Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' (Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov')— schedule & NPK
Also called Windelov Java fern, lace Java fern.
More about microsorum pteropus 'windelov'
About Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov'
Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' · also called Windelov Java fern, lace Java fern · tropical
Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' is a lace-leaf Java fern cultivar whose frond tips split into fine, frilly fingers, giving a delicate crested look. Like the standard Java fern it is an epiphyte grown on wood or rock, thrives in low light, and is exceptionally hardy. It spreads via frond plantlets into ornate, finely-tipped green clusters.
Growth habit: Epiphytic, slow-growing creeping rhizome producing upright fronds whose tips fan into fine, frilly crests, forming ornate spreading clusters on hardscape.
What fertiliser microsorum pteropus 'windelov' actually wants — and why
Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for microsorum pteropus 'windelov': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed microsorum pteropus 'windelov', and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For microsorum pteropus 'windelov':
Feed entirely through the water column with a balanced liquid fertiliser; modest iron and potassium keeps the lacy fronds green. It grows slowly and needs no substrate feeding, so light dosing suffices. CO2 is optional and not required. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when microsorum pteropus 'windelov' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for microsorum pteropus 'windelov'
Half strength is the safe default for microsorum pteropus 'windelov' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water microsorum pteropus 'windelov' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the microsorum pteropus 'windelov' watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding microsorum pteropus 'windelov'
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for microsorum pteropus 'windelov':
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding microsorum pteropus 'windelov'
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full microsorum pteropus 'windelov' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of microsorum pteropus 'windelov' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for microsorum pteropus 'windelov'
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising microsorum pteropus 'windelov' — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does microsorum pteropus 'windelov' need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed microsorum pteropus 'windelov'?
Feed entirely through the water column with a balanced liquid fertiliser; modest iron and potassium keeps the lacy fronds green. It grows slowly and needs no substrate feeding, so light dosing suffices. CO2 is optional and not required. Feed entirely through the water column with a balanced liquid fertiliser; modest iron and potassium keeps the lacy fronds green. It grows slowly and needs no substrate feeding, so light dosing suffices. CO2 is optional and not required. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for microsorum pteropus 'windelov'?
Half strength is the safe default for microsorum pteropus 'windelov' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding microsorum pteropus 'windelov' look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding microsorum pteropus 'windelov' year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of microsorum pteropus 'windelov'?
Flush the pot of microsorum pteropus 'windelov' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water microsorum pteropus 'windelov' — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise monstera
- How to fertilise pothos
- How to fertilise fiddle leaf fig
- All 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library