How to Grow and Care for a Kangaroo Paw Fern - Microsorum Care

Kangaroo Paw Fern

Microsorum diversifolium

Kangaroo paw ferns, native to Australia and and some parts of New Zealand, are epiphytic evergreens with firm leathery fronds that are oddly shaped and vary in size. It’s an example of a rhizomatous fern. The kangaroo paw fern only grows to be about a foot tall but can spread out to 2-3 feet in width. I really like how different this easy care plant is and think it looks very attractive in a hanging basket or set on a table in a pretty pot.

Kangaroo Paw Fern

Light

Medium to bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light.. Keep in the shade outside.

Water

Water a kangaroo paw fern when the top 50% of the soil has dried out. When watering, give the plant enough water so that it drains out the bottom drip holes. I don’t recommend misting this or any other houseplant because keeping the leaves wet encourages bacterial and fungus infections.

Fertilizer

Fertilize once a month in the spring and summer with a balanced plant food diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. You can also use an organic fish emulsion. Kangaroo paw ferns should never be fertilized in the fall and winter. Ferns do not require much plant food so when in doubt, don't feed.

Temperature

These ferns like warm temperatures 70°-75°F (21.1°-23.9°C) in the spring, summer, and fall, but prefer cooler temperatures 60°-65°F (15.6°-18.3°C) and brighter light in the winter.

Humidity

High humidity is best, but a kangaroo paw fern still does well in lower household humidity.

Pests

scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew., AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com., Mealy BugsLearn how to identify and treat Mealy Bugs, a houseplant pest that leaves sticky, white, cottony residue on houseplants.. Ferns are very sensitive to insecticides, so try to use warm, soapy water or the green solutionIf you don't want to use a commercial chemical product to treat plant pest problems try the “Green Solution.” This is a mixture of water, alcohol, biodegradable liquid soap, and mineral oil. Always test any spray on one or two leaves to be sure it won’t damage the plant. Depending upon how severe the infestation is, you can use these ingredients in varying proportions. If there are only a few pests, dip a Q-tip in alcohol and gently swab them off. For a more widespread problem, start by using a spray of warm water mixed with a few tablespoons of biodegradable soap. If that doesn’t cure the problem, make a solution using 8oz. water & 8oz. alcohol, add two tablespoons of biodegradable soap and two tablespoons of mineral oil. Spray all areas of the plant. Use this solution on leathery leafed plants (except palms), never on fuzzy leafed plants like African Violets or Begonias. For palms, omit the alcohol from the Green Solution. Never spray a plant that’s sitting in the sun or one with very dry soil. (recipe in Glossary).

Diseases

Not many diseases affect kangaroo paw ferns. In very humid conditions, bacterial or fungal infections may occur.

Soil

Use a porous coarse soil that drains well.

Pot Size

Repot in the spring if the roots have filled the existing pot.

Pruning

Remove dead fronds as soon as they appear; cut the dead fronds off at the soil line. Clean the leaves with a damp cloth.

Propagation

Kangaroo paw ferns can be propagated using many techniques: spores, rhizome division, layering, and plantletsCertain plants, such as spider plants, send off long slender stems called runners. New plants, or plantlets, that can be used for propagation, often develop at the ends of these runners. Place the plantlets on top of potting soil while they are still attached to the original plant. The plantlets will continue to get nutrition from the parent plant while developing roots of its own. Pin the plantlet to the soil with an open paper clip or a small piece of wire. Once the plantlet has rooted, sever the connection to the parent plant. Alternately, some plantlets can be carefully removed from the runners of the original plant and directly potted.. Fern propagationLearn how to propagate plants by plant division at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary should be done in the spring before the plant starts to actively produce new growth.

Poisonous Plant Info

These are non- Poisonous HouseplantsIn her new book, Don’t Feed Me to Your Cat!, plant care professional Judy Feldstein shares information about twenty-five common houseplants, each with various levels of toxicity, and the possible consequences if your pet or child snacks on them..

What are the things that people call "feet" on Rabbit’s Foot and Kangaroo paw ferns?

The "feet" on Rabbit’s Foot and Kangaroo Ferns are really rhizomes that grow across the top of the soil surface and sometimes even grow over part of the pot.

My kangaroo paw fern has brown bumps on the underside of the leaves. Is this a pest or something else?

If the bumps are raised with a hard exterior and you can scrape them off, it is scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew.. scaleSoft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew. is a plant insect that you can read about in the Glossary of the website. If the bumps are flat and part of the leaf they are spores which are used for propagationLearn how to propagate plants by plant division at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary.

My ferns are looking pale and sad. What should I do to help them look better?

The tired, pale appearance of indoor ferns can usually be improved by putting them outside in a shady protected location once the weather gets warm. Water with rain water if possible and let them enjoy the fresh air.