Complete Guide to Peacock fern Care and Growth

With their stunning iridescent fronds in shades of metallic blue and turquoise, Peacock Ferns are one of the most ornamental indoor plants you can grow. This ancient fern ally adds a striking pop of color and texture as an underplanting or terrarium specimen.

However, Peacock ferns require very specific conditions to maintain their vibrancy. This Peacock fern care guide will provide a complete guide to successfully caring for these exotic beauties, from proper lighting and humidity to troubleshooting common issues. Follow these tips to keep your peacock ferns looking healthy and radiant.

👀 Overview

The Peacock fern (Selaginella uncinata), also known as rainbow moss, is an exotic and rare houseplant known for its iridescent blue and metallic turquoise foliage. This ancient species of fern ally, part of the plant family Selaginellaceae, brings a touch of the tropics indoors.

With its delicate, fern-like leaves and creeping low-growing habit, peacock fern serves as a stunning ground cover or terrarium plant. Its shingling foliage spreads out horizontally, making it a good base for shrubs in the garden. The exotic look of peacock fern’s colorful fronds also makes it ideal for decorative containers and miniature garden displays.

With the proper care, the peacock fern’s foliage will remain dense and lush. Allowing the plant to dry out or decline results in fading color and yellowing fronds. Paying attention to its ideal growing conditions will keep this living work of art at its best!

💚 Peacock fern Care

Providing the right care is crucial for growing healthy, vibrant peacock ferns. Here are the key factors to focus on

📃 Types of Peacock fern

There are over 600 species and cultivars of peacock ferns to choose from. Popular options include:

• S. uncinata – The classic peacock fern with feathery blue-green fronds and hooked tips. Grows up to 6 inches tall.
• S. kraussiana – Also called the ‘peacock spikemoss’. Has ruffled green fronds flushed with pink and bronze hues. Reaches 4 inches maximum.
• S. martensii – Known for its very dense, fuzzy fronds in a bright blue-green color. Stays short at around 4 inches as well.
• S. wildenowii – Tightly packed green fronds that spread rapidly. Has a creeping habit and max height of 3 inches.
• S. oregonensis – Native to the Pacific Northwest. Lime green fronds on reddish stems. Grows up to 5 inches tall.
• S. lepidophylla – The rose moss or rock foil fern. Silvery green fronds with pink overtones when young. Max height is 4 inches.

Care for each type according to its specific size, growth rate, and features. Some are more cold hardy or heat tolerant than others. Select the variety that best suits your indoor or outdoor growing conditions.

🪴 Potting and Repotting Peacock fern

Choosing the right pot and repotting at the proper time helps maintain a healthy peacock fern.

• Select a pot with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil
• Shallow pots work well to showcase spreading habits
• Repot rootbound plants in early spring
• Go up just 1 pot size at a time to avoid shock
• Divide congested clumps every 2-3 years in spring
• Carefully loosen and spread out the delicate root ball
• Handle roots gently to avoid damage during repotting
• Repot into fresh potting mix
• Water well after repotting and keep out of direct sun

Providing room for growth through repotting and division ensures the plant stays vigorous. But take care not to disturb the shallow roots excessively. Proper potting and repotting keeps peacock ferns healthy.

✂️ Pruning Peacock fern

Regular pruning encourages a compact, lush peacock fern. Follow these tips:

• Use clean, sharp scissors or shears
• Remove dead or damaged fronds at the base
• Prune away any discolored or spotted foliage
• Cut back spent fronds in early spring to promote new growth
• Never prune into green healthy tissue
• Prune just above a branching point on the rhizome
• Keep removal selective – don’t shear the whole plant
• Remove fallen debris and prune strategically before repotting
• Pruning encourages the plant to branch and become fuller
• Do not prune excessively – only remove unhealthy tissue

Monitor the plant and prune whenever needed through the seasons. This keeps growth tidy and healthy while improving the peacock fern’s appearance.

🌱 How to Propagate Peacock fern

Peacock ferns can be propagated by division or stem cuttings:

Division

• Divide congested clumps in early spring
• Gently tease apart the root ball with your hands or tools
• Ensure each division has some roots and growth buds
• Replant divisions in small pots
• Water well and keep in a warm spot
• High humidity encourages establishment
• Divisions regrow quickly into new plants

Cuttings

• Take 3-4 inch stem cuttings in spring or summer
• Cut just below a node or branching point
• Remove lower leaves
• Dip cut end in rooting hormone (optional)
• Stick into sterile seed starting mix
• Enclose in a plastic bag or propagator
• Keep warm and out of direct sun
• Keep soil moist but not wet
• Should root within 4-6 weeks

Dividing or taking cuttings from a healthy parent plant easily propagates more peacock ferns.

