Java Fern Windelov (Microsorum pteropus ‘Windelov’)

Description

Java Fern Windelov for Sale — Elegant Lace-Tipped Leaves and Beginner-Friendly Care in Three Formats

If you’ve been searching for Java Fern Windelov for sale, Quinn’s Fins grows Microsorum pteropus ‘Windelov’ — commonly known as Lace Java Fern or Windelov Lace Java Fern — right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse. Java Fern Windelov is the most refined and visually sophisticated cultivar of the classic Java Fern, developed by Holger Windeløv of Tropica Nurseries — the same pioneer who discovered HC Cuba in the rivers of Cuba. Where standard Java Fern produces broad, smooth lance-shaped leaves, the Windelov cultivar adds a spectacular finishing detail: each leaf tip branches into multiple finely divided, lace-like lobes that create an elegant, sculpted texture with a feathery, decorative quality that standard Java Fern simply does not have. In the water, these branched lace tips sway gently with current, adding a living, kinetic quality to any aquascape. Java Fern Windelov for sale at Quinn’s Fins is available in three formats — bare root (SKU 6060-1, $6.99), 2″ pot (SKU 6060-2, $9.99), and pre-mounted on Malaysian driftwood (SKU 6060-3, $24.99).

Why Java Fern Windelov for Sale Is the Premium Java Fern Choice

Java Fern Windelov delivers everything aquarists love about standard Java Fern — the hardiness, the low light tolerance, the cichlid and goldfish compatibility — with one critical upgrade: a dramatically more sophisticated leaf form that elevates any aquascape from functional to finished.

• Finely branched lace-like leaf tips — each tip splits into multiple delicate lobes creating a sculpted, feathery lace texture
• All the hardiness of standard Java Fern — low light, no CO2, epiphytic attachment, wide pH and temperature tolerance
• Elegant sway in current — branched lace tips move gracefully with water flow adding kinetic quality to the aquascape
• Looks designed from the moment it goes in — the Windelov’s refined leaf form creates instant aquascape sophistication
• Developed by Holger Windeløv of Tropica — a cultivar with genuine aquascaping heritage and pedigree
• Compatible with cichlids, goldfish, bettas, and rough fish — tough rhizome and leathery leaves resist damage
• Shrimp and invertebrate safe — branched leaf tips provide exceptional grazing surfaces and microhabitat
• Propagates via plantlets on leaf tips — the branched tips produce miniature daughter plants naturally

Choose Your Java Fern Windelov for Sale Format

Java Fern Windelov for sale at Quinn’s Fins is available in three formats:

• Bare Root (SKU 6060-1) — $6.99: A healthy rhizome with lace-tipped leaves and roots, shipped without substrate. Attach directly to your own driftwood or hardscape using fishing line, thread, or aquarium-safe super glue gel. The most economical option for aquarists who want to position the plant exactly where they choose. Rinse thoroughly before placing in the aquarium.
• 2″ Pot (SKU 6060-2) — $9.99: Nursery-grown in a 2″ pot with established root structure. Remove the plant and all growing media — including any rockwool or cotton — before placing in the aquarium. Never put the pot or media in the tank. Attach the rhizome to your chosen hardscape after removal. Rinse thoroughly.
• On Driftwood (SKU 6060-3) — $24.99: Java Fern Windelov mounted on a natural piece of Malaysian driftwood — the most complete and aquascape-ready format available. Malaysian driftwood releases beneficial tannins, sinks immediately without soaking, and provides a natural, organic hardscape base that showcases the Windelov’s lace tips beautifully. Simply place directly in your aquarium for an instant established centerpiece. No planting, no gluing, no waiting — the most dramatic presentation of this plant available.

Growing Java Fern Windelov — Care at a Glance

The Most Important Rule: Never Bury the Rhizome

Never bury the rhizome — the thick horizontal stem from which all leaves and roots emerge — in substrate. A buried rhizome will rot and kill the plant. Java Fern Windelov is an epiphyte — always keep the rhizome fully exposed on the surface of hardscape. For bare root and potted formats, attach to driftwood, rocks, or hardscape using fishing line, cotton thread, or aquarium-safe super glue gel. The driftwood format arrives with the rhizome correctly positioned — do not reposition it into substrate.

Light

Java Fern Windelov is one of the most light-adaptable aquarium plants available — performing beautifully in low, moderate, and high light conditions. In low light it grows slowly but remains healthy and attractive. In moderate light growth is more vigorous. In very high light without CO2, Windelov may develop algae on its slow-growing leaf surfaces — position under floating plants or taller stem plants for natural shading if algae becomes an issue. The lace-tipped leaf form is equally attractive across all light levels.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 68–82°F (20–28°C); tolerates as low as 60°F and as high as 83°F
• pH: 6.0–7.5
• Hardness: Soft to very hard — extremely adaptable
• Flow: Low to moderate; avoid strong direct current which can cause BBA on slow-growing leaves

CO2 & Fertilization

CO2 injection is not required. Regular liquid fertilizer — particularly iron and micronutrients — supports healthy new leaf production and maintains the deep green color that makes the lace tips most visually effective. In established fish tanks, the bioload typically provides sufficient nutrients. Java Fern Windelov is a light feeder that does not require heavy fertilization.

Black Spots on Leaves — Normal

Black or dark brown spots on the undersides of leaves are spore sori — the plant’s natural reproductive structures — and are completely normal and harmless. Do not mistake these for disease or algae. Organized patterns on the leaf underside are always spore sori; green or fuzzy growth on the leaf surface is algae.

Design Use

Java Fern Windelov’s lace-tipped leaf form creates exceptional textural contrast in the aquascape. It pairs beautifully with smooth-surfaced plants like Anubias, broad-leaved swords, and Cryptocoryne where the branched tips provide maximum textural contrast. Attach to branching driftwood where the lace tips mirror and extend the natural forking of the wood grain. Wedge into hardscape crevices where the frilly tips soften hard stone edges. Use as a midground focal accent in both natural and modern aquascape styles. Browse our Standard Java Fern for the classic broad-leaf form as a complementary pairing.

Propagation

Java Fern Windelov propagates naturally via plantlets that develop on the tips and undersides of mature leaves — the lace tips are particularly productive at producing these miniature daughter plants. Allow plantlets to develop their own root system and 2–3 leaves before removing and attaching to new hardscape. The rhizome can also be divided with sharp clean scissors — each section needs at least 2–3 leaves and a root section.

Nursery-Grown at Quinn’s Fins

Every Java Fern Windelov for sale at Quinn’s Fins is grown right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse — not drop-shipped or bulk-sourced. Whether you choose bare root, pot, or driftwood, your plant arrives healthy and ready to place. We grow what we sell.

For more on growing Java Fern Windelov and other aquarium plants, visit the Buce Plant Java Fern Windelov care page or browse our full selection of aquatic plants at Quinn’s Fins.

Java Fern Windelov Plant Details