Repotting guide

When & how to repot Toothed Davallia (Davallia denticulata)

Also called Toothed Davallia, Toothed Hare's Foot Fern, Rabbit's Foot Fern.

More about toothed davallia

About Toothed Davallia

Davallia denticulata · also called Toothed Davallia, Toothed Hare's Foot Fern · tropical

Davallia denticulata is a vigorous, tropical epiphytic fern widespread across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and northern Australia. Its coarsely toothed, leathery, tripinnate fronds are supported by thick, pale, woolly rhizomes that scramble outward dramatically. It suits warm, humid indoor spaces, tropical garden beds, or large hanging baskets in conservatories.

Mature size: 60–90 cm tall, 60–100 cm spread including rhizomes

Watch for — 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.

How to tell toothed davallia needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For toothed davallia, 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 toothed davallia.

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 toothed davallia

Every 1–2 years, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Toothed Davallia's growth habit — vigorous, epiphytic fern with stout, pale, woolly creeping rhizomes; large, leathery, tripinnate fronds arch outward from the rhizomes, making it excellent for large hanging baskets or open, tropical garden borders — sets the pace. Davallia denticulata is a vigorous, tropical epiphytic fern widespread across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and northern Australia. Its coarsely toothed, leathery, tripinnate fronds are supported by thick, pale, woolly rhizomes that scramble outward dramatically. It suits warm, humid indoor spaces, tropical garden beds, or large hanging baskets in conservatories.

What size pot to step toothed davallia up to

Go up only one size and handle the rootball as little as possible. Toothed Davallia 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 toothed davallia

Early spring, just as new growth restarts, is the ideal window for toothed davallia. 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 toothed davallia

Keep disturbance to a minimum. Toothed Davallia 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 coarse epiphytic bark and perlite mix, or pure sphagnum ready.
Slide the rootball out whole. Water the day before, then ease toothed davallia 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 toothed davallia 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 toothed davallia

Toothed Davallia wants 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. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting toothed davallia — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot toothed davallia?

Every 1–2 years, disturbing the roots as little as possible for toothed davallia. Repot toothed davallia 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 coarse epiphytic bark and perlite mix, or pure sphagnum, keep it warm and humid afterwards, and never bare-root or hard-prune the roots.

What size pot does toothed davallia need?

When is the best time of year to repot toothed davallia?

Why does toothed davallia sulk after repotting?

Toothed Davallia 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 toothed davallia after repotting?

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