Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Toothed Davallia (Davallia denticulata)— schedule & NPK
Also called Toothed Davallia, Toothed Hare's Foot Fern, Rabbit's Foot Fern.
More about toothed davallia
About Toothed Davallia
Davallia denticulata · also called Toothed Davallia, Toothed Hare's Foot Fern · tropical
Davallia denticulata is a vigorous, tropical epiphytic fern widespread across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and northern Australia. Its coarsely toothed, leathery, tripinnate fronds are supported by thick, pale, woolly rhizomes that scramble outward dramatically. It suits warm, humid indoor spaces, tropical garden beds, or large hanging baskets in conservatories.
Growth habit: Vigorous, epiphytic fern with stout, pale, woolly creeping rhizomes; large, leathery, tripinnate fronds arch outward from the rhizomes, making it excellent for large hanging baskets or open, tropical garden borders
Watch for — Spider mites in warm, dry conditions: Tiny mites cause pale, stippled fronds and fine webbing on the undersides. Increase humidity, wash fronds with a gentle shower, and apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 5–7 days. Spider mites spread rapidly in warm, dry environments, so act quickly at first signs.
What fertiliser toothed davallia actually wants — and why
Toothed Davallia 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 toothed davallia: 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 toothed davallia, 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 toothed davallia:
Apply a half-strength balanced liquid fertiliser (20-20-20 or similar) every 3–4 weeks during active growth in spring and summer. This large, vigorous fern benefits from more regular feeding than smaller Davallia species, but always dilute to avoid rhizome salt burn. Do not feed in winter. 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 toothed davallia 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 toothed davallia
Half strength is the safe default for toothed davallia — 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 toothed davallia first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the toothed davallia watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding toothed davallia
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for toothed davallia:
- 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 toothed davallia
- 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 toothed davallia care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of toothed davallia 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 toothed davallia
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 toothed davallia — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does toothed davallia 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. Toothed Davallia 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 toothed davallia?
Apply a half-strength balanced liquid fertiliser (20-20-20 or similar) every 3–4 weeks during active growth in spring and summer. This large, vigorous fern benefits from more regular feeding than smaller Davallia species, but always dilute to avoid rhizome salt burn. Do not feed in winter. Apply a half-strength balanced liquid fertiliser (20-20-20 or similar) every 3–4 weeks during active growth in spring and summer. This large, vigorous fern benefits from more regular feeding than smaller Davallia species, but always dilute to avoid rhizome salt burn. Do not feed in winter. 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 toothed davallia?
Half strength is the safe default for toothed davallia — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding toothed davallia 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 toothed davallia 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 toothed davallia?
Flush the pot of toothed davallia 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
- Toothed Davallia care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water toothed davallia — 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 pleione formosana
- How to fertilise pleione bulbocodioides
- How to fertilise pleione speciosa
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library