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Kangaroo Paw Fern

Move aside, Boston and Kimberly Queen ferns, the kangaroo paw fern (Microsorum diversifolium) has just as much charm with easier dead-leaf cleanup! Cleaning up dead leaves is an inevitable part of plant parenthood. The kangaroo paw fern’s fronds, which grow as a pawlike structure in a single unit, are much easier to clean up when they die than the multitude of leaflets left behind by a Boston or Kimberly Queen fern.

Survival strategy

It’s possible to maintain the kangaroo paw fern in a low-light environment—say, around 100 foot-candles. There won’t be much growth, and the once-dense foliage will likely thin out as older fronds die off. New fronds will be slow to emerge, and they will probably have a simpler structure—fewer “fingers.” You can wait for the soil to be completely dry before watering, as long as you gently aerate it with a chopstick so the water can more evenly penetrate. If you happen to give it a thorough soaking, move it to a window shielded from direct sunlight (as with a sheer white curtain) for a few days, so the plant can have a chance to maintain itself.

Growth strategy

At 200 foot-candles or more (even with some direct sun), a kangaroo paw fern will grow wildly! To support good growth at this light level, you should saturate the soil whenever it becomes partially dry—the fronds will be noticeably floppier. Some soil aeration will help to prevent soil compaction. Fertilize when you see new fronds emerging. Hold off if there’s a lull in new growth—the plant is resting. In a year or so, you may find that the plant’s hairy rhizomes have crawled out of the pot. If just a few are peeking out, you can let the plant be, but if they have taken over the exterior of the pot, then you ought to repot. A peat moss/perlite mixture (5:1) will do fine. I have yet to divide my own plant, but it seems quite easy to do—just cut through the root ball with a sharp knife and repot the pieces into separate pots. Caution: The hairs on the rhizomes are somewhat prickly!