Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' on wood

Microsorum pteropus Narrow is the slender-leaved form of Java fern, producing long, tapering dark green leaves with a more delicate and graceful appearance than the standard broad variety. Pre-attached to a natural piece of wood, it creates a ready-made aquascape feature that works particularly well alongside other fine-leaved plants where the lighter leaf form integrates more naturally than the broader standard Java fern.

Care is identical to all Java fern varieties — low to medium light, no CO2, tolerant of a wide range of water conditions and temperatures. Growth is slow to moderate but the plant is very long-lived and requires minimal ongoing maintenance. It is generally avoided by herbivorous fish, making it practical in a wide range of community and cichlid set-ups.

The plant is pre-grown onto the wood so no further attachment is needed — simply rinse and place in the aquarium. Never bury the rhizome in substrate. Adventitious plantlets grow from the leaf surfaces and can be removed and attached to new wood once they develop their own roots.