Sago Palm Care: Yellow Leaves, Pruning, and Cycad Scale Threat

A discounted sago palm had yellow centers with green tips on lower growth, and several long green stems from the center. The owner wanted to cut the tall growth for a compact shape and hoped lower leaves would green up.

Controlling Caterpillars on Robellini Palms: Manual and Chemical Options

A gardener asked what to use against green fuzzy caterpillars eating new growth on a robellini palm. Options Manual removal: If only a few, pick off with tweezers and dispose. Chemical: Sevin 5% dust (Ace Hardware). Fol

When a Staghorn Fern Loses All Its Leaves After a Move

A staghorn thrived until a household move. Months later, it lost leaves one by one. The owners kept watering; it lived in a bathroom with less light than before. Initial Assessment Check for abrupt condition changes: da

Confirming Fern Anthracnose in Leatherleaf: Diagnosis and Fungicide Options

A leatherleaf fern grower (Jeff) described chlorotic/necrotic water-soaked lesions on immature fronds in field production under 50% shade. Lab results suggested Cercospora or Rhizoctonia, but symptoms didnt match. He sus

Selaginella 'Avitar' Care: Light, Water, and Cat Safety

A gardener bought a plant labeled Avitar fern (combo fern/moss, low light, low care). In dim light, leaf edges turned pale; stems grew roots. The plant was actually a spikemoss (Selaginella), a moss often grouped with fe

Accidentally Washed the White Fuzz Off Your Staghorn? No Problem.

A new staghorn owner washed off the white fuzzy coating (thinking it was dust) and feared the plant would die without its protective layer. Reassurance The white fuzz (trichomes) is more critical in harsh natural environ

Reviving an Overgrown Boston Fern: Hard Pruning and Repotting

A homeowner inherited a large fern, trimmed old fronds, and found a 6-inch thick layer of completely brown, dried undergrowth. New fronds were emerging. Should they leave it or prune to the ground? Recommendation Chop it

Managing Leatherleaf Fern Anthracnose: When to Start Over

A leatherleaf fern grower (Ima) has battled diseases since 2009. Labs identified Colletotrichum, Cylindrocladium, Corynespora cassiicola, and Fusarium spp. Treatments (cropping, bactericides, fungicides, biologicals, syn

Complete Care Guide for Rabbit's Foot Ferns: Repotting, Watering, and Light

A new rabbits foot fern owner in the Florida panhandle asked about repotting, hanging vs. pot, indoor/outdoor placement, watering, fertilizing, pebble trays, and misting with distilled water. Light & Temperature Tropical

Asparagus Fern Berries: Toxicity Risk for Children and Pets

A parent asked if the berries of asparagus fern (Asparagus sprengeri) are poisonous to small children. Toxicity Level The berries are mildly toxic. Ingestion can cause gastric upset: vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea

Rescuing an Overwatered, Low-Light Staghorn Fern

A newly purchased staghorn, mounted on wood and hung inside a west-facing sliding glass door, