Polypodium fissidens

Polypodium fissidens is a highland fern from southern Mexico and northern Central America, mostly found at 2,000–3,400 m in pine–oak and cloud forest. It needs cool temperatures, bright filtered light and a drier winter to grow well.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night A clear drop at nightTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on trees (epiphyte)

Where it grows wild

It probably grows on mossy oak trunks, branches and rocks in montane pine–oak and cloud forest, like related Mesoamerican Polypodium. Many of these ferns curl up and wait out the dry season.

Recorded from 802 to 3,942 m, with a median of 2,645 m (46 records).

Mexico SouthwestMexico SoutheastGuatemalaEl SalvadorHonduras

🔒 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

Grow Polypodium fissidens? Add it to a free garden and its full profile opens. Pro opens all 38,374 profiles in the library, plants and fungi.

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