Blue star fern (Phlebodium decumanum)
Care, watering, light and tips for Blue star fern on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Polypodiaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Shade
- Temperature: 10–25 °C
About Blue star fern
Phlebodium decumanum, also known as the Golden Serpent Fern or Creeping Golden Polypody, is an epiphytic fern native to the tropical rainforests of the Americas. Its lobed, wavy, blue-green fronds emerge from fuzzy, creeping rhizomes, giving it a unique appearance. It's ideal for hanging baskets or as part of a terrarium, where its rhizomes can trail freely.
Native range
Tropical and subtropical Americas, from southern Florida and Mexico to Argentina
Care tips
It prefers bright indirect light, avoiding direct sun which can scorch its fronds. Keep the substrate consistently moist, but never waterlogged; water when the top layer of the substrate begins to dry out. Use a well-draining, organic-rich substrate, such as an orchid or fern mix. A common mistake is burying the rhizomes, which can lead to rot; they should remain on the surface.
How to save a dying Blue star fern
- Warning signs
- Wilting leaves, dry tips, yellowing or browning fronds, dry or soft rhizomes.
- First aid
- Increase humidity, water if substrate is dry, remove damaged fronds.
- What kills it
- Lack of humidity, direct sun, waterlogging or prolonged extreme dryness.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if its rhizomes are still alive, even if fronds are very damaged.