Needle Leaf Java Fern
- Submerged-Grown Quality Stronger roots, instant tank success
- Healthy-Plant Guarantee Replace or refund if not perfect
- Express Shipping Included Ships express even on standard orders
- Rewards on Every Order Earn points with each purchase
Care snapshot
The Narrow Leaf Java Fern is a popular variant of the traditional Java Fern, known for its slender, elongated leaves that create a graceful, flowing appearance in freshwater aquariums. Native to Southeast Asia, this plant is a favorite among aquascapers due to its unique texture and low-maintenance requirements.
Its narrow, bright green leaves typically grow vertically and can reach 6–12 inches in height, making it perfect for midground or background placement. Like other Java Ferns, it should not be planted in substrate; instead, it thrives when attached to driftwood, rocks, or other decorations using thread or glue.
The Narrow Leaf Java Fern is undemanding, requiring only low to moderate lighting and no CO₂ supplementation, although it can benefit from added nutrients. It grows slowly and is tolerant of a wide range of water parameters, making it ideal for beginners and experienced aquarists alike.
Key Features:
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Scientific Name: Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow'
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Lighting: Low to medium
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Growth Rate: Slow
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Leaf Shape: Long and narrow (thinner than standard Java Fern)
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Placement: Midground to background
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Care Level: Easy
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Propagation: By rhizome division or adventitious plantlets on leaves
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Ideal for: Natural aquascapes, low-tech planted tanks
With its elegant foliage and hardiness, the Narrow Leaf Java Fern adds texture, depth, and movement to aquariums, making it a beautiful and functional choice for any aquascape.
Acclimation: Float the bag in your tank for 15 minutes to equalise temperature, then plant directly in substrate.
Lighting: Most aquatic plants thrive at 0.5+ watts/litre with 6500K colour temperature for 6-8 hours/day.
Fertilising: Use a quality liquid fertiliser weekly. Root tabs help heavy root feeders.
CO₂: While not essential for most plants, CO₂ injection dramatically improves growth and colour.
Trimming: Regular trimming encourages bushy, healthy growth and prevents shading of lower leaves.
Dispatch: We dispatch Monday to Thursday from Perth, WA. Orders placed before 1 PM AWST ship same day.
Live shipping: Live plants and fish ship via Express Post with insulation and heat/cool packs as needed.
Live arrival guarantee: If your live order arrives unhealthy, send a photo within 4 hours of delivery for replacement or refund.
Tracking: You'll receive a tracking number by email as soon as your order ships.
Hardware & consumables: 30-day return window for unopened items in original packaging.
Live items: Cannot be returned but are covered by our healthy arrival guarantee.
Refunds: Processed within 5 business days of receiving your return.
Need help? Contact us — we're real aquascapers based in Perth.
Will my plant survive the trip in summer/winter?
Yes — we ship via Express Post and add insulation plus heat or cool packs as needed. Most orders arrive within 1–3 business days. If anything goes wrong, our healthy plant guarantee kicks in.
Are these plants beginner friendly?
It depends on the species. Check the Care guide tab — we've tagged each plant with difficulty (Easy / Medium / Advanced). Most of our range is suited to beginners with basic lighting.
Do I need CO₂ for this plant?
Most aquatic plants we stock will grow without injected CO₂, but growth is dramatically faster and more vibrant with CO₂. The Care guide tab indicates whether CO₂ is required, recommended or optional.
Will it have snails or pesticides?
No. All our plants are submerged-grown in controlled conditions — no pesticides, no algae hitchhikers, no snail eggs.
What if my plant arrives damaged?
Send a photo to us within 4 hours of delivery and we'll replace or refund. That's our healthy plant guarantee.
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FAQs
Most stem plants come in bunches of 4-6 stems. Thicker-stemmed species typically come in portions of 2-3 stems. Mosses and some carpet plants are supplied as 5x5cm portions. Exact portion details are listed in the product description for each plant.
All live plants are shipped express via Australia Post to ensure they arrive fresh and healthy. We carefully package plants to protect them during transit, even if you select standard shipping at checkout
We guarantee your plants will arrive healthy. If they don't, contact us within 24 hours of delivery with photos, and we'll replace or refund them. See our Refund Policy for details.
CO2 requirements vary by species. Check the Care Information tab for this specific plant. Many of our plants can thrive without CO2, though growth may be slower.
Most of our aquarium plants are grown submerged (underwater), which means they adapt faster to your tank and are less likely to melt. This gives you stronger roots and instant success. The exception is our terrarium plants, which are grown emersed (above water)
Due to the perishable nature of live plants, we cannot accept change-of-mind returns once dispatched. However, our 24-hour arrival guarantee covers any plants that arrive in poor condition.
Orders typically dispatch within 1-2 business days. Delivery times are 1-2 days for WA and 2-4 days for interstate. All plants ship express for freshness.