Plant Bio

This beautiful fern, with its soft blue-green leaves, is an epiphyte. For those not fully up on their greek etymology, an epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant. In tropical forests in the Americas, phlebodium aureum will nestle in the branches of huge trees. It can grow to enormous sizes, sometimes with leaves as long as 130cm. It won’t reach a fraction of that size indoors, you’ll be relieved to hear.

Considering its natural habitat will give you a good idea of how to care for it. Living in trees means it’s not used to direct light and will tolerate some shade. Living in tropical forests means it really loves humidity. It will also appreciate a monthly feed with liquid fertiliser in spring and summer.

To keep it happy, try to mimic those forest conditions as much as possible. No need to get any parrots or tree frogs in or anything.

Did you know?

Phlebodium aureum has been used as a medicine to treat all sorts of conditions from asthma to psoriasis. (Nevertheless, do not eat it).

Regular watering

He likes his soil gently moist, but not soggy. Check weekly and give him a drink if the top inch of soil feels dry.

Medium light

In the wild he lives in the dappled light of a forest. So he’s happy in partial shade but loves bright, indirect light.

Humidity

He loves moist air. If you can put him in a bathroom, terrific. If not, mist him every couple of days.