Leaf tips that flare out into a blunt hammer shape. Leptochilus pteropus 'Thor's Hammer' is one of the more sculptural Java Fern forms — the silhouette does the work, so it reads as a feature plant even in a tank with no CO₂ and no bright light. What You'll Receive Sold as loose bare-root plants, bunched plants, or potted plants: Bare-root Plants: Approximately 3+ leaf portion, loose rhizome Bunched Plants: Approximately 3+ leaf portion bundled with foam and plant weight Potted Plants: Approximately 3+ leaf portion, potted in rockwool and net pot Plant Profile Common name — Thor's Hammer Java Fern Scientific name — Leptochilus pteropus 'Thor's Hammer' (syn. Microsorum pteropus) Origin — Cultivated form; the species is native to Southeast Asia Placement — Midground, attached to driftwood, stone or décor Mature height — 6-10 inches Growth rate — Slow Care Difficulty — Beginner Light — Low to medium CO₂ — Not required Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5, soft to moderately hard Substrate — Not required. Epiphyte — tie or glue the rhizome to hardscape and never bury it. Growth habit — Amphibious; grows emersed as well as submersed Propagation — Rhizome division, plus plantlets from mature leaves Grower's Notes Expect a change of leaf. We grow this emersed, so some of the fronds it arrives with will yellow and drop as the plant converts to submerged growth. The rhizome is what matters — leave it alone and new, correctly-formed leaves follow. Never bury the rhizome. Roots may go into substrate; the thick horizontal stem must stay in open water or it rots. This is the single most common way a Java Fern is killed. Black spots on old leaves are baby plants, not disease. Java Fern reproduces by growing plantlets along the leaf margins. Leave a spotted leaf in place until each plantlet has roots and two or three leaves, then detach and attach it elsewhere. Keep the light low. It grows slowly enough that strong lighting mostly feeds algae on the leaves. Shade gives cleaner, darker fronds and sharper leaf tips. It feeds from the water, not the substrate. Root tabs do nothing here. A basic liquid fertilizer is all it needs, and even that is optional in a stocked tank. Want to go deeper? Read our complete Java Fern Care Guide. Notes Photos are sample representations. Actual plants may vary in size, shape, or coloration. Unless otherwise specified, we do not guarantee plants are free of pests, pesticides, or exclusively submerged-grown. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
