Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Squirrel's Foot Fern (Davallia trichomanoides)— schedule & NPK
Also called Ball fern, Squirrel foot fern.
More about squirrel's foot fern
About Squirrel's Foot Fern
Davallia trichomanoides · also called Ball fern, Squirrel foot fern · houseplant
Squirrel's foot fern is an epiphytic fern famed for the furry, silvery-brown creeping rhizomes that crawl over the pot like little animal feet. Its finely divided, lacy triangular fronds are deciduous to semi-evergreen. Native to tropical Asia, it makes an elegant hanging or kokedama plant and is one of the ASPCA-confirmed pet-safe ferns.
Growth habit: Epiphytic fern producing furry, silvery-brown creeping rhizomes that trail over the pot rim, with finely divided, lacy, triangular fronds. Deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on warmth and light.
Watch for — Scorched fronds: Direct sun burns the fine foliage. Move to bright indirect light.
What fertiliser squirrel's foot fern actually wants — and why
Squirrel's Foot Fern 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 squirrel's foot fern: 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 squirrel's foot fern, 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 squirrel's foot fern:
Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. It needs little feeding and is sensitive to salt build-up, so flush the pot periodically. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Treat that as monthly 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 squirrel's foot fern 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 squirrel's foot fern
Half strength is the safe default for squirrel's foot fern — 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 squirrel's foot fern first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the squirrel's foot fern watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding squirrel's foot fern
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for squirrel's foot fern:
- 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 squirrel's foot fern
- 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 squirrel's foot fern care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of squirrel's foot fern 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 squirrel's foot fern
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 squirrel's foot fern — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does squirrel's foot fern 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. Squirrel's Foot Fern 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 squirrel's foot fern?
Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. It needs little feeding and is sensitive to salt build-up, so flush the pot periodically. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. It needs little feeding and is sensitive to salt build-up, so flush the pot periodically. Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Treat that as monthly 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 squirrel's foot fern?
Half strength is the safe default for squirrel's foot fern — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding squirrel's foot fern 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 squirrel's foot fern 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 squirrel's foot fern?
Flush the pot of squirrel's foot fern 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
- Squirrel's Foot Fern care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water squirrel's foot fern — 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 snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 1284 fertilising guides in the Growli library