Plant care
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow'temperature & humidity
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow'
More about microsorum pteropus 'narrow'
Ideal temperature for microsorum pteropus 'narrow'
Temperature kills fewer microsorum pteropus 'narrow' plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at 20-28°C (68-82°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 20°C the damage starts — soft blackened patches, translucent leaves, sometimes overnight.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' is frost-tender (USDA Indoor aquarium plant (not frost hardy; keep above 18°C), RHS H1a). It cannot survive a frost, so in most of the US and UK it lives indoors year-round or summers outside and comes back in well before the first autumn frost — once nights drop toward 10-12°C is the cue, not the first frost warning. Acclimate it over a week when moving between indoors and out so the leaves do not shock.
Humidity for microsorum pteropus 'narrow'
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' sits happiest at around Submerged (100%) or 70-90% emersed relative humidity. Standard use is fully submerged. Emersed conversion in a paludarium demands very high humidity and consistent moisture on the rhizome to avoid crisping. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for microsorum pteropus 'narrow'?
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' grows best between 20-28°C (68-82°F). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can microsorum pteropus 'narrow' tolerate?
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' starts to suffer below roughly 20°C. It is frost-tender and will be damaged or killed by a frost, so bring it indoors once nights fall toward 10-12°C.
What humidity does microsorum pteropus 'narrow' need?
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' prefers about Submerged (100%) or 70-90% emersed relative humidity. Standard use is fully submerged. Emersed conversion in a paludarium demands very high humidity and consistent moisture on the rhizome to avoid crisping.
How do I raise humidity for microsorum pteropus 'narrow'?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can microsorum pteropus 'narrow' live outside?
Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' is rated for USDA zone Indoor aquarium plant (not frost hardy; keep above 18°C) and RHS hardiness H1a. Outside that range it must come indoors before the first frost — treat any outdoor stint as a summer holiday, not a permanent home.
More microsorum pteropus 'narrow' care
In the UK? Keeping microsorum pteropus 'narrow' warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full microsorum pteropus 'narrow' care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.