Nephrolepis exaltata 'Vitale'

Houseplant background of Nephrolepis exaltata 'Vitale'

‘Vitale’ is a cultivated form of Nephrolepis exaltata grown as a houseplant.

The species grows in humid forests and wetlands across tropical and subtropical America, on the ground and on trunks or palms.

Care essentials for Nephrolepis exaltata 'Vitale'

• Air around the foliage: Humid air helps the curled leaflets stay soft. Give the dense crown some room and keep gentle air movement around it.
• Watering: Feel the potting mix near the surface and deeper in the pot. Water once the top begins to dry while the lower mix remains slightly moist. Wet the mix evenly and let the container drain before returning it to a decorative outer pot.
• Light: Give it bright indirect light so the crown stays full. Use a sheer curtain when strong sun reaches the fronds through glass.
• Warmth: Keep the room warm and steady, away from cold draughts and air blowing directly from heaters or air conditioners.
• Potting mix: Mix peat-free compost with fine bark and perlite so the roots stay evenly moist and have plenty of air. Make sure the container drains freely.
• Feeding: Fresh fronds in the centre show that the plant is actively growing. Use a balanced liquid fertiliser at the lowest dose recommended for indoor plants. Feed according to the schedule on the label. Use plain water between feeds and stop feeding when growth slows.
• Pruning: Cut fully yellow or brown fronds close to the base and let healthy curled shoots in the centre unfold.
• Repotting and propagation: Move up one pot size once roots circle the inside of the container. If the old mix stops absorbing water evenly before the roots are crowded, replace the mix in the current pot. Divide the clump or separate rooted runners to make new plants with the same curled foliage.

When Nephrolepis exaltata 'Vitale' looks unwell

• Opening fronds are scarred, silvery or dotted with black specks: Thrips may be feeding inside the curled new growth. Move the plant away from other plants, inspect the coils closely and use a treatment labelled for thrips and suitable for indoor ferns. Follow the dose and timing on the label.
• Curled edges become crisp and brown: Feel the potting mix first. Water thoroughly when it has become too dry. If it remains moist, raise the room humidity or move the plant away from direct heat. A pale crust on the pot or potting-mix surface, especially after regular feeding, can signal excess salts. Rinse the mix thoroughly with plain water and allow it to drain.
• Fresh fronds become long, pale or widely spaced: Weak light, repeated drying or potting mix that stays wet can weaken new growth. Move the fern to brighter filtered light if its current position is dim. If the light is already suitable, water a little sooner when the mix repeatedly dries out. If it stays wet for too long, let the surface begin to dry and check that excess water can leave through the drainage holes. Inspect the roots for rot only if the mix smells sour or the plant remains limp. Pause feeding until healthy growth returns.
• The centre darkens, softens or smells sour: Potting mix that stays soaked or water collecting in the centre can cause rot. Take the fern out of its pot and use a clean blade to remove mushy roots and soft crown tissue. Continue until the remaining roots and crown tissue feel firm. Discard the rotten material and repot in fresh, loose potting mix.
• White cotton, fine webbing, bronze-coloured speckles or shell-like bumps: Scale insects, mealybugs or spider mites may be hidden among the curled leaflets. Keep it separate from nearby plants and rinse away visible pests. After identifying the pest, use a product labelled for that pest and suitable for indoor ferns. Follow the dose and timing on the label.

Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Vitale’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

Nephrolepis exaltata: where the name comes from

Greek nephros, kidney, and lepis, scale, form Nephrolepis and refer to the small kidney-shaped coverings over the spore-bearing patches. Exaltata means elevated or very tall.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Nephrolepis in 1834 in Genera Filicum (Vienna), plate 3.

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Polypodium exaltatum in 1759 in Systema Naturae, tenth edition, volume 2, page 1326. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott later placed it in Nephrolepis as Nephrolepis exaltata in 1834 in Genera Filicum (Vienna), plate 3.