Hardly any aquarist started their career without the ever popular java fern. This fern is extremely frugal and robust and tolerates deviations in water values or light intensity better than almost any other aquatic plant.
Tsunamicarlos at English Wikipedia, Microsorum pteropus, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons
key data
Attitude:
very easy
Breed:
Division up to the rhizome
Size:
up to 30 cm
Temperature:
5 – 30 °C
pH:
5 – 8
GH:
up to 30 °dH
CH:
up to 20 °dH
Look
The heart of the java fern is the rhizome. A dense, dark-brown root network grows from this, which has also given the Java fern its second name, black salsify fern. The characteristic, rich green leaves are long and narrow and reach lengths of up to 30 cm. Not only the leaves are hard and leathery, the entire plant shows a robust growth habit. Both stems and rhizome can often only be separated with scissors.
Leaves of young plants are even smaller and lighter in color. At an older age and with a good supply of nutrients, the java fern tends to grow in dense clumps and is therefore good at hiding technology in the aquarium or creating territorial boundaries.
As a typical marsh plant, the java fern can grow both above and below water and is therefore also suitable for greening paludariums or terrariums with a water part. The formation of spores on the underside of the leaf, which is typical for ferns, only takes place in the air.
distribution
The java fern is very widespread throughout tropical Asia. An adaptable swamp plant, it grows both fully submerged and partially above the waterline. In the tropics, even moist forest soil is sometimes enough for it to survive. It is often found in waterfalls or mountain streams, where it holds on to stones or tree roots with its root system and braces against the current.
Fortunately, spreading to European waters is only possible to a limited extent. Despite its robustness, the java fern ultimately does not survive the winter frost. It is therefore only suitable for the greening of ponds seasonally.
husbandry conditions
It is not for nothing that the java fern is considered a typical beginner’s plant that can hardly be killed. Its optimum is 20-28 °C and medium-hard to hard water. Nevertheless, he forgives even blatant deviations relatively well. He then only reacts with slower growth and a pale color. Especially in soft water you should help with fertilization. If it gets this in the form of nutrients and CO2, it will soon take on its attractive tufted growth habit.
As an epiphyte, the java fern should not be buried in the ground. He likes it best when his rhizome is constantly washed by water. Tied to roots or stones, it grows relatively quickly and then gropes its way further along the surface. These sprawling rhizomes can be divided and tied elsewhere. The java fern itself forms additional young plants on its leaves, which it sends on its journey as it swims freely.
Due to its leathery leaves, the java fern is also well suited for greening perch or catfish tanks, as they do not want to eat it. It is also one of the few aquarium plants that can even be used in brackish water tanks.
particularities
In addition to the wild form of the java fern, there are a number of cultivated forms on the market today. These differ mainly in the leaf size and shape. The small species with an attractive leaf shape are particularly popular in aquascaping and natural aquaristics. Common cultivated forms such as «Windelov» or «Tropica» can already be found in specialist shops. Rarer forms are often only passed on privately from aquarist to aquarist.