posted
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.
* * * * Plants: 11227 | From: Cedar Hill Washington | Registered: Aug 2002
| Seeded: 67.150.93.174
posted
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. Plants: 1454 | From: Cotton Land in the Magnolia State | Registered: Feb 2005
| Seeded: 69.160.238.199
Cricket
guest
posted
Could the fern have scales?
Seeded: 24.64.223.203
posted
HI 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 Plants: 28 | From: alabama | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 216.170.146.65
Will Creed
guest
posted
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.
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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.![[wayey]](graemlins/wavey.gif)
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 ![[flower]](graemlins/flower.gif)
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