Rattlesnake Fern

Rattlesnake Fern Care

Botrypus Virginianus

What is the plant

Botrypus virginianum, synonym Botrychium virginianum, sometimes called rattlesnake fern is a species of perennial fern in the adders-tongue family. It is monotypic within the genus Botrypus, meaning that it is the only species within the genus. It is called the rattlesnake fern in some parts of North America, due to its habit of growing in places where rattlesnakes are also found.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Hardiness zone

4 - 9

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings.
Fertilizer
Fertilize monthly year-round with a half-strength liquid fertilizer. It's best to only repot when your plant is root-bound, and preferably in the spring. Repot in a rich, high quality soil, such as a potting soil amended with 25% compost.
Sunlight
Ferns require indirect sunlight.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
Ferns prefer potting soil with good drainage and high organic content. A potting mix should have peat moss or sphagnum for moisture retention, sand or gravel for drainage, and sterilized bagged garden loam or potting soil.
Temperature
On the coldest end of the scale, hardy ferns can survive temperatures down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Container
Use plastic pots, which don't dry out as quickly as clay pots. The latter are not recommended for many ferns indoors, unless you use the pot in pot method as described above. A clay pot surrounded by moss then the ceramic or plastic pot on the outside is probably ideal.