Rabbit's Foot Fern

Summary

In this gardening video, the host discusses the care and characteristics of the rabbit's foot fern, a moisture-loving plant with fuzzy rhizomes that spread across the soil surface. They cover the plant's preference for bright, indirect light, consistently moist soil, and high humidity. The video also offers tips on repotting, watering, and fertilizing, as well as troubleshooting common issues like browning fronds and roots. The host's enthusiasm for ferns is evident as they share their personal experiences and invite viewers to share their own.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Fern Friday is a series where different types of ferns are highlighted every week, with the Rabbit's Foot Fern being the focus of this session.
• 🔍 Rabbit's Foot Fern is a broad name for over 40 types of ferns with fuzzy rhizomes, often called 'footed' ferns.
• 🌱 These ferns have rhizomes that spread across moist surfaces, sending up new fronds and making them suitable for indoor and terrarium settings.
• 🌞 Rabbit's Foot Ferns prefer bright, indirect light and can be damaged by direct sunlight, which may cause foliage to scorch and brown.
• 💧 They require consistently moist soil but can forgive occasional missed waterings, unlike some other ferns that are less forgiving.
• 🌡 These ferns are tropical and thrive in hardiness zones 10 and 11, needing a moist and humid environment to grow well.
• 🛠️ If the ferns show signs of stress like yellowing or browning, it might indicate too much or too little water, and unhealthy foliage should be pruned.
• 🏡 Rabbit's Foot Ferns are visually appealing in hanging baskets and can be trained to grow on structures like wire balls covered with moss.
• 🌱 The ferns can be propagated by placing cuttings with rhizomes in water or on moist surfaces, where they will eventually root and produce new fronds.
• 🍂 When repotting, it's recommended to do so during dormancy to minimize stress on the plant, and fresh soil should be used every couple of years.
• 📈 Fertilizing should be done only during the active growing season, and care should be taken to use half to a quarter strength to avoid root burn.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is about the care and characteristics of the rabbit's foot fern, a type of moisture-loving plant.

What is the significance of the term 'fern Friday' mentioned in the script?

The term 'fern Friday' signifies a recurring segment where the speaker highlights a different type of fern every Friday for a few weeks.

What type of fern was discussed in the previous vlog mentioned in the script?

In the previous vlog, the maidenhair fern was discussed along with general care for plants that require a lot of moisture.

What are the common names for the type of fern discussed in the script?

The common names for the fern discussed are rabbit's foot fern and white rabbits foot fern, with scientific names like Hamada ty Romani and Diwali of the Genesis.

Why are these ferns called 'rabbit's foot ferns'?

They are called 'rabbit's foot ferns' because they have fuzzy spreading rhizomes that resemble rabbit's feet.

What are the care requirements for the rabbit's foot fern in terms of light?

The rabbit's foot fern prefers bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the foliage and cause browning along the rhizomes, so filtered morning sun is recommended.

How does the rabbit's foot fern handle soil moisture?

The rabbit's foot fern likes consistently moist soil but not soggy. It can forgive occasional missed waterings but looks best when kept consistently moist.

What are the signs of overwatering or underwatering in rabbit's foot ferns?

Overwatering can cause yellowing and limp foliage, while underwatering can lead to browning of the rhizomes and foliage, which may become crispy and lose their gloss.

How can the rabbit's foot fern be propagated?

The rabbit's foot fern can be propagated by cutting the rhizomes into sections and placing them in water or on top of moist soil or perlite until they root and produce new fronds.

What is the best time to fertilize rabbit's foot ferns according to the script?

The best time to fertilize rabbit's foot ferns is during their active growing season, which is typically from mid to late May through mid-September.

How should rabbit's foot ferns be repotted?

Rabbit's foot ferns should be repotted during their dormant period. The roots should be handled carefully to avoid breakage, and it's recommended to use a well-draining, sandy soil.

What are the ideal temperature ranges for rabbit's foot ferns?

The ideal temperature range for rabbit's foot ferns is between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate higher temperatures as long as they are not exposed to direct sunlight or excessive heat from pavement reflections.

Are rabbit's foot ferns toxic to pets?

