Alright, let’s talk rabbit foot ferns! I finally got around to repotting mine, and lemme tell ya, it was a bit of an adventure. Here’s how it all went down:
First things first, I noticed my rabbit foot fern wasn’t looking too happy. The fronds were a little droopy, and the roots were starting to peek out of the drainage holes. Time for a bigger home! I grabbed a pot that was maybe an inch or two wider than the old one. Nothing crazy, ferns don’t usually need massive pots.
Next up, the soil. I didn’t want to use just any potting mix. These ferns like well-draining soil that’s also got some moisture retention. I mixed together some regular potting soil, a bit of perlite for drainage, and a handful of peat moss to hold onto moisture. Eyeballed it, honestly. It’s not rocket science.
Then came the fun part: getting the fern outta its old pot. I gave the pot a few gentle squeezes to loosen the soil, and then tipped it over. It slid out pretty easily, thankfully. The roots weren’t too root-bound, but they were definitely ready for more space. I gently teased the roots apart a little bit to encourage them to spread out in the new pot.
I put a layer of my soil mixture in the bottom of the new pot, then plopped the fern in. I made sure the top of the root ball was level with the top of the new pot. Then I just started filling in around the sides with more of the soil mixture. I gently tapped the pot a few times to settle the soil and get rid of any air pockets.
After that, I gave it a good watering. Not a flood, just enough to moisten the soil all the way through. I let it drain completely before putting it back in its usual spot. It seemed pretty happy with its new digs. The fronds perked up a bit almost immediately.
I also decided to mount a small piece of the rabbit foot fern to a piece of cork bark. It was a very small section that had broken off. I simply used some fishing line to gently secure the rhizomes to the bark and misted it thoroughly. I have been misting it once a day. Hopefully it takes, it will look amazing as it grows!
Lessons Learned:
- Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Repotting is messy, but it’s worth it.
- Good drainage is key for these guys. Don’t let them sit in soggy soil.
- Rabbit foot ferns are pretty forgiving. Don’t stress too much about getting everything perfect.
Overall, repotting my rabbit foot fern was a success! Hopefully, it’ll continue to thrive in its new pot. Happy growing!
