Hare's Foot Fern (Canary Island rabbit's foot fern) care

Light

Hare's Foot Fern is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Bright, indirect light keeps the fronds full; medium light is tolerated. Avoid harsh direct sun, though it accepts a touch more brightness than delicate ferns. An east or filtered window is ideal. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water hare's foot fern when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 days. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Among the more drought-tolerant ferns thanks to its water-storing rhizomes. Water thoroughly, then let the surface dry before watering again. Keep the rhizomes out of standing water; overwatering is the main killer.

Soil and pot

Hare's Foot Fern grows best in light, airy, free-draining epiphytic mix. A bark, coir and perlite blend with some leaf mould drains fast and stays airy around the surface rhizomes. Shallow pots or baskets suit its creeping habit. Avoid heavy, water-retentive soil. 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

Hare's Foot Fern sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 13-24°C (55-75°F). More tolerant of ordinary room humidity than most ferns, given its Mediterranean-island origin. Moderate humidity keeps the fronds lush; very dry air may crisp the tips, helped by a pebble tray or occasional misting. If you keep the room above 13 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 hare's foot fern sparingly. Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid feed at half strength. It needs little fertiliser and dislikes salt build-up, so flush the pot occasionally. Pause feeding through autumn and 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 hare's foot fern in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Dried, shrivelled rhizomes — Furry rhizomes desiccate in very dry air or prolonged dryness. Mist the rhizomes and keep the mix lightly moist; raise humidity if tips brown.
• Yellowing fronds and rot — Overwatering or a sodden mix suffocates roots. Use an airy epiphytic blend and let the surface dry well between waterings.
• Crispy frond margins — Dry air or hard-water salts. Improve humidity, use softer water, and flush accumulated salts from the pot.
• Sparse, slow growth — Too little light or a depleted mix. Provide brighter indirect light and a light spring feed to spur new fronds.

Propagation

Divide a rhizome section carrying several fronds in spring and pin it onto fresh airy mix or a bark mount until it roots. It establishes well in baskets and kokedama. Spore propagation is possible but slow and less reliable. 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

Hare's Foot Fern is pet-safe. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs: Davallia appears on the ASPCA non-toxic list under names including Hare Fern, Rabbit's Foot Fern, Ball Fern and Squirrel Foot Fern. Eating large amounts of any plant can still cause mild, passing 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.

Hare's Foot Fern deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Hare's Foot Fern qualifies for 7 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 drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and forgiving of forgotten watering — the easiest safe choices for a busy pet household.
• 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

Hare's Foot Fern is also commonly called Canary Island rabbit's foot fern.

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