The plant will readily propagate asexually by producing small, adventitious plantlets from the leaf tips and margins of established, mature foliage.

The small sprouts quickly develop roots of their own, and, if water currents facilitate it, may attach themselves to surrounding objects before the "mother" leaf expires.

In the event that the mother leaf wilts or detaches prior to the plantlet establishing itself, the small fern will float on its own to a new location to start anew.

Java fern is one of the most popular plants in the aquarium hobby, due to its aesthetic appeal and ease of care.

Cultivation in the aquarium is usually performed by tying or glueing the roots coming from the rhizome to rock or driftwood, instead of planting it directly into the substrate.