Mother-in-Laws tongue just a snake plant but I love that name! It makes me laugh =)
I have never heard of a crocodile fern. Very interesting. I have so many houseplants but two of my favorites are the Pothos and the Monstera because they are easy to grow.