Water
Maintain consistently moist soil, but avoid waterlogging. Water thoroughly when the top 1-2 cm of soil feels dry. In drier conditions, misting the fronds can be beneficial.
Reduce watering slightly in cooler months to prevent root rot.
Also known as Tailed Maidenhair · Trailing Maidenhair · Walking Maidenhair
Adiantum caudatum, the trailing maidenhair fern, is an attractive, delicate fern with long, arching fronds that cascade gracefully, creating a unique hanging effect.
At-a-glance light, water, soil, and growing conditions from plant data
Bright, indirect light
50% intensity
Prefers shaded conditions, avoid direct sunlight.
Consistent moisture
75% intensity
Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy.
Rich, well-draining, humusy soil
50% intensity
Moderate temperatures
50% intensity
Prefers temperatures between 18-24°C; avoid cold drafts.
Outdoor, Indoor
50% intensity
Light feeding
25% intensity
Fertilize sparingly during the growing season.
Safety information from plant toxicity data
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Toxic for humans | No 0/5 intensity |
| Toxic for pets | No 0/5 intensity |
None
Key traits and growing stats from plant data
Watering, pruning, propagation, and repotting details from plant data
Maintain consistently moist soil, but avoid waterlogging. Water thoroughly when the top 1-2 cm of soil feels dry. In drier conditions, misting the fronds can be beneficial.
Reduce watering slightly in cooler months to prevent root rot.
Prune only to remove dead, damaged, or discolored fronds. Use sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears. Trimming back leggy growth can encourage a bushier habit.
Avoid heavy pruning, as this fern prefers to maintain its natural trailing form.
Propagation is best done by division or from spores. Mature plants can be carefully divided during repotting. Spores can be sown on moist, sterile medium, but this is a slow process.
Tip layering, where trailing stems root when touching moist soil, is also effective.
Repot every 2-3 years, or when the plant becomes root-bound. Use a well-draining potting mix, such as a peat-based mixture with added perlite.
Choose a pot that is only slightly larger than the current one to avoid overwatering issues. Repot in spring.
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Monthly activity intensity for bloom and fruit across both hemispheres.
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Flowering & fruiting calendar
Photos of Trailing Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum caudatum)
Common names and botanical synonyms
Botanical classification
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Polypodiopsida |
| Order | Polypodiales |
| Family | Pteridaceae |
| Genus | Adiantum |
| Species | Adiantum caudatum |
Similar in genus Adiantum
Answers based on plant encyclopedia data