According to the script, rabbit's foot ferns are generally considered non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to Rabbit's Foot Fern Care

The video script begins with a casual introduction to the concept of 'Fern Friday,' a recurring segment where the host discusses different fern species. This week's focus is the Rabbit's Foot Fern, a common and easy-to-care-for plant. The host explains that the term 'Rabbit's Foot Fern' refers to over 40 types of ferns with fuzzy rhizomes, resembling rabbit's feet. These ferns are native to tropical environments and thrive in high humidity and bright, indirect light. The host also highlights the plant's adaptability to various conditions and its unique growth pattern, which involves spreading rhizomes and producing new fronds. The summary also touches on the importance of proper watering and the consequences of over or under-watering, such as browning or yellowing of the foliage and rhizomes.

05:02

🌱 Advanced Care Tips for Rabbit's Foot Ferns

In the second paragraph, the host delves deeper into the care of Rabbit's Foot Ferns, discussing creative ways to display them, such as in hanging baskets or moss-covered wire balls. The host provides practical advice on maintaining the ferns, including daily watering and misting to ensure the plants remain moist and healthy. The script also covers repotting techniques, suggesting soaking mature plants in water to make the roots more pliable and offering tips for propagating the ferns. The importance of using well-draining soil and fertilizing only during the active growing season is emphasized. Additionally, the host mentions the ideal temperature range for the ferns and the challenges of extreme heat, advocating for indoor care during hot weather. The paragraph concludes with a reminder that the ferns are generally non-toxic to pets and an invitation for viewers to share their experiences and tips for fern care.

10:02

📸 Personal Reflections and Social Media Engagement

The final paragraph of the script shifts from practical advice to personal anecdotes and community engagement. The host reflects on a past dislike for the fern's rhizomes during their teenage years, attributing it to the texture's resemblance to an irritant. The script then transitions to a discussion about an ongoing project involving the creation of a 'fern ball,' which the host plans to share on Instagram. The host encourages viewers to follow them on social media and promises to reciprocate. The script concludes with a call to action for likes and subscriptions, expressing gratitude for viewer support and a hopeful note for everyone's well-being and growth.

Keywords

💡Fern Friday

Fern Friday is a concept introduced by the speaker as a recurring theme for their vlogs. It signifies a dedicated time each Friday to spotlight a different type of fern. In the script, Fern Friday is used to engage gardening enthusiasts and create a series around ferns, starting with the maidenhair fern and continuing with the rabbit's foot fern.

💡Rabbit's Foot Fern

The rabbit's foot fern is the main subject of the video, a type of fern characterized by its fuzzy rhizomes that resemble a rabbit's foot. It is a broad term encompassing over 40 different types of ferns. In the script, the speaker discusses the care and characteristics of this fern, highlighting its adaptability and ease of care compared to other moisture-loving plants.

💡Rhizomes

Rhizomes are horizontal, underground plant stems that send out roots and shoots from their nodes. In the context of the rabbit's foot fern, rhizomes are fuzzy and spread across the soil surface, from which new fronds emerge. The script mentions these rhizomes as a distinctive feature of the fern, contributing to its unique appearance and growth pattern.

💡Moisture-loving plants

Moisture-loving plants are those that thrive in environments with high levels of moisture. The script discusses the rabbit's foot fern as a plant that fits into this category, requiring consistently moist soil and a humid environment to grow well, which is a common trait among the types of ferns highlighted in the video.

💡Fern care

Fern care refers to the practices and requirements needed to maintain healthy ferns. The script provides insights into the care of rabbit's foot ferns, including the importance of consistent moisture, appropriate light conditions, and the avoidance of direct sunlight to prevent foliage scorching.

💡Terrarium

A terrarium is a sealed or partially sealed container that houses plants, often used for growing small, humidity-loving plants like ferns. The script mentions that rabbit's foot ferns are well-suited for terrariums due to their size and humidity requirements.

💡Humidity

Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. The script emphasizes the importance of high humidity for the rabbit's foot fern, as it is a tropical plant that thrives in moist and humid conditions. Maintaining the right level of humidity is crucial for the fern's health.

💡Repotting

Repotting is the process of transferring a plant from one container to another, often to provide more space or fresh soil. The script discusses the considerations and techniques for repotting rabbit's foot ferns, including soaking roots to make them more pliable and ensuring that the plant is not sitting in water to prevent root rot.

