Java Fern Red
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Plant information
Java Fern Red
About this plant
New leaves that come in tinged pink or rust before hardening to green. Leptochilus pteropus 'Red' is the closest Java Fern gets to color — not a red plant in the Ludwigia sense, but a warm blush on new growth that reads as depth against plain green foliage, and it needs no CO₂ to show it.
What you'll receive
Sold as loose bare-root plants, bunched plants, or potted plants:
- Bare-root Plants: Approximately 6+ leaf portion, loose rhizome
- Bunched Plants: Approximately 6+ leaf portion bundled with foam and plant weight
- Potted Plants: Approximately 6+ leaf portion, potted in rockwool and net pot
Photos are sample representations. Actual plants may vary in size, shape, or coloration. Unless otherwise specified, we do not guarantee plants are free of pests, pesticides, or exclusively submerged-grown.
Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
Plant details
- Common name
- Red Java Fern
- Scientific name
- Leptochilus pteropus 'Red' (syn. Microsorum pteropus)
- Origin
- Cultivated form; the species ranges across Java, Malaysia, Thailand, northeast India and southern China
- Placement
- Midground, attached to driftwood, stone or décor
- Mature height
- 6-10 inches
- Growth rate
- Slow
Care guide
- DifficultyBeginner
- LightLow to medium
- CO₂Not required
- Water68-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5, soft to moderately hard
- SubstrateEpiphyte attach the rhizome to hardscape and never bury it.
- Growth habitAmphibious; grows emersed as well as submersed
- PropagationRhizome division, plus plantlets from mature leaves
At a glance
Grower's notes
- Be realistic about the color. This is a blush on new growth, not a red plant. It shows for a few weeks per leaf and then greens up. If you want a tank that reads red, buy a red stem plant — buy this one for a warm accent that survives in a shaded, low-tech tank where reds cannot.
- Moderate light, not bright. Some light is needed for the tint to appear at all, but pushing intensity to chase it mostly grows algae on a plant too slow to shed it. Medium is the sweet spot.
- 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.
- Expect a change of leaf. We grow this emersed, so some arriving fronds will die back as it converts to submerged growth. As long as the rhizome stays firm and green, new leaves follow.
How it arrives
A sealed Vitro Culture® bag
Lab-grown plantlets in nutrient gel, free of snails, algae and pests.
- Keep it sealed at room temperature, out of direct sun, until you're ready to plant.
- Rinse off all the gel under lukewarm water. Left in the tank, it clouds the water and feeds algae.
- Split into small portions and plant with tweezers. Small portions spread faster than one big clump.
Normal: a little melt in the first weeks as underwater leaves replace the leaves grown in the lab.
Rooted plants in a net pot with rockwool
The most stable option, with roots already established.
- Rinse the plant under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or ease the plant out and gently tease away the rockwool. Either way works.
- For epiphytes like Anubias and Bucephalandra, keep the rhizome above the substrate or tie it to wood or rock.
Fresh-cut stems in a net pot with rockwool
Freshly cut stems without roots, held upright in a net pot for a quick setup.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or remove the stems and plant them one by one, an inch or two deep.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
Easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rinse the bunch under clean water.
- Place the bunch as is, or remove the foam and weight and plant each one separately.
- Give each plant room so light reaches the lower leaves.
Fresh-cut stems bundled with foam and a plant weight
Freshly cut stems without roots, ready to drop in.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Remove the foam and weight and plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, for the fullest look. You can also place the bunch as is.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Loose, rooted plants
No pot or foam, so you can place them exactly where you want.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant the roots into the substrate, or tie or glue the rhizome to wood or rock. Don't bury the rhizome.
- Trim any broken leaves; new growth follows once settled.
Loose, fresh-cut stems
Freshly cut stems without roots, for full flexibility.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, with a little space between them.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
A bulb, ready to sprout
Bulbs ship either dormant or already sprouted with leaves, depending on the option you choose.
- Rinse the bulb under clean water.
- Rest it on the substrate or press the base in slightly. Don't bury the top.
- A dormant bulb can take a few weeks to send up its first leaves.
A young sprouted tuber
Ready to pot up and grow into a full plant.
- Pot it in a wide container of heavy garden soil, crown just above the soil.
- Start shallow and lower it deeper as the leaves grow.
- Give it full sun once the leaves reach the surface.
Attached to hardscape
Already growing on rock or wood, so it's ready to place.
- Rinse the piece under clean water.
- Place it anywhere in your layout. No planting needed.
- Keep the rhizome out of the substrate.
Packed fresh to travel well
- Open the box as soon as it arrives.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant or place them the same day if you can.
Check your plants within 24 hours of delivery. That's your Live Arrival Guarantee window.
Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee
Live Arrival Guarantee
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.
Shipping Information
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.
FAQs
What is your return policy?
All sales are final, so we don’t accept returns or exchanges once your order ships.
The one exception: if your plants arrive dead or damaged, our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee covers a replacement, store credit or refund. Just email clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, within 24 hours of delivery.
Can you cancel my order?
We can only cancel your order if it hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the cancellation will be possible. Please reach out to us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
What is your shipping policy?
We ship your order as soon as possible. Most orders ship within 1–2 business days, except live animals and backordered items.
Shipping speed depends on the carrier; you can choose the shipping service at checkout.
View more at Shipping Information.
Can I change my shipping address?
We can only update your shipping address if the order hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the change will be possible. Please contact us with the updated address as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
How does “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” work?
Add 3 or more eligible plants from our Buy 2 Get 1 Free Collection to your cart to activate the automatic discount. Mix and match freely. For every 3 eligible plants, your lowest-priced eligible plants are free at checkout.
