🌿 Hemionitis arifolia Care Sheet 🌿
Common Name: Heart Fern
Family: Pteridaceae
Origin: Southeast Asia (India to Indonesia)
Growth Type: Small, compact terrestrial fern with distinctive heart-shaped leaves
 
🔆 LIGHT
Indoors:
Prefers medium to bright indirect light.
North- or east-facing windows are ideal.
Avoid direct sunlight—it can scorch the delicate foliage.
Terrarium:
Thrives under soft LED or fluorescent grow lights.
10–12 hours of diffuse light daily mimics understory forest conditions.
 
🌡️ TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY
Ideal Temperature Range: 18–28°C (65–82°F)
Minimum: 12°C (54°F); sensitive to cold drafts
Humidity:
Indoors: Needs consistently high humidity (60–80%).
Dry air causes crisping or leaf loss. Use a humidifier or keep near other humidity-loving plants.
Terrarium: Perfectly suited—flourishes in closed or high-humidity setups.
 
💧 WATERING
Moisture-loving but sensitive to overwatering
Indoors:
Keep soil lightly moist at all times—never soggy, never bone dry.
Water with filtered, rain, or distilled water for best results.
Let the top 1–2 cm of soil dry slightly before watering again.
Terrarium:
Requires minimal supplemental watering—check substrate moisture weekly.
Ensure proper airflow to prevent stagnant moisture buildup.
 
🌱 SOIL & SUBSTRATE
Indoors:
Use a loose, moisture-retentive but well-draining mix:
2 parts peat or coco coir
1 part perlite or pumice
Optional: fine orchid bark or charcoal to improve structure
Terrarium:
Plant directly into a rich, airy substrate like sphagnum moss + coco peat + fine bark.
Elevate slightly or provide drainage layer to avoid waterlogging.
 
🍽️ FERTILIZER
Indoors:
Feed monthly during the growing season with a diluted balanced liquid fertilizer (¼ strength).
Avoid overfertilizing—too much can damage roots and leaves.
Terrarium:
Fertilize rarely or not at all—too much nutrient can disrupt the closed ecosystem.
If necessary, use a very weak orchid or foliage plant fertilizer once every 6–8 weeks.
 
✂️ MAINTENANCE
Gently remove old or yellowing fronds at the base.
Avoid disturbing roots—they’re delicate.
Keep leaves clean and mist only lightly if needed—direct misting can mark the foliage.
 
📏 SIZE & GROWTH HABIT
Compact, upright clumping growth
Mature height: 15–25 cm (6–10 in)
Spread: ~20 cm (8 in)
Slow to moderate grower; stays manageable and elegant in terrariums
 
🌱 PROPAGATION
Best propagated via division in spring
Rhizome pieces with healthy roots and at least one frond can be potted separately
Not propagated from spores easily in home settings
 
⚠️ POTENTIAL ISSUES
Brown/crispy leaves: Low humidity or underwatering
Yellowing leaves: Overwatering or poor drainage
Leaf drop: Environmental stress (cold, dry air, sudden light changes)
Pests: Rare, but occasionally affected by spider mites or fungus gnats indoors
 
✅ TERRARIUM SUITABILITY
✔ Excellent for closed or high-humidity terrariums
✔ Compact and elegant—ideal for small to medium setups
✔ Unique texture and shape—contrasts well with mosses and spreading ground covers
❌ Avoid in dry or open terrariums without humidity control
❌ Not suited to drafty or air-conditioned areas