Pteris macilenta

A New Zealand ground fern, known locally as sweet fern, with finely divided, soft fronds that grows in lowland and lower montane forest, often in the drier, more open parts of the forest. It suits a cool, bright-shaded spot with even moisture and mild nights, and does not want tropical heat.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

No rest periodGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Terrestrial fern of lowland to lower montane forest and scrub in New Zealand, most common in the North Island, usually on well-drained banks and the forest floor in light to moderate shade.

Recorded from sea level to lower montane forest, median about 310 m; the 3,047 m maximum is above any New Zealand forest and is almost certainly a georeferencing error.

New Zealand North IslandNew Zealand South IslandChatham Islands

🔒 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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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, unmodified.