💡Fertilizing

Fertilizing involves providing essential nutrients to plants to promote growth and health. The script mentions that rabbit's foot ferns should be fertilized only during their active growing season and at a reduced strength to avoid burning their roots.

💡Dormancy

Dormancy is a period of inactivity or rest in the life cycle of a plant, often occurring during unfavorable conditions. The script suggests that repotting ferns during dormancy is preferable, as it is less stressful for the plant and can lead to better establishment once active growth resumes.

💡Non-toxic

Non-toxic refers to substances that are not poisonous or harmful when ingested. In the script, the speaker mentions that rabbit's foot ferns are generally considered non-toxic to pets like dogs and cats, indicating that they are safe to have around these animals.

Highlights

Introduction of Fern Friday, a weekly spotlight on different types of ferns.

Last week's focus was on the maidenhair fern, and this week's spotlight is on the rabbit's foot fern.

Rabbit's foot fern is a broad name with over 40 different types of ferns considered footed.

Footed ferns have fuzzy rhizomes that spread across the soil surface and send up new fronds.

White rabbits foot ferns are specifically named Hamada ty Romani and Diwali of the Genesis.

Fuzzy white rhizomes are a distinctive feature of rabbit's foot ferns, likened to rabbit's feet or tarantulas.

Rabbit's foot ferns are versatile and can be kept indoors or in terrariums due to their small fronds.

These ferns prefer bright, indirect light and can be damaged by direct sunlight.

Rabbit's foot ferns are tropical plants that thrive in moist and humid environments.

They require consistently moist soil but can forgive occasional missed waterings.

Signs of overwatering include yellowing and limp foliage, while browning rhizomes indicate too little water.

Pruning away unhealthy foliage is recommended to prevent disease.

Rabbit's foot ferns look great in hanging baskets and can be shaped into a moss ball for a unique display.

Repotting mature rabbit's foot ferns can be tricky due to their spreading roots.

Proper propagation involves placing cuttings in water or on moist perlite until they root.

Ferns should be repotted during dormancy and fertilized only during the active growing season.

Rabbit's foot ferns are non-toxic to dogs and cats, but should not be consumed by humans.

Engaging with the gardening community through Fern Friday to share tips and experiences.

The speaker's personal journey with rabbit's foot ferns, from disliking to appreciating them.

