Question
Hi My name is Donna and I recently acquired a rabbits foot fern and was wondering if you could give me some tips on how to care for it.  The pot is 6" in diameter and about 5 1/2 " high (plastic pot) so the plant stands about 10". Should I re pot it? Is it better to have it as a hanging plant? Also I live in the panhandle of Florida,so our summers are very hot,   should I keep it as a in door plant?  As for watering and fertilizing. Do I let it dry out and then water it water it from the top? bottom? and fertilize monthly with ??? miracle grow?  As you see I am a little lost I have been trying to look up information on line and by doing so have confused myself. I read in a couple of places something about keeping it on a tray of pebbles with water but not as so the plant/pot are sitting in the water also that misting the plant is good using distilled water. Yes-no. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Donna hi;

Thanks for challenging me with your question.  I love helping plant enthusiasts achieve the greatest enjoyment and success from their houseplants.

I'll try to address your concerns one by one:

Rabbit's foot ferns are tropical plants.  They prefer a moist and shaded environment, protected from dry wind and from frost. I have one at my home and it is kept on the porch, inside the screen enclosure and under the overhang.  It should not be exposed to direct sunlight and even the pool screen in itself does not provide adequate shade.  Since they love humidity, they will enjoy the companionship of other tropical plants, creating a nice, comfortable micro-environment.

If you prefer to keep it indoors, you should find a spot that receives plenty of natural light but not such that is directly shining on the plant.

Due to the time of year, I would definitely recommend transplanting your fern to a larger container, preferably an 8" or 10" hanging basket, or even one of those nice large moss hangers.  Use quality potting soil that has NO premixed fertilizer in it.  First, you fill the new pot with soil and water it.  Then you remove the plant from the old pot (do not tug by the leaves; it is better to press on the sides of the pot and tip it over).  Dig a hole in the center of the new pot and lay the plant in, carefully lifting the rhizomes (furry feet) so they are not broken or buried.  Water it in nicely and make sure there are no air gaps between the plant and the new soil.  Remember: the larger the new container, the less often you would need to care for and water your plant.

If you choose not to re-pot your plant, I suspect that you would need to water it several times a day, which would be impractical.  In the new pot, however, you would probably not need to water for the first few weeks, until roots are established into the new container.  Eventually, you will start checking for water once or twice a week.  Alternatively (and again, this is how I do it at my own home), if you have several plants grouped together, you can get a nice cheap automatic irrigator and some micro-sprinklers.  I know it sounds like a lot of work but it takes about 30 minutes and you will never forget to water again...

I would never let them dry out.  Watering from the top is not a problem, as they enjoy the moisture on the leaves.  These plants will not require a lot of fertilizer so 3-4 times a year (with any brand controlled release) should suffice.  Usually, the label will tell you how much to add and I would recommend the low end of the suggested rates.

Misting is impractical.  As far as I know, the distilled water is only because misting with tap water may eventually leave some white scaling on the plant.  The best way to prevent all that is finding an environment in which the plant is happy and does not need all that extra care (again, outside, in the shade, with plenty of plants around it).  If they are indoors, they may indeed suffer from the dry A/C and could eventually decline.  If your plant starts to show burnt tips then it may be overexposed and will need a better protected setting.

If the plant is in a basket, outside, and the irrigation water can flow freely from the bottom, then there is no need for pebbles.  Alternatively, if you chose to keep your plant inside and you would rather keep your furniture dry then, yes, it is best to place in a second container on top of some pebbles so that the overflow can be collected and drained without rotting the roots.

This may seem irrelevant now but in winter, it would be best to protect from frost by bringing the plant inside when the temperatures drop.

I hope I covered everything and that my advice help you achieve the best possible enjoyment from your plant.  Please do not hesitate to follow up if you require further clarification.

DC