🌳 Habitat and Ecology
 
​Asplenium prolongatum, commonly known as the Mother Fern or Walking Maidenhair, is a tufted, evergreen terrestrial or lithophytic fern native to East and Southeast Asia, with a distribution including China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. It is typically found growing on shaded, rocky banks, moist forest floors, and rock crevices at moderate elevations. This fern thrives in the subtropical and warm temperate biomes, requiring high humidity and consistently moist, well-drained, and often slightly alkaline soil.
 
​🌿 Description and Distinguishing Features
 
​This fern is a small to medium-sized perennial known for its unique reproductive method, reflected in its common names.
​Fronds: The fronds are erect, thin, and pinnate (feather-like), growing up to 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) long. They are typically a bright, lush green.
 
​Aesthetics: The leaflets (pinnae) are rhombic to ovate, sometimes slightly toothed. The sori (spore clusters) are linear or oblong, arranged obliquely on the underside of the pinnae.
​Proliferation: The most distinctive feature is its method of vegetative reproduction: the rachis (midrib) of the frond often extends beyond the blade, producing a terminal bud (stolon). When this bud touches moist soil, it roots and forms a new plantlet, effectively allowing the fern to "walk" or "prolong" itself, hence the name.
 
​💧 Cultivation and Care
​Asplenium prolongatum is generally easy to grow indoors, performing well in containers or as an accent plant in a conservatory or terrarium, provided it is kept moist.
 
​Light: Prefers medium to bright indirect light; place it near an East- or North-facing window or in filtered shade. Protect it from all direct, harsh sunlight.
 
​Substrate: Use a rich, organic, and moisture-retentive, yet well-draining soil mix. A good blend is standard houseplant compost mixed with perlite, fine bark, and a small amount of synthetic peat or coir.
 
​Watering: Keep the medium consistently moist at all times; never allow it to dry out completely. Use tepid, soft water if possible.
 
​Temperature: It is an intermediate grower that prefers stable temperatures:
​Daytime: 18-24 C} (64-75 F).
​Minimum Winter Temperature: Not below 10 C (50 F).
 
​Humidity: High humidity (60%+) is preferred to prevent leaf tips from browning. Misting or using a humidity tray is beneficial.
 
​✨ Unique Features
​This fern is a popular houseplant due to its charming, lacy appearance and its fascinating reproductive habit. The "walking" proliferation, where new plantlets develop from the extended frond tip, makes it a unique and dynamic specimen that is easy to propagate.
 
​🏷️ Specifications
​Plant Size: As seen in the picture
Plant Family: Aspleniaceae
Plant Passport: A Asplenium prolongatum B 140084 C [buyer to use number of the plant label] D GB