Jax

White Rabbit's Foot Fern

Davallia tyermannii, Bear’s foot fern, White rabbit’s foot fern

• Jax likes...
  • 
    Bright light

    Pop Jax in a bright room that gets plenty of light but where the sun isn’t beating down on him. Too much harsh light might make his leaves go yellow.

  • 
    Regular watering

    He likes his soil gently moist, but not soggy. Check weekly and give him a drink if the top inch of soil feels dry.

  • 
    Humidity

    Jax loves moist air so if you can keep him in your bathroom or kitchen, ideal. If not, mist him every couple of days or group him together with other plant pals.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Humata tyermannii

  Nickname

  Davallia tyermannii, Bear’s foot fern, Rabbit’s foot fern

  Plant type

  Fern, indoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  30-40cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Yes

  Nursery pot size

  12cm

• About Humata tyermannii

  This delicate fern has finely divided leaves and silvery, soft ‘hairy’ roots – called rhizomes – which creep over the soil surface and then out over the edges of the pot. This is quite normal and is the very thing that makes this fern so special, hence its cute common name, the bear, or white rabbit’s foot fern. This is because it’s an epiphyte, which, for those not fully up on their Greek etymology, is a plant that grows on another plant. In tropical forests, Humata tyermannii nestles in the branches of huge trees where it uses these roots to attach itself and to absorb water that trickles down tree trunks as well as from the air. This gives you a clue as to the kind of atmosphere this fern prefers, ideally somewhere nice and humid. If the air is too dry you may find its leaves go brown and crispy. 

  Your fern will benefit from a regular tidy up, removing any dead or damaged fronds, as well as from a regular feed with plant food from April through to October. This will help it put on loads more lovely leaves.