Aquatic PlantsBeginner🌑 Low light

Windelov java fern

Microsorum pteropus "Windelov" · also called Windelov fern, Lace java fern, Leptochilus pteropus 'Windeloev', Microsorum pteropus 'Windeloev'

🐾 Pet-safe

Generally non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Windelov is a cultivated Java fern variety distinguished by finely branched, lace-like leaf tips that give it a delicate, feathery appearance. It shares the toughness and easy care of standard Java fern, attaching to wood and rock by its rhizome. Like the parent species, its accepted botanical name is now Leptochilus pteropus, though Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' remains the trade name.

Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.

Quick facts

Category	Aquatic Plants
Family	Polypodiaceae
Native origin	Cultivated variety of a Southeast Asian species (selectively bred; named after Tropica founder Holger Windeloev)
Care difficulty	Beginner
Light	Low light
Pet toxicity	Pet-safe

Light

Thrives in **low to moderate light** (around 10-40 PAR). As a slow grower it is prone to algae under intense lighting, so low-tech fixtures suit it well and keep its intricate leaf tips clean.

Water

Very adaptable. Temperature **20-28 C (68-82 F)**, pH **5.5-8.0**, soft to moderately hard water across a wide GH/KH range. Benefits from modest **water-column dosing**, especially potassium and iron; black spots usually signal old leaves or nutrient deficiency rather than disease.

Soil & potting

An **epiphyte — do NOT bury the rhizome**, which will rot if planted. Tie or glue the rhizome to driftwood, lava rock, or other hardscape; roots will anchor over time. Feeds mainly from the water column, so substrate type is irrelevant.

Environment — humidity, temperature, placement

**CO2 not required** but speeds its slow growth. Prefers gentle to moderate flow. Used as a **midground to background** plant or to decorate hardscape; its lacy texture adds fine detail. Grows both submersed and emersed.

Propagation

Spreads by **rhizome division** and by **adventitious plantlets** that form on mature leaves. Detach daughter plants once they have a few leaves and roots, or cut the rhizome into sections each bearing leaves and roots, then re-attach.

Toxicity detail

Non-toxic and safe for fish, shrimp, snails, and pets; its leathery leaves are generally left alone by plant-nibbling fish. Not a regulated or invasive species in aquarium use; as with any aquarium plant, never release it into natural waterways.

Growth stages

How this plant changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.

Photo coming soon

Spore / recruit

Aquatic plants and macroalgae establish from spores, seeds, or drifting fragments that settle and attach to substrate or rock. Many freshwater aquarium plants and marine macroalgae also spread readily from a detached piece that takes root or holdfast.

Photo coming soon

Young growth

Young growth puts out its first blades, fronds, or leaves and anchors with roots or a holdfast. Submersed plants may look different from their emersed form, and growth speeds up as the plant adapts to the water's light and nutrients.

Photo coming soon

Mature

A mature aquatic plant or macroalga reaches its full size and characteristic shape, forming the dense growth, runners, or fronds typical of the species. Established plants spread to fill space and can be divided or trimmed to propagate.

Sources

Tropica - Microsorum pteropus 'Windeloev' (care guide)
Leptochilus pteropus - Wikipedia (encyclopedia)