Repotting guide

When & how to repot Lemmaphyllum microphyllum (Lemmaphyllum microphyllum)

Also called Button Fern, Coin-leaf Fern.

More about lemmaphyllum microphyllum

About Lemmaphyllum microphyllum

Lemmaphyllum microphyllum · also called Button Fern, Coin-leaf Fern · houseplant

Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is a charming miniature epiphytic fern from East Asia, forming creeping chains of small, fleshy, coin-shaped sterile fronds and narrow fertile fronds along a slender rhizome. Often grown mounted or in terrariums, it carpets bark and rock in tidy green discs. Compact, drought-tolerant and warmth-loving, it is ideal for small displays.

Mature size: Sterile fronds about 1-3 cm across; the rhizome creeps to form mats 20-30 cm or more wide over time.

How to tell lemmaphyllum microphyllum needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For lemmaphyllum microphyllum, watch for these signs:

Roots poking out of the drainage holes or coiling visibly around the inside of the pot.
You are watering far more often than you used to because the rootball dries out within a day or two.
Water runs straight through and out the bottom without soaking in.
Top growth has slowed or new lemmaphyllum microphyllum leaves are noticeably smaller than older ones despite good light.

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 lemmaphyllum microphyllum

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast. Lemmaphyllum microphyllum's growth habit — creeping epiphyte with a thin branching rhizome bearing alternating small, round, fleshy sterile fronds and longer narrow fertile fronds; spreads into a flat, button-studded mat. — sets the pace. Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is a charming miniature epiphytic fern from East Asia, forming creeping chains of small, fleshy, coin-shaped sterile fronds and narrow fertile fronds along a slender rhizome. Often grown mounted or in terrariums, it carpets bark and rock in tidy green discs. Compact, drought-tolerant and warmth-loving, it is ideal for small displays.

What size pot to step lemmaphyllum microphyllum up to

Step up one pot size — about 2–3 cm (an inch) wider. Lemmaphyllum microphyllum grows fast, so it will fill that space within a season, but jumping several sizes at once still backfires: the unused soil stays soggy and rots even a vigorous root system. One size at a time, every year or so, is the rhythm.

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 lemmaphyllum microphyllum

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for lemmaphyllum microphyllum. 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 lemmaphyllum microphyllum

Time it for spring. Repot lemmaphyllum microphyllum in early spring as growth restarts so it re-roots quickly into the fresh soil.
Choose one size up. Pick a pot about 2–3 cm wider with drainage holes. One step only — a much bigger pot stays soggy and rots roots.
Ease the plant out. Water lightly the day before, then tip lemmaphyllum microphyllum out and gently loosen any roots circling the bottom of the rootball.
Repot at the same depth. Put a layer of fresh epiphytic — mount or very open mix in the new pot, set the plant so its soil line is unchanged, and backfill, firming lightly.
Water and pause feeding. Water once to settle the soil. Hold off fertiliser for about a month — fresh mix already has nutrients and feeding now burns new roots.

Aftercare

Water lemmaphyllum microphyllum once to settle the soil, then let the surface dry before watering again — fresh mix around the roots stays wetter than the old compacted ball, so the commonest post-repot mistake is overwatering. Keep it out of direct sun for a week or two while roots re-establish. Do not fertilise for about 4 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for lemmaphyllum microphyllum

Lemmaphyllum microphyllum wants epiphytic — mount or very open mix. Best mounted on bark or cork, or grown in a coarse orchid-bark and perlite blend with a little moss. Ordinary potting soil retains too much water and rots the creeping rhizome. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting lemmaphyllum microphyllum — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot lemmaphyllum microphyllum?

Every 12–18 months — sooner if roots show fast for lemmaphyllum microphyllum. Repot lemmaphyllum microphyllum roughly every 12–18 months, in early spring as growth restarts. It grows fast and circles its pot quickly, so step up one size (about 2–3 cm wider) into fresh epiphytic — mount or very open mix. Don't jump several sizes — that soggy excess soil is what rots vigorous roots.

What size pot does lemmaphyllum microphyllum need?

When is the best time of year to repot lemmaphyllum microphyllum?

Can you put lemmaphyllum microphyllum straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing lemmaphyllum microphyllum should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise lemmaphyllum microphyllum after repotting?

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