Fernwood soft tree fern substrate is made from the stem of a native New Zealand tree fern. In contrast to tree fern substrate from South America and Asia, substrate made from New Zealand tree fern is soft, spongy and has fantastic moisture-holding properties.
Fernwood soft tree fern substrate is perfect for creating a jungle floor in your tropical or sub-tropical terrarium or vivarium. It can also be used as a growing substrate for many different plant types including epiphytes, orchids and ferns. As it has the ability to retain moisture for a long period of time without bogging, it is also an excellent hydroponic substrate.
This soft tree fern Substrate has unique and natural properties including:
- Ability to retain moisture without becoming waterlogged.
- Well draining and good aeration.
- Slow to compost due to its natural antibacterial properties.
- Natural forest floor smell and texture encourages natural burrowing behaviour.
- Fibrous and soft.
- Natural look and colour. When wetted the substrate becomes a darker colour.
- Soft and porous for plant roots to easily grow through the fibre without becoming compacted.
- Natural capillary action works well when using flood trays for plant irrigation.
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Note: This product is manufactured from New Zealand Tree Fern which is sustainably harvested from privately owned forests.
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We always aim to make sure our customers love our products, but if you do need to return an order within 14 days of purchase (not including plants*), or any items are damaged, we’re happy to help. Just email us directly at hello@growtropicals.com, and we’ll take you through the process.
Please note: we cannot be held liable for any packaging costs should the original packaging be discarded.
*Unfortunately we cannot accept returns of undamaged plants as these are perishable items and are not saleable upon return. If a plant is damaged, we will compensate for this as per our live arrival guarantee. -
When placing your order, you can choose from three dispatch speeds to suit your needs: Economy (prepared and shipped within 4-5 days), Standard (3-5 days), or Express (dispatched the very next day). Please keep in mind that "dispatch" refers to the time it takes our team to prepare and pack your items before handing them over to the courier, not the total delivery time.
Shipping costs are based on your total order value and will be calculated at checkout, with free shipping automatically applied to all orders over £60. For a full breakdown of shipping prices please see our help center here.
Additionally, to protect the health and quality of our live plants, orders containing plants are exclusively shipped Monday through Thursday. This careful scheduling prevents your plants from being stuck in a dark shipping depot over the weekend, ensuring they arrive at your door vibrant and healthy.



