Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow Leaf'
The slimmer cultivar of the classic java fern — leaves stay below 1.5 cm wide, giving the plant a more delicate, grass-like silhouette compared to the regular form. Same care as the standard species: low light, no substrate needed, never bury the rhizome.
Narrow Leaf Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow Leaf') is a epiphyte aquatic plant for the midground to background of a planted tank. It reaches 15–35 cm under good conditions and grows at a slow rate. Light: low to medium. CO₂: optional. Target 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.8, and 1–15 dGH. Substrate: Not planted — tied to stone or wood.. Propagate via daughter plants on leaf tips, or rhizome division.
Care at a glance
The slimmer cultivar of the classic java fern — leaves stay below 1.5 cm wide, giving the plant a more delicate, grass-like silhouette compared to the regular form. Same care as the standard species: low light, no substrate needed, never bury the rhizome.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether narrow leaf java fern fits in your tank.
Polypodiaceae
Epiphyte
Midground to background
Not planted — tied to stone or wood.
Daughter plants on leaf tips, or rhizome division
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: optional. Light requirement: low to medium. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a slow rate.
Narrow Leaf Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow Leaf') needs low to medium light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: midground to background. Substrate: Not planted — tied to stone or wood. It typically reaches 15–35 cm.
Propagation method: Daughter plants on leaf tips, or rhizome division. Narrow Leaf Java Fern is a epiphyte plant.
Target 20–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.8, and 1–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.
Difficulty: 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
