Microsorum pteropus - Fougère de Java

Microsorum pteropus, the Java fern, is an aquatic plant native to Southeast Asia, highly valued in aquarium keeping for its hardiness and ease of cultivation. It is often used to structure a natural decor in a freshwater aquarium or in the flooded zone of a tropical paludarium. Very adaptable, it is suitable for both beginners and experienced aquascaping enthusiasts.

This plant belongs to the Polypodiaceae family, and also bears several botanical synonyms: its accepted name in some recent classifications is Leptochilus pteropus, but it has also been known as Polypodium pteropus, Phymatodes pteropus and Microsorium pteropus (an erroneous spelling still encountered).
It is native to the humid tropical zones of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. There, it is found attached to rocky banks or tree roots along streams, sometimes submerged, sometimes emerged depending on the season. This plant develops a thick, creeping rootstock, dark in colour and covered in scales, from which rise evergreen fronds, leathery, measuring 15 to 30 cm. The shape of the leaves varies according to the cultivars: some are broad and undulate, others narrow and lanceolate, and some are finely divided (as in the 'Windelov' or 'Trident' varieties).

Unlike many aquatic plants, the Java fern should not be planted in the soil: its rootstock must remain out of the substrate, attached to a root or stone, otherwise it may rot. It draws most of its nutrients directly from the water through its leaves. It grows slowly, which limits maintenance and preserves the aesthetic balance of the aquarium. Non-toxic, it is compatible with all types of fish, including shrimp.
It prefers dappled to medium light, without direct radiation, and a temperature between 20 and 28°C. The water can be soft or moderately hard, with a pH between 6 and 8. Almost maintenance-free, it is a very accessible plant, even for beginners. Unlike classic indoor ferns, it requires constant immersion or an atmosphere saturated with humidity, which makes it suitable only for closed aquariums or paludariums.
It has the particularity of forming new young plants at the tip of certain fronds. Simply wait until they are rooted to detach them, and plant them elsewhere.

The Java fern is ideal for creating a natural decor in an aquarium, attached to a stump or rock in the centre or background. Its dense, dark foliage adds depth without taking up all the space. It can be combined with other aquatic plants such as Anubias barteri, hardy and ornamental; Bolbitis heudelotii, with lighter, divided foliage; Cryptocoryne wendtii, to dress the base of the decor. In a paludarium, it pairs well with creeping plants tolerant of constant humidity, like Ficus pumila 'Bellus' or Peperomia rotundifolia.