View the Buy 2 Get 1 Free Terms.
Would it be possible to hold my order?
Unfortunately, we’re unable to hold orders for live plants because of high demand and quick sell-outs. Please place your order when you’re ready for us to ship it promptly.
What is your Live Arrival Guarantee policy?
We offer a 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If your order arrives dead, email at least two clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging and a photo of the shipping label within 24 hours of delivery. After 24 hours, conditions are out of our control.
View more at 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee Policy.
Are your plants free from pests, algae, and pesticides?
Our plants are very clean, but we can’t guarantee they will be 100% free of hitchhikers (snails, algae, pests), because we can’t be responsible for your aquarium. We recommend rinsing all plants with clean water and quarantining them before use.
Plants in our Tissue Culture collection are 100% free of pests and algae and have never been in contact with any aquarium.
We don’t guarantee our plants are free of pesticides. We use homemade, organic pesticides in our greenhouse to control pests, and never pesticides containing copper, which is toxic to invertebrates such as snails, crabs, and shrimp.
We don’t guarantee your aquarium’s success and aren’t responsible for its inhabitants, including but not limited to fish, shrimp, snails, and turtles. Please quarantine all plants before use!
Are your plants grown emersed or submerged?
It depends on the species. Most of our plants are grown hydroponically in a controlled-environment greenhouse.
Common stem plants such as Ludwigia, Bacopa, and Myriophyllum, and rheophyte/epiphyte plants (Anubias, Bucephalandra, Microsorum, Bolbitis, etc.) are grown emersed, hydroponically, in a controlled high-humidity environment.
True aquatic plants that can’t grow emersed — such as Vallisneria, Elodea, Najas, Cabomba, Potamogeton gayi, and Ceratophyllum demersum — are always cultivated submerged, underwater.
Should I remove the foam, weight, or pot before planting?
It’s totally up to you — we usually keep them as they are!
What’s the difference between fresh-cut, bare-root, and potted plants?
All options offer the same high quality; they differ in how they are prepared and packaged:
- Fresh-cut Plants: loose, freshly cut plants without roots. Great flexibility if you prefer to plant them your own way.
- Fresh-cut Bunched: freshly cut plants without roots, bundled with foam and a plant weight, ready to place in your aquarium.
- Fresh-cut Potted: freshly cut plants without roots, potted in a net pot with rockwool for stability and a quick setup.
- Bare-root Plants: loose, rooted plants you can position exactly where you want.
- Rooted Bunched: rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight — easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rooted Potted: rooted plants potted in a net pot with rockwool — maximum stability and a low-maintenance setup.
Choose based on your planting preference and your aquarium setup.
Noxious weed info
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.
Why Aquarium Plants Factory?
How we grow, clean and pack your Red Java Fern.
Aquarium Plants Factory
Typical online shops
Customers praised the ferns as "beautiful" and healthy, with one noting "they look great.. just like picture." Plants arrive with good size and quality, though shipping method impacts condition. Standard shipping may cause melting, while faster delivery yields better results. Customers appreciated extra plants and successful propagation in no CO2 setups.
- Ordered 2 got 3 & they look great.. just like picture.. I will order again
- Good size and very healthy
- Red java fern is looking beautiful. Excellent quality ferns.
Good size and very healthy
I ordered ~130 dollars worth of plants, and being the poor person I am, chose to go with the standard shipping and not have to pay the extra 60 dollars.
Needless to say, the plants arrived in not the best condition. The one Monte Carlo I got was almost entirely brown, with only a few green leaves (I was able to save one small part of the plant in a room temp. glass container though, so hopefully that one makes it), and the salvinia was almost entirely yellow (although at least 95% of them made it through just fine). The dwarf aquarium lily showed up with some pink sprouts coming of the top, but those melted away about a week after putting them in the tank. A few weeks later, though, it's sending out more, so I'm guessing that means it is still alive.
The plants in the worst condition of all, however, were the Ludwigia. I ordered both "Super Red" and "White", but both showed up slimy and wilted. After I put them in the tanks, a couple reds survived just fine and I gave them their first trim and replant yesterday. None of the whites were able to survive, but that's probably my fault for getting the cheap shipping. I put some Lud. whites in each of my three tanks (pretty different conditions, for variety) and all of them just melted.
On a brighter note, all the other plants were just fine. I ordered 3 buces and 3 anubias nana petite, and all of those are doing gorgeously. The pink amazon sword came just fine, and after splitting it up into individual swords, each has been growing well and one of them even sent out pups. The dwarf water lettuce is being a floating plant and reproducing like mad, and the dwarf sagg. also took off. My dwarf hairgrass and crypt. petchii pink both melted a decent amount, but are doing fine and the crypts are even growing.
My favorite plant I got has to be the red java fern (hence the review being on this plant), and it is looking beautiful. I split it into two plants and they both look great for a no co2 setup where the wood floated up twice (got it all glued down for good now). I think I found a total melt of one leaf from both plants, so excellent quality ferns.
In conclusion, I found that you should buy the 2-day shipping, and I need more java ferns. Overall good quality plants, but that doesn't matter if they don't see the light of day for a week and a half. The rest of the tanks look good, and I'm gonna stock them this weekend. Thanks for reading!
Java ferns came in quickly although I preferred for an entire intact root because most of the time java fern only produce spores when they are cut stems like these and the stems themselves don't propagate they just die, only the leaves makes new plants wich takes a very very long time, but this isnt plant factory's fault every retail store does this, I still love the leaves that were given to me and hopefully I can see that redish color pop out in the new spores
Small and several rhizome, so not too bad.
Ordered 2 got 3 & they look great.. just like picture.. I will order again & highly recommend them.
