How to Grow Wart Ferns

The wart fern, which has a formal name of Microsorum scolopendrium, goes by a variety of other names including the musk fern and the rabbit foot fern. The name wart fern comes from the large spores that develop on the bottom of the fronds and press upward, creating wart-like projections on top of the fronds. The wart fern is a tropical plant that is typically grown indoors or in a greenhouse.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Potting soil
• Leaf mold
• Coarse sand
• Charcoal chips
• Fine grade fir bark
• 8- to 10-inch plant pot
• Liquid plant fertilizer

Instructions

1. Fill a bucket with a mixture of 2 parts potting soil, 2 parts of leaf mold, 1 part of coarse sand, 1 part of charcoal chips and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of fine grade fir bark. Mix the ingredients together well.

2. Fill an 8- to 10-inch plant pot half full of the soil mixture and place the wart fern roots into it. Fill in the remainder of the pot with soil until it is 1 inch from the top rim.

3. Water the soil well with warm water until it drips out of the bottom drainage hole. After the initial planting, water only frequently enough to keep the soil slightly damp.

4. Place the wart fern pot in a location near a window that faces either north or east. The light level should be low and no sunlight should fall on the fern fronds.

5. Apply a liquid plant fertilizer to the soil once per week. Dilute the mixture to half of what is recommended on the fertilizer packaging.

References

• Indoor Gardener: The Fern Life Cycle
• Plant Care: Wart Fern