Pruning guide
How to prune tongue fern
Best time
Any time of year as dead fronds appear
How often
As needed — rarely
Technique
Use clean scissors to remove individual dead fronds at their junction with the rhizome. Leave all healthy fronds and the rhizome itself untouched.
More tongue fern care
Pruning tongue fern — FAQ
When should I prune tongue fern?
Any time of year as dead fronds appear. Use clean scissors to remove individual dead fronds at their junction with the rhizome. Leave all healthy fronds and the rhizome itself untouched.
How often does tongue fern need pruning?
As needed — rarely. Tongue Fern (Pyrrosia lingua) requires minimal pruning. It is a slow-growing epiphytic fern that spreads via a creeping rhizome. Remove dead or shrivelled fronds by cutting cleanly at the base. Do not cut back the rhizome. No shaping or hard pruning is needed or beneficial.
How do you prune tongue fern?
Use clean scissors to remove individual dead fronds at their junction with the rhizome. Leave all healthy fronds and the rhizome itself untouched.