How to Prune the Roots of a Rabbit's Foot Fern

Rabbit's foot ferns (Davallia fejeensis) are evergreen plants that thrive in a warm, humid environment. They are hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture Zones 10 and 11 and are grown as houseplants in cooler regions. The ferns grow up to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide in their natural state. The size of the plants can be controlled by trimming back their roots, a process known as root pruning. This not only keeps a rabbit foot fern from becoming too large but also eliminates damaged and unhealthy roots.

Knife
4- to 5-inch long stick
Pruning shears
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Add water to the soil until it feels barely moist.
- 2
  Splay your hand over the surface of the container that your rabbit's foot fern is growing in, allowing the plant to rest against your palm. Turn the container upside down and bang it against a firm surface until the root ball slides free.
- 3
  Use a sharp knife to remove a 1/2-inch layer of the roots and soil from the top, bottom and sides of the fern's root ball.
- 4
  Push a 4- to 5-inch-long stick into various parts of the root ball to loosen it.
- 5
  Use pruning shears to cut off any roots that are darker than the others, feel mushy or have an unpleasant odor.
- 6
  Place 2 inches of potting soil into the container. Position the roots on top of the soil then finish refilling the container to within 1/2-inch of the rim.
- 7
  Add enough water to thoroughly moisten the soil to the bottom of the container.

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