Pteris ensiformis

Slender Brake Fern, Silver Lace Fern, Sword Brake Fern, Silver Table Fern, Variegated Brake Fern

Easy careTerrestrialNon-toxic30–70 cm

A delicate fern from tropical Asia and the Pacific, producing arching fronds made up of narrow, sword-shaped pinnae on pale upright stems. In the wild it grows on shaded forest floors and rocky hillsides — conditions that a closed terrarium replicates closely. Indoors it stays compact, typically 30–45 cm tall, making it a well-sized choice for medium terrariums. Consistent moisture and high humidity are what it needs most; let either slip and the papery frond tips will turn brown quickly.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Silver Lace Fern image

Care

Light

Indirect light(preferred)Shade tolerantBright indirect

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Medium (40–60%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
13°C – 28°C

Soil

Peat moss(preferred)Moisture retentiveSphagnum mix

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5.6 – 6.5

Appearance

Growth habit

UprightClumping

Leaf shape

CompoundLance

Leaf texture

FeatherySmooth

Distribution

Propagation

Lift the plant from its substrate and tease apart the rhizome into sections, each with at least one stem and a frond. Pot each section into fresh, moist substrate and maintain high humidity while it establishes — new growth should appear within a few weeks.

References

  1. 1

    Kew Plants of the World Online — Pteris ensiformis

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17212520-1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4

    bantam.earth — Silver Lace Fern Care Guide

    https://bantam.earth/silver-lace-fern-pteris-ensiformis/
  5. 5

    Gardeningbrain — Silver Lace Fern

    https://gardeningbrain.com/silver-lace-fern/
  6. 6
  7. 7

    NZ Plant Conservation Network — Pteris ensiformis

    https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/pteris-ensiformis/