Repotting guide

When & how to repot Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia griffithiana)

Also called Griffith's Davallia, Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern.

More about blue rabbit's foot fern

About Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern

Davallia griffithiana · also called Griffith's Davallia, Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern · houseplant

Davallia griffithiana is a rabbit's foot fern prized for the silvery, blue-grey furry rhizomes that creep over the pot rim and for finely divided, lacy fronds. The fuzzy surface rhizomes do the water absorbing, so it suits hanging baskets and shallow pots. Easy and forgiving, it likes bright indirect light, steady humidity, and a never-soggy mix.

Mature size: Fronds 20-40 cm long; rhizomes trail well beyond the pot over time, making a cascade 30-60 cm across in a basket.

How to tell blue rabbit's foot fern needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For blue rabbit's foot fern, watch for these signs:

Roots creeping out of the drainage holes or matting tightly across the soil surface.
The rootball dries out within a day or two no matter how much you water.
Water channels straight down the gap between rootball and pot without wetting the centre.
Steady decline — thin growth, persistent crispy edges — that good humidity and watering have not fixed. Only then is the disturbance of a repot worth the risk for blue rabbit's foot fern.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot blue rabbit's foot fern

Every 1–2 years, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern's growth habit — epiphytic to lithophytic fern with creeping, hairy surface rhizomes that trail over the pot, bearing finely divided, triangular fronds; naturally cascading. — sets the pace. Davallia griffithiana is a rabbit's foot fern prized for the silvery, blue-grey furry rhizomes that creep over the pot rim and for finely divided, lacy fronds. The fuzzy surface rhizomes do the water absorbing, so it suits hanging baskets and shallow pots. Easy and forgiving, it likes bright indirect light, steady humidity, and a never-soggy mix.

What size pot to step blue rabbit's foot fern up to

Go up only one size and handle the rootball as little as possible. Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern resents root disturbance, so the goal is to slide the intact rootball into slightly more soil — not to tease, wash or prune the roots. A modest step up means less shock and a faster recovery.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot blue rabbit's foot fern

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for blue rabbit's foot fern. The plant is moving into its strongest growth phase and re-roots into fresh soil quickly. Avoid repotting in winter dormancy or, for flowering plants, while it is in bud or bloom — recovery is slowest then and you risk dropping the flowers.

Step-by-step: repotting blue rabbit's foot fern

Keep disturbance to a minimum. Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern resents root disturbance, so the plan is to move the intact rootball — not to wash, tease or prune the roots.
Choose just one size up. Pick a pot only one size larger with drainage, and have moisture-retentive light, airy, well-draining epiphytic mix ready.
Slide the rootball out whole. Water the day before, then ease blue rabbit's foot fern out keeping the rootball intact. Gently free only the roots that are circling the very bottom.
Nestle it into fresh soil. Add a base layer of fresh mix, set the rootball in at the same depth, and backfill gently around the sides without packing hard.
Water and protect. Water in, then keep it warm, humid and out of direct sun for a few weeks while it re-roots. Expect a short sulk — that is normal.

Aftercare

Expect blue rabbit's foot fern to sulk for a couple of weeks — that is normal after any root disturbance for this group. Keep it warm, humid and out of direct sun, water just enough to keep the mix lightly moist, and do not panic and overwater while it re-roots. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for blue rabbit's foot fern

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern wants 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. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting blue rabbit's foot fern — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot blue rabbit's foot fern?

Every 1–2 years, disturbing the roots as little as possible for blue rabbit's foot fern. Repot blue rabbit's foot fern every 1–2 years, disturbing the roots as little as possible — it sulks for weeks if the rootball is teased apart. Slide it into one size up in spring with fresh light, airy, well-draining epiphytic mix, keep it warm and humid afterwards, and never bare-root or hard-prune the roots.

What size pot does blue rabbit's foot fern need?

When is the best time of year to repot blue rabbit's foot fern?

Why does blue rabbit's foot fern sulk after repotting?

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern resents root disturbance, so a wilt or stall for a week or two after repotting is normal, not a failure. Minimise it by keeping the rootball intact, stepping up just one size, and keeping the plant warm, humid and out of direct sun while it re-roots.

Should you fertilise blue rabbit's foot fern after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting blue rabbit's foot fern. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.