Ant Fern
Taxonomy
Microsorum scolopendria 'Nidus Formicarum Niger Album'
Microsorum
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiales
How to care for Ant Fern
How often to water your Ant Fern
every 9
Ant 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.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Ant Fern in your home
a window
Ant 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 Ant Fern in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Ant Fern
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 Ant Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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He’s not improving I got him from Lowe’s clearance and he hasn’t improved and there’s been no new growth. I mist him very regularly and keep him on the more shady side of my window (northwest). He may get some light from my grow lights but it’s not direct. Idk what I’m doing wrong. Please give me suggestions #CrocodileFern
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Vacation care? I set up my blue oil fern, Beth in a self-watering setup last weekend - her pot rests in the opening of a small teapot with the space below as the water reservoir and then I popped a cotton wick into the bottom of the pot through a drainage hole. (I'll add a pic later, just heading to work and thinking about plants, lol.) This plant has taken up nearly all the water already so I'm wondering if she'll end up being overwatered? Would it work better with an olla? No leaf loss surprisingly so maybe it likes this setup? I'm keeping a close eye on this. Before the self-watering setup, Beth has been in a plastic pot with drainage and top dressing of damp moss. I try not to let the moss dry out which means misting it every two to three days but she's actually not too fussy about this as long as she gets watered weekly. Also, when I first got her, I put her in a terrarium and she hated it so she's been free to roam the plant shelf ever since. What else can I try to keep my little Beth happy while I'm away for two weeks? TIA, #greggang! #BlueOilFern #microsorumthailandicum #selfwateringplanter #olla #vacationplantcare #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantssavedmymentalhealth #ballondusoleil
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He looked like the profile photo last Saturday, when I bought him. Now this. Any suggestions? #PlantTherapy #CrocodileFern #PlantAddict #PlantTherapy
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I rescued this plant but it’s still sad. It was completely root bound and living in an elementary school classroom. What can I do to help it?
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I need help!! He loooks like he is unhappy!! And I’m not sure what to do, he was drying out in living room too much light! I moved to bathroom for humidity where my Swiss cheese plant is thriving!!! Idk if it’s just been the nasty weather and it not getting enough light the past few days #FernFriends #fern #fernbook #CrocodileFern #help #HelpMePlease
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Are these spores? 🤞✨️🌿 Thought I saw some specks on the oldest leaf but I've been so swamped I've just been doing the bare minimum to keep up with watering. Now that it's watering day again I remembered to look and I think she has spores! Can someone confirm? I've included a pic. This is my first time with this plant - do I need to do anything different with her care now? FYI she's also on my repot list so any special potting up tips also appreciated. TIA #greggang! #plantid #happyplants #BlueOilFern #fernfriends #microsorumthailandicum #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantcareisselfcare #mentalhealthmatters #queerplantparents #ballondusoleil
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My plant has been getting brown and crispy around the edges. I have a humidifier and grow light near the plant. #CrocodileFern
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Stopped by Lowe’s to snag a new pair of potting gloves and saw this little guy all by himself in the corner. He was only $5, so obviously he came home with me! I stuck him in the bathroom windowsill to quarantine and about an hour later my husband comes out and asks me why I’m trying to grow lettuce in the bathroom 😂 so meet Crocodilly, our newly adopted toilet lettuce #CrocodileFern
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I rescued this Crocodile Fern the other day. Does anyone have any tips on how to make it survive and thrive? #CrocodileFern
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Arlo lost some leaves during repotting, but he's growing some back, and the veining in them is so cool! #crocodilefern #fern #fernfriends #happyplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #newgrowth #planttherapy #theamigos #jesssjungle
Care Summary for Ant Fern
Ant 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.