Toothed Davallia (Toothed Hare's Foot Fern) care

Light

In the wild toothed davallia 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. Requires bright, indirect light to produce dense, full fronds. Performs well near a bright window with filtered light. Direct midday sun bleaches and burns the leathery fronds; deep shade causes sparse, pale growth. An east- or west-facing window, or a bright spot behind a sheer curtain, is ideal. 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 every 4–6 days in summer, every 8–12 days in winter for toothed davallia, 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 when the surface of the growing medium is dry to the touch but the deeper portion remains slightly damp. Davallia denticulata is larger and more vigorous than some Davallia relatives, so dries out faster in warm conditions. As an epiphyte, it resents consistently wet roots — thorough watering followed by complete drainage is essential.

Soil and pot

Toothed Davallia grows best in coarse epiphytic bark and perlite mix, or pure sphagnum. Use coarse orchid bark with perlite (1:1), or sphagnum moss for basket or mount cultivation. Standard potting mixes are too dense and cause rhizome rot. In tropical garden settings, it grows naturally on rock faces, tree trunks, and in sandy, well-drained forest soils with heavy organic debris. 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

Toothed Davallia sits happiest at around 55–80% humidity and 18–30 °C (64–86 °F). As a true tropical species, Davallia denticulata prefers higher humidity than its temperate Davallia relatives. Levels below 50% lead to frond tip desiccation. Use a humidifier, pebble tray, or frequent misting of the surrounding air (not directly on rhizomes) in dryer indoor environments. If you keep the room above 18–30 °C 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 toothed davallia sparingly. 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. 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 toothed davallia in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Frond dieback in low humidity — In dry indoor conditions, frond tips desiccate and turn brown, eventually spreading to whole fronds. As a tropical species, this plant requires sustained humidity above 55%. Run a humidifier nearby, especially in winter, and keep away from all sources of dry, warm air.
• Root and rhizome rot — Soggy growing medium caused by inadequate drainage or overwatering leads to soft, malodorous, blackened rhizomes. Ensure coarse, fast-draining growing medium, never allow the plant to sit in water, and water only when the surface is clearly dry. Cut out rotted sections and repot into fresh bark mix.
• 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.

Propagation

Propagate by cutting healthy rhizome sections 6–10 cm long with at least one visible growth tip. Anchor sections onto the surface of moist sphagnum moss or coarse bark mix and maintain warmth above 22 °C. New fronds emerge within 6–10 weeks. Large clumps can also be divided in spring, with each section retaining several healthy fronds and roots. 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

Toothed Davallia is pet-safe. Davallia denticulata belongs to the family Davalliaceae. Davallia ferns are not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA. No toxic compounds have been identified in this genus. The large, woolly rhizomes are non-toxic even if chewed by curious pets. 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.

Toothed Davallia deep-dive guides

Every aspect of toothed davallia care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Toothed Davallia watering schedule
• Toothed Davallia light requirements
• Best soil mix for toothed davallia
• Toothed Davallia fertilizing guide
• When to repot toothed davallia
• How to propagate toothed davallia
• Toothed Davallia growth rate & size
• Toothed Davallia cold hardiness
• Toothed Davallia temperature & humidity
• Is toothed davallia toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is toothed davallia toxic to cats?
• Is toothed davallia toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Toothed Davallia qualifies for 9 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 fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• 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

Toothed Davallia is also known as Toothed Davallia, Toothed Hare's Foot Fern, and Rabbit's Foot Fern.

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