Java Fern Vitro Culture

The plant most people start with, in its cleanest form. Leptochilus pteropus — Java Fern — needs no substrate, no CO₂ and no bright light. This is the Vitro Culture® format: grown in sterile lab conditions, so it arrives with no snails, no algae and no pesticide residue.

What You'll Receive

One 4-inch sealed Vitro Culture® bag yield 2-3 small clump plants! Healthy specimen, ready-to-plant Java Fern portions—ideal for attaching to rocks, driftwood, or decor.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Java Fern
• Scientific name — Leptochilus pteropus (syn. Microsorum pteropus)
• Origin — Southeast Asia
• Placement — Midground, attached to driftwood, stone or décor
• Mature height — 6-10 inches
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium; it does not need intense light
• CO₂ — Not required
• Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5
• Substrate — Not required. Epiphyte — attach the rhizome to hardscape and never bury it.
• Growth habit — Amphibious; grows emersed as well as submersed
• Propagation — Rhizome division, plus plantlets from mature leaves

Grower's Notes

• Rinse every trace of gel off before planting. Tissue culture plants arrive in sterile nutrient gel. Any left on the roots feeds a bacterial bloom — rinse under room-temperature water until the roots feel clean, then divide into portions.
• The format is the reason to buy it. Conventionally farmed Java Fern is cheap but arrives with snails, algae spores and sometimes pesticide residue. In a shrimp tank that matters more than the price difference.
• Two or three small clumps is not a mature plant. Expect a year or more before they reach 6-10 inches. Attach them close together if you want the look sooner.
• Never bury the rhizome. Roots may go into substrate; the green horizontal stem must stay in open water or it rots — the single most common way a Java Fern is killed.
• Black spots on old leaves are baby plants, not disease. Leave a spotted leaf in place until each plantlet has roots and two or three leaves, then detach and attach it elsewhere.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Java Fern Care Guide.

Notes

Images shown are for reference only. Actual leaf size and density may vary depending on aquarium lighting and conditions. Tissue-culture plants are grown in sterile laboratory environments and may appear smaller than mature aquarium plants; they adapt and fill out once established.

Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.