🐛 Common Pests

Peacock ferns can be affected by the following common greenhouse and indoor plant pests:

• Mealybugs – Cottony insects that leave sticky residue on foliage. Remove with alcohol swabs or blast off with water.
• Spider mites – Tiny pests that create webbing and stippling damage. Knock off with jets of water or treat with insecticidal soap.
• Thrips – Minute insects that rasp fronds and leaves silver marks. Use sticky traps and predatory mites to control.
• Aphids – Soft-bodied sucking insects that distort growth. Removed manually or with horticultural oils.
• Scale – Small immobile insects that attach to leaves and stems. Scrape off manually and use neem oil.
• Fungus gnats – Harmless flies that indicate overly damp soil. Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Prevention is key – provide good air circulation and optimal growing conditions. Inspect plants routinely for early signs of pests. Remove severely infested fronds or treat plants with organic sprays as needed. Keeping peacock ferns vigorous helps them resist and recover from pest issues.

🩺 Common Problems With Peacock fern

Here are some frequent issues seen in peacock ferns and how to remedy them:

• Leaf tip browning – Caused by low humidity, underwatering, or exposure to cold drafts. Improve air humidity and moisture consistency.
• Yellowing fronds – Results from overwatering or saturated soil. Allow soil to dry out between waterings.
• Leaf spot – Fungal disease that creates brown spots with yellow halos. Increase air circulation and reduce watering frequency.
• Root rot – Caused by overly wet soil. Repot in fresh mix and water only when partially dry.
• Decline – General lack of vigor from improper growing conditions. Assess light, water, humidity and improve care.
• Leggy growth – Insufficient light leads to weak, stretched out fronds. Provide brighter light exposure.
• Loss of color – Fading or lack of vibrant foliage results from too much sun, dry air, or nutrition deficiencies.
• Pests – Weakened plants are more susceptible. Check for signs and improve care.

Getting conditions right prevents most issues. At the first sign of problems, assess care and make suitable adjustments to get peacock ferns thriving again.

🖼️ Display Ideas

The exotic beauty of peacock ferns makes them a stunning addition to indoor and outdoor spaces. Consider these creative display ideas:

• Show off as a focal point in a stand-alone container or hanging basket
• Create a lush miniature landscape in a shallow dish garden
• Use as a border or edging in an outdoor bed or planter
• Plant in an open hypertufa trough
• Incorporate into mixed plantings with ferns, ivies, mosses
• Display in a glass terrarium to showcase the vibrant fronds
• Let spill over the edges of a mounted wall planter
• Place in indirect light near a brightly lit desk or reading nook
• Use as groundcover beneath taller plants in a fairy garden
• Plant among ornamental grasses and shrubs in shady garden beds
• Include in artistic kokedama hangings or living wreaths

With proper care, peacock ferns can be creatively shown off in any shady, humid location. Their colorful foliage makes a stunning addition to displays.

👍 Pro Tips for Healthy Growth

• Acclimate new plants gradually to indoor conditions to avoid shock
• Use distilled or filtered water if your tap water is hard or alkaline
• Trim plants regularly to maintain a compact shape and encourage new growth
• Grow in sphagnum moss or peat to provide constant moisture and acidity
• Use a humidity dome or tray of pebbles to increase moisture around plants
• Avoid repotting too often as peacock ferns dislike root disturbances
• Group plants together to raise local humidity through transpiration
• Propagate by division or cuttings from the healthiest parent plants
• Shelter outdoor plants on extremely hot days to avoid scorching
• Apply organic fungicides like neem oil preventively during wet seasons
• Wipe leaves often with a damp cloth to remove dust buildup
• Turn plants periodically so all sides get even light exposure
• Mist frequently but avoid wetting the crown and new growth buds
• Ensure excellent drainage when potting to prevent root rot issues

Following these tips will keep peacock ferns looking their best year-round! Let us know if you have any other questions.

📝 Final Thoughts

With their brightly colored, tropical-looking foliage, peacock ferns are an eye-catching addition indoors or out. However, caring for these exotic beauties takes dedication and careful attention to their specific needs.

By providing the right amounts of bright, indirect light, consistent moisture, high humidity, and warm temperatures, peacock ferns will thrive and showcase their vibrant iridescent fronds. Their shallow roots and susceptibility to drying out mean conditions must be carefully controlled.

With a little effort though, anyone can succeed in growing peacock ferns. Their lush, spreading foliage and brilliant colors make them a living work of art. Place them in naturalistic terrariums or woodland gardens to fully appreciate their delicate beauty.

We hope this guide provided you with the keys to unlocking success in cultivating peacock ferns. Let their magical, tropical essence brighten up your indoor or outdoor living spaces!

📚 Further Reading

📗 Learn more about Peacock Fern

📚 References

📘 Peacock Fern PDF – Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
📘 Peacock Fern – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
📘 Flora Fauna Web – National Parks Board, Singapore.
📘 Peacock Clubmoss – Plant of the Week – University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Written by

Anastasia Remeslo

Hello there! I'm Anastasia, one half of the green-thumbed duo behind Houseplant101.com. Alongside my sister Marina, I've turned a lifelong fascination with indoor plants into a resource for fellow plant enthusiasts. From the jungles of Java to the forests of Australia, we bring the world of houseplants to your living room, one blog post at a time. Join us as we explore the verdant world of indoor gardening, sharing our plant care tips, propagation guides, and personal experiences. Here's to helping your indoor garden thrive!