Repotting guide

When & how to repot Rabbit's foot fern (Davallia fejeensis)

Also called Rabbit's foot fern, Dainty rabbit's-foot fern, Fijian hare's foot fern, Lacy hare's foot, Lacy paw.

More about rabbit's foot fern

About Rabbit's foot fern

Davallia fejeensis · also called Rabbit's foot fern, Dainty rabbit's-foot fern · houseplant

The rabbit's foot fern is a delicate epiphytic fern from Fiji, prized for its lacy, finely divided fronds and the furry, rust-coloured rhizomes that creep over the pot rim like little paws. Its one defining need is steady humidity: dry indoor air quickly browns the frond tips, so consistent ambient moisture matters more than anything else.

Mature size: Fronds typically reach 45-60 cm (18-24 in) long; as a container plant it spreads to roughly 0.5-1 m wide over time, with the rhizomes trailing over the pot edge. Slow to medium grower, taking several years to reach full size.

Watch for — Rotting rhizomes: Caused by burying the fuzzy rhizomes or by leaving the pot in standing water. Always rest the rhizomes on the soil surface and tip away excess water from the saucer within 15 minutes.

How to tell rabbit's foot fern needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For 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 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 rabbit's foot fern

Every 1–2 years, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Rabbit's foot fern's growth habit — an evergreen, epiphytic fern with an arching, spreading habit. its signature feature is the creeping, surface-running rhizome densely covered in soft, rust-brown hairs that resembles a rabbit's foot, from which the finely divided, multi-pinnate fronds emerge. — sets the pace. The rabbit's foot fern is a delicate epiphytic fern from Fiji, prized for its lacy, finely divided fronds and the furry, rust-coloured rhizomes that creep over the pot rim like little paws. Its one defining need is steady humidity: dry indoor air quickly browns the frond tips, so consistent ambient moisture matters more than anything else.

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

Go up only one size and handle the rootball as little as possible. 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 rabbit's foot fern

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for 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 rabbit's foot fern

Keep disturbance to a minimum. 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, free-draining epiphytic fern mix ready.
Slide the rootball out whole. Water the day before, then ease 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 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 rabbit's foot fern

Rabbit's foot fern wants light, free-draining epiphytic fern mix. A loose, peat-substitute-based mix with plenty of bark, perlite and a little charcoal keeps roots aerated while holding moisture. The RHS suggests equal parts coarse leaf mould or peat substitute, moss, bark, sharp sand, charcoal and pine needles. Crucially, always sit the fuzzy rhizomes on top of the soil, never buried, 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 rabbit's foot fern — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot rabbit's foot fern?

Every 1–2 years, disturbing the roots as little as possible for rabbit's foot fern. Repot 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, free-draining epiphytic fern mix, keep it warm and humid afterwards, and never bare-root or hard-prune the roots.

What size pot does rabbit's foot fern need?

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

Why does rabbit's foot fern sulk after repotting?

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 rabbit's foot fern after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 4 weeks after repotting 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.