Hare's Foot Fern (Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern) care

Light

In the wild hare'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 brings out the blue-grey frond colour; an east window or filtered south/west exposure is ideal. Avoid harsh direct sun, which scorches fronds, but it needs more light than dark-loving ferns to stay compact and silvery. 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 mix is dry, roughly every 5-9 days for hare'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. Let the surface dry slightly between waterings; as an epiphyte it dislikes constantly soggy roots and the furry rhizomes rot if buried and wet. Water thoroughly then drain fully. Keep the rhizomes resting on the surface, not submerged.

Soil and pot

Hare's Foot Fern grows best in light, chunky, fast-draining epiphytic mix. An airy blend of orchid bark, coir, perlite and a little leaf mould mimics its tree-bark habitat. Drainage is critical. Plant shallowly so the creeping rhizomes sit on top; never bury them in dense, water-holding 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 50-70% humidity and 16-26°C (61-79°F). Likes moderate to high humidity but is more drought-tolerant than most ferns thanks to its water-storing rhizomes. Below 40% frond edges brown. A pebble tray or grouping keeps the blue fronds looking their best. 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 hare's foot fern sparingly. Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. As an epiphyte it is salt-sensitive, so dilute well and flush the medium occasionally. Reduce feeding to none over the low-light winter months. 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.

• Rotting rhizomes — Caused by burying the furry rhizomes or keeping the mix soggy. Plant shallow with the rhizomes on the surface and let the top dry between waterings.
• Browning frond edges — Low humidity or mineral build-up. Raise humidity and water with rain or filtered water; this fern dislikes salts.
• Loss of blue colour — Too little light greens out the silvery-blue fronds and stretches growth. Move to brighter indirect light.
• Scale and mealybugs — Hide on rhizomes and frond undersides. Inspect regularly and treat with horticultural soap or oil.

Propagation

Propagate by rhizome division: cut a section of the furry rhizome bearing at least one frond and several roots, then pin it onto the surface of fresh epiphytic mix until it anchors. Spore propagation is possible but slow; rhizome cuttings are far easier. 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 mildly toxic to pets. Phlebodium pseudoaureum is not individually listed on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database, and the genus Phlebodium is not covered, so it cannot be confirmed pet-safe. Note that the ASPCA-listed Rabbit's Foot Fern is Davallia, a different genus, so that listing does not apply here. Treat with caution and verify with a vet if a pet chews it. 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 2 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• 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 humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

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

• Snake plant care — light, water and common problems
• Dracaena care — light, water and common problems
• Peperomia care — light, water and common problems
• All 2464 plant care guides in the Growli library