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Davallia

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  • Indoor Plants
Davallia solida var. fejeensis
Photo: Jardin botanique de Montréal (Josée Bouthot)
Davallia solida var. fejeensis
  • Davallia solida var. fejeensis
  • Davallia pyxidata
  • Davallia solida var. fejeensis 'Plumosa'

Onglets

Botany

Origin and description

Davallia fejeensis is a fern with finely divided fronds that grows on moss-covered rocks and on trees in the subtropical forests of Fiji. The fronds grow from large scaly, hair-covered rhizomes that spread on the surface, hence the plant's common name of rabbit's foot fern.

Species, cultivars and related plants

Davallia fejeensis 'Plumosa' produces fronds that are more finely divided than the species.

Common name

Davallia / Rabbit's foot fern

Latin name (genus)

Davallia fejeensis

English common name

Davallia / Rabbit's foot fern

French common name

Davallia / Fougère patte de lapin

Botanical family

  • Davalliaceae
Horticulture

Growing conditions

This fern prefers bright, indirect light and humid, relatively warm air. It is best to place it near an east- or west-facing window. In summer, temperatures can range from 18 to 23ºC. During the plant's rest period, temperatures can go as low as 13ºC if you cut back severely on watering, but it will lose its foliage in that case. The humidity must be kept high during the growth period, but can be lower during the rest period. Use a humidifier or place the pot on a saucer filled with gravel and water.

Easy to grow?

Davallia is easy to grow provided it is given good humidity.

Watering and fertilizer

In summer, allow the soil to dry out very slightly near the surface between waterings. In winter, allow the soil to dry out near the surface between waterings. Humus in the substrate provides the plant with most of the nutrients it needs. In good growing conditions, supplement with a soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer at half strength three or four times during the active growth period.

Pruning and maintenance

Remove dried fronds.

Repotting

Davallia is usually grown on osmunda root blocks that are kept moist or in wire baskets lined with sphagnum moss. The rhizomes quickly cover the entire substrate surface. If you grow this fern in a regular pot, use a light, fibrous, well-drained substrate with plenty of organic matter. For instance, it will be happy with a mix of peat or sphagnum moss and commercial orchid mix, with a small amount of perlite or coarse sand. Use low, wide pots to allow the rhizomes to spread. Repot in spring. Adult plants should be removed from their pots, have their outer roots pruned off and repotted in new soil mix.

See also

Pests and diseases
  • Aphididae

    Aphids

    There are thousands of species of aphids in the world. These tiny, highly prolific insects feed by sucking the sap from a wide range of ornamental and food plants. They form dense colonies on young shoots and under leaves, and also feed on plant stems, bark, roots and fruit.

  • Peronospora manshurica

    Downy Mildews

    Downy mildews can spread quickly, causing severe damage, especially during cool, rainy weather. The infection marks leaves with irregular lesions and covers affected tissues with whitish down. Severely affected plants dry out and die.

  • Pseudococcus adonidum

    Scales (Indoor)

    The scale insect superfamily (Coccoidea) includes several genera of sucking insects capable of damaging indoor plants. Most of them are tropical, non-hardy species, but they adapt very well to our homes.

Physiological disorders
Symptoms Possible causes Solutions

Fronds drop off

Air too dry or too cold

Increase humidity or place plant on a saucer with gravel and water and raise temperature

Dead or damaged fronds, old fronds turn yellow and drop off

Normal ageing of fronds

Remove faded fronds

Dry, brown fronds

Air too hot and dry

Move plant into a cooler spot with higher humidity

Brown fronds

Too much water

Cut back on watering