Asplenium castaneum

A small high-Andean and Mexican mountain spleenwort, mostly found above 2700 m in páramo, puna and high montane scrub from Mexico to Chile and Argentina. It takes cold nights, strong light and a marked dry season, and will not tolerate warm, stuffy conditions.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

High-elevation grassland, scrub and rock outcrops, typically sheltered in rock crevices or among bunchgrasses. A Colombian checklist gives 2700–4550 m, which matches the measured records.

Records span 243–5554 m, median 3450 m (490 records). The extremes are probably errors; the Colombian checklist range is 2700–4550 m.

Mexico CentralMexico GulfMexico NortheastMexico SoutheastMexico SouthwestGuatemalaEl SalvadorCosta RicaPanamáColombiaVenezuelaEcuadorPeruBoliviaArgentina NorthwestChile South

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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More Asplenium

Asplenium platyneuron Asplenium bradleyi Asplenium pinnatifidum Asplenium resiliens Asplenium rhizophyllum Asplenium montanum Asplenium scolopendrium Asplenium tutwilerae Asplenium ceterach Asplenium monanthes Asplenium nidus Asplenium septentrionale All 1023 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.