Actiniopteris australis - Eyelash Fern

These gorgeous ferns catch the eye with their delicate, fronded foliage. Each stem ends in a fan of slim, mid-green leaves which look fabulous in terrariums or as a pot plant in a humid space. These are a tricky fern, so make sure you can commit to watering them every couple of days, or keeping them in a terrarium which will do most of the work for you! If you ask us, it's well worth the effort for this gorgeous, distinctive foliage.

Scientific Name
Actiniopteris australis (beam-winged plant from the south)

Common Name
Ray Fern, Eyelash Fern, Palm-Frond Fern

Origin

This plant is native to Mauritius and Réunion

Light
Your Eyelash Fern can cope with shady spots, and will thrive with enough indirect sunlight for you to read by. Do not keep it in direct sun as this will burn the leaves.

Water
Keep this plant's soil continuously moist. A good candidate for a terrarium or self-watering pot for this reason. Can recover from slight underwatering, but if it isn't moist and humid enough you'll know about it!

Humidity
This fern loves high humidity. It needs higher humidity like that of a bathroom, in a terrarium, or with a humidity tray.

Soil
Use a mix with moisture-retentive features like coir and some sand to help fine fern roots grow well. A mix designed for ferns is perfect here. Repot every 3-4 years or when the roots have filled the pot. Keep it trimmed in a terrarium; you can divide it at the roots if it's getting too big for your vessel.

Food
Feed every four waters in the growing season, reduce to every six in autumn and winter.

Temperature
This tropical fern will love temperatures between 18-30°C.

Pet-safe
No, this plant is toxic to pets such as cats and dogs.

Sprouts Top Tips
Our biggest recommendation for this plant is to keep it in a terrarium! This will turn it from a high-maintenance, super thirsty plant to a low-maintenance setup. It is also slow-growing so should be well-suited to the contained life.