Transcripts

hey what's up gardening friends how's

everybody doing I hope you're good I am

great time for fern Friday like how I

say that like it's a thing this is only

the second one I've done so I had

mentioned in my last vlog that I'd like

to just do a little spotlight every

Friday for a few weeks on a different

type of fern last week was the

maidenhair fern if you haven't seen that

you can check that out that wasn't just

about the maidenhair fern in that video

I went over a lot of stuff about just

plants that really like a lot of

moisture in general a lot of which also

applies to this week's fern should have

jumped right in there with what we're

doing this week I'm so sorry rabbit's

foot fern that that's what I want to

talk about this week because I talked

about the maidenhair fern last weekend

and went over a lot of things that just

apply to moisture loving plants in

general I thought it'd be nice to go and

talk about some ferns that are really

common and also much much much easier to

care for at least this has been my

experience rabbit's foot fern is

actually kind of a broad name I think

that there are over 40 different types

of ferns that are considered footed

which means they have these sort of

fuzzy rhizomes that come out with the

leaflets with the ferns okay are you

gonna come out here where we can see you

I should have done that okay be careful

playing with your ferns they break

easily the point was the footed ferns

they have these fuzzy spreading rhizomes

they go across a soil surface really

more in an epithet it kind of way

actually would be up in a tree the very

moist and humid environment where they

send up their frogs from those rhizomes

these four that I have here in front me

are technically considered the white

rabbits which ferns a name on that is

Hamada ty Romani the other that's more

common i think is the diwali of the

genesis which is from fiji i think these

are from the canary islands now some

people may not really like that fuzzy

white rhizome that comes out there that

gives them that name of the rabbit's

foot fern i've heard people say that it

kind of reminds most like tarantulas and

things like that hopefully i didn't just

trigger you i'm sorry to me though

that's one of the characteristics that

makes these really really neat plants

these rhizomes they spread over just

about any surface any moist surface and

they send up the new fronds along the

way making their size not really

indefinite but they will just keep on

spreading they have a smaller fraud on

them when compared to a lot of other

ferns making them really nice for

keeping inside the house also really

nice for a terrarium because they're not

going to get

genta though I mean would still require

some training you'd have to do some

things to make sure it doesn't grow out

of control because like I said they

spread and spread and spread therefore

the rabbit's foot fern is kind of up

there was just like a normal Ferndale

Ike high humidity they like a bright

Latrun and the house but they don't need

the Sun beating down on them too much

Sun will actually scorch the foliage and

can cause browning along these rhizomes

filtered morning Sun is okay but just

keep an eye on it it can be a little bit

risky if that light's direct and it's

not dappled if the leaves aren't

cascading or something isn't like

providing some shade like a sheer

curtain in the house now doors these are

Hardy zones 10 and 11 they are a true

tropical a tropical that loves a moist

and humid environment personally I have

found the rabbits with ferns to be very

versatile even though it just like a

typical fern like I mentioned they like

consistently moist soil mean that the

soil needs to be moist pretty much all

of the time but not slopping what and

humid air condition for me if I have

missed a watering and they have ended up

being bone-dry they'll forgive you not

all the time it just shouldn't happen

very often but it's not like the

maidenhair fern where if you miss

watering consistently they're basically

just gonna die on you these can go a

little bit drier but they shouldn't but

are going to look their best if they're

kept consistently moist I actually have

one here that I missed a watering line

so I can show you let me see which guy

it is okay here we go

so what you can see here was this fern

is that what happened when I went a

little bit too long without being

watered the actual frond let me come

over here like that there we go since

this one went just a little bit talked

about being watered its new fronds that

were coming up and unfurling which is I

know it's really really hard to see

they're very dainty and hard to get on

camera but they ended up blacking out

and those are mouths they're going to

die they're not going to grow into

mature fronds

but the rhizome is still alive that

rabbit's foot still alive as long as

those are still white it's all good so

if you do notice that those fuzzy roots

are starting to brown out anja that can

mean that they need more humidity more

water more moisture with the other ferns

if the foliage is starting to yellow and

you notice that the soil is wet then

it's probably getting too much water

also even before that actually if the

foliage is starting to be a little bit

more limp

and kind of pale in color that can be a

sign that they're too wet and then too

dry of course you can also get the

yellowing foliage and then browning

browning of the fuzzy root like I had

mentioned and of the foliage they'll get

kind of a crispy texture to them once

they lose their gloss and they start to

yellow out go ahead and just prune them

out that once the chlorophylls around

its not coming back better to go ahead

and get unhealthy foliage out of the

plant that were just not attracting

anything any type of disease into the

area into your plants

I think rabbit's foot ferns look

fantastic in hanging baskets that's

actually that's why I have so many I

even have some more that aren't in frame

right now because I was hoping to get

one of those metal balls like like the

wire balls and put some moss around it

and do like an entire ball it's just

covered with these ferns because what

they'll do this rhizome it'll travel

along that moist soil there the moist

moss on the outside and eventually it'll

just be a ball covered in fern it will

be really pretty and easy to not going

to be a high fuss high maintenance type

of arrangement as far as battling issues

like low humidity and moisture I covered

all that in the maidenhair fern video if

you do happen to pick up one of these

ones one of these new wick guys like

