The Garden Helper

Helping Gardeners Grow Their Dreams since 1997.

No-dash-here, you've found The Real Garden Helper! Gardening on the Web since 1997

An e-mailed fern question

Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2005
« Prev thread: an acorn instead?| Next thread: An Excellent Resource »
Back to Thread index
by Bill on May 23, 2005 02:24 AM
I received this e-mail question from Tony & Connie:
Can anyone please help them out?

We have a lovely fern that's been very healthy. Suddenly, it is releasing sap(?) for lack of a better description. It is very sticking and falling to the floor making it sticky. How can we resolve this problem? Thank you for your help.

* * * *
 -
by pcgrav on May 24, 2005 02:04 AM
Tony & Connie,
Can you post to tell us what varity of fern it is... I have some info I can look up but I would need to know what kind of fern it is...

* * * *
 -
 - Each day is a new beginning...What you begin is your choice.
 - The pleasure you receive from life is equal only to the attitude you put into it.
by Cricket on May 24, 2005 03:01 AM
Could the fern have scales?
by DIGGER on May 24, 2005 10:18 PM
HI [wayey] the fern might have been damaged. or has insects of some sort or be deseased.the sap might be comeing out of it as it is trying to heal its self. or to use as a deterarnt toward the insects.i would let it go with out water till the soil drys up some this should stop the sap from driping.when it stops then start watering it again.hope this helps your friend in gardening DIGGER [wayey] [flower] [flower]
by Will Creed on May 25, 2005 01:34 AM
Cricket has it right. The stickiness is a sure sign of scale insects. Ferns do not ooze sticky sap on their own.

Treating ferns for pests is problematic because many fern species are damaged by pesticides and even soap and alcohol sprays.

If it is a Boston fern, you can give it a crew cut, then spray with soap and alcohol and there is a reasonable chance that the new growth will come in pest-free. If it is a maidenhair fern, then it is best to discard it.

I once had a beautiful and very large staghorn fern that developed scale. I was never able to eliminate it, but I managed to keep it in check for many years. Sometimes that is the best you can do.

Good luck with yours!

Active Garden Forum

« Prev thread: an acorn instead?| Next thread: An Excellent Resource »
Back to Thread index


Search The Garden Helper: