Soil & potting mix
Best soil for 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.
Preferred mix: Epiphytic — mount or very open mix
Watch for — Rhizome rot: Constant wetness or a dense mix rots the slender rhizome. Use an open medium and let surfaces dry between waterings.
Why lemmaphyllum microphyllum needs this mix
Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons lemmaphyllum microphyllum struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates lemmaphyllum microphyllum's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for lemmaphyllum microphyllum.
pH — does it matter for lemmaphyllum microphyllum?
Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for lemmaphyllum microphyllum as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all lemmaphyllum microphyllum needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh lemmaphyllum microphyllum's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for lemmaphyllum microphyllum covers the timing and technique step by step.
Lemmaphyllum microphyllum soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for lemmaphyllum microphyllum?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for lemmaphyllum microphyllum?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates lemmaphyllum microphyllum's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for lemmaphyllum microphyllum as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does lemmaphyllum microphyllum need a special pH?
Lemmaphyllum microphyllum is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for lemmaphyllum microphyllum?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for lemmaphyllum microphyllum as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for lemmaphyllum microphyllum?
Refresh lemmaphyllum microphyllum's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all lemmaphyllum microphyllum needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Lemmaphyllum microphyllum care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water lemmaphyllum microphyllum — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting lemmaphyllum microphyllum — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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- All 5561 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library