they have over at lowe's then having

that in something where you would want

to work that down works that rope down

into the water a little bit that

actually can work to your advantage so I

know that's not the most attractive pie

I don't see a reason why you couldn't

when you repot this snag this off and go

ahead and reuse it yeah the drainage

dish with pebbles in it helps

wonderfully just make sure it's not

sitting in the water it's above it daily

missings once to twice a day if my

audio's want kids because my head's

turning always placed right on my water

bottle I like to go and give them a nice

spray make sure I'm covering the surface

of the soil as well as those rhizomes

not heavily heavily getting the water

into the crown of the point yeah

sometimes repotting these guys can be a

little bit tricky if you have one that's

fairly mature and these roots have grown

over the side they do have some

flexibility to them if you're concerned

about breaking those roots then I would

say go ahead and soak it in a big bowl

of water probably about 15 minutes or so

and see if that makes the roots a little

bit more pliable

if not you can cut these off if you cut

them in two I think like three to four

inch sections and then you can put them

in say like a plastic bag or something

that's just a little bit perlite on the

bottom and like a squirt of water then

those will rue

but or you can put them in a tray or a

cup or any anything really where you can

put something on the bottom with a

little bit of water and you just set

these right on top of there just like

you see on this guy right here they'll

put out new fronds and eventually it

will root out and then over time you can

go ahead and pot it up it can be risky

to take these roots to take these

cuttings and put them directly into soil

and that's because these are meant to be

above the soil surface if you were to

put that directly into some sort of

potting medium into that soil they will

probably rot you can see here none of

those big roots are in here the roots

that are below the soil surface are much

much much more fine big fuzzy roots they

belong out of the soil

these rabbit's foot fern stay actually

they don't terribly mind being somewhat

root bound a little bit but it's still a

good idea to go ahead and make sure that

they have fresh soil every couple of

years it's good to use a soil that's

pretty sandy it's something that's going

to drain very well typically I fertilize

rabbits so it's ferns only in the active

growing season which around here where I

live is about I'd say mid to late May

all the way up through probably mid

September just the warm season really

it's when you notice that the fern is

actively growing that's the act of

growing see so important to remember

when fertilizing ferns to use 1/2 to 1/4

strength full strength can burn their

roots

I like to repot ferns when they're in

more of a dormancy as opposed to when

they're in an active state of growth

because they just tend to be a little

bit less fussy and delicate if I have a

fern that's growing like crazy and doing

wonderfully and then go ahead and repot

it sometimes I'll notice a setback there

will be some fronds that die back it's

just kind of stresses it out whereas if

I do it when it's dormant only bump it

up just a little bit maybe an inch or so

on the outside diameter of the pie just

kind of sit there and don't really

notice it as much now when they wake up

and go into active growth they just kind

of fell back out and do wonderful if you

live someplace with really temperate

conditions and you don't have extreme

temperature fluctuations like here I

have my plants outside during the

summertime so it could be anywhere up

around a hundred degrees during the

daytime and then in the upper 60s at

night that's going to be a lot of stress

on these guys really temperatures

actually over eighty eight degrees or 90

degrees can be kind of stressful the

more life they're getting the more water

they need and the less Sun one of the

reasons they actually do fairly well

indoors 65 to 75 degrees somewhere in

there that's kind of their sweet

but they can take some heat tool I guess

as long as they're not being scorched by

the Sun or someplace that's like maybe a

lot of pavement in the area that's

reflecting a lot of heat on to them then

it can be okay it's usually a better

time to have them in a hanging basket

something Coco lines it'll keep them a

little bit more cool all right that's

gonna do it brief overview on the

rabbit's foot fern also these are

generally considered to be non-toxic to

dogs and cats I don't know about people

don't eat your plants okay that's gonna

do it these roots very hard to focus on

comment down below fern Friday I want

people talking about the plants kind of

viewed as an opportunity to really for

everybody to connect talk about their

different interests has it been an easy

fern for you sometimes growing ferns can

be a little bit subjective what might be

an easy plant for one person and more

forgiving for them could be something

that other people just fail miserably

with when they're following the

directions on how to care for the plant

to the team I'm always fascinated

hearing about that from people it's kind

of fun to be able to do the diagnostics

and see all the different variations

with how people care for their plants

where they keep them what their house

conditions are like all over the world

just tickles my inner plant nerd I'm

sure I've left some things out but like

I said comment down below get a

conversation going tips tricks do you

love it do you hate it like I said I

know some people don't like them some

people don't like those roots I think

they're pretty cool but there was a time

when I wasn't a fan of those roots I

don't know why but when I was a teenager

something about him just bugged me I

don't know what it was I think it's

because the texture of them looked like

something that would actually be an

irritant also probably not best to be

playing with them a lot

I'll keep everybody posted on doing that

project trying to do my little fern ball

thing I'll have those things up on

Instagram you can follow me there and

I'll follow you back as the rest of my

social media link down below in the

description of the video and don't

forget to like the video helps the ton I

really appreciate it and subscribe as

one hits a notification box I upload

multiple times a week I hope everybody's

doing well that life is great and

everything's just going beautifully for

you as always and most importantly

everybody and growing bye

[Music]

[Applause]