Plant Care Alligator Fern

Alligator Fern

4.5 out of 5 (12 experiences)

Alligator Fern has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Alligator Fern has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

Also known as

Crocodile Fern, Crocodile Fern and Crocodyllus Fern

Taxonomy

Microsorum musifolium 'Crocodyllus'
Microsorum
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiales

How to care for Alligator Fern

Water

How often to water your Alligator Fern

Water needs for Alligator Fern
0.5 cups
every 9

Alligator Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Alligator Fern

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Crocodile Fern in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Alligator Fern: 6ft from a window
6ft or less from
a window

Alligator Fern can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Alligator Fern in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Alligator Fern

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Alligator Fern: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Alligator Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Humidity
Soil
Fertilizer
Native Region
Propagation

Care Summary for Alligator Fern

Alligator Fern

Alligator Fern


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 6ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Alligator Fern has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 9
Alligator Fern has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 4
Alligator Fern has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 3
Alligator Fern has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 3
@RJG avatar
@@RJG
leaf-1 128 Plants
xp 173,100 XP
globe Austin, TX
12/02/2021

very cool looking fern!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Relle avatar
@@Relle
leaf-1 19 Plants
xp 540 XP
globe Watanobbi, New South Wales
10/11/2021

It is a pretty fern with limey green coloured and interesting patterned leaves. It does need some humidity though the ends of the leaves will go crispy without it. I have grouped my humidity loving plants together to form a micro climate which seems better for my crocodile fern.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@AshinByAlex avatar
@@AshinByAlex
leaf-1 66 Plants
xp 4,630 XP
globe Vallejo, CA
06/14/2021

Sun? Sure. Shade? Alright. Water me often? Ok cool. Wager me sometimes? Thats chill. This guy does not g a single f what u do with him.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@Madifivetwo avatar
@@Madifivetwo
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 77 XP
05/18/2021

It’s taken me a while to figure out a good watering schedule for this one. Leaves wilt and dry easily but are super resilient and come back just as easy!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor

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