Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern (Griffith's Davallia) care

Light

In the wild blue rabbit's foot fern grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Bright, indirect light. An east window or a few feet back from a brighter one is ideal. Direct midday sun bleaches and crisps the delicate fronds; deep shade thins growth. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for when the top 2-3 cm of the mix is dry, roughly every 5-7 days for blue rabbit's foot fern, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Water onto the mix, not over the furry rhizomes, and let it drain fully. Allow the surface to dry slightly between waterings. The exposed rhizomes also absorb moisture, so they appreciate occasional misting.

Soil and pot

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern grows best in light, airy, well-draining epiphytic mix. Coir or peat-free mix blended with orchid bark, perlite, and a little sphagnum. The creeping rhizomes must sit on top of, not buried in, the mix or they rot. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 16-24°C (60-75°F). Enjoys moderate to high humidity. A pebble tray, humidifier, or a bright bathroom keeps the rhizomes plump and fronds fresh. Tolerates average rooms better than maidenhair ferns but browns in very dry heated air. If you keep the room above 16 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed blue rabbit's foot fern sparingly. Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. Ferns dislike salt build-up, so dilute well and flush the pot occasionally. Pause feeding in winter. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on blue rabbit's foot fern in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Shrivelled or rotting rhizomes — Rhizomes buried in mix or kept soggy rot; left bone dry they shrivel. Keep them on the surface and mist occasionally.
• Brown, crispy frond edges — Low humidity or dry soil. Raise humidity and keep moisture steadier without waterlogging.
• Faded, scorched fronds — Too much direct sun. Move to bright, filtered light.
• Mealybugs or scale — Pests hide among rhizomes and frond undersides. Wipe off and treat gently with insecticidal soap.

Propagation

Easiest from rhizome cuttings: take a 5-8 cm section bearing a frond or two, pin it onto moist mix until new roots and fronds form. Division of the rhizome mat in spring also works well. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern is pet-safe. ASPCA lists rabbit's foot fern (Davallia spp.) as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The fuzzy rhizomes and lacy fronds are safe if nibbled, though as with any plant large amounts can cause mild, temporary stomach upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern deep-dive guides

Every aspect of blue rabbit's foot fern care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern watering schedule
• Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern light requirements
• Best soil mix for blue rabbit's foot fern
• Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern fertilizing guide
• When to repot blue rabbit's foot fern
• How to propagate blue rabbit's foot fern
• Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern growth rate & size
• Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern cold hardiness
• Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern temperature & humidity
• Is blue rabbit's foot fern toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is blue rabbit's foot fern toxic to cats?
• Is blue rabbit's foot fern toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern qualifies for 8 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern is also commonly called Griffith's Davallia or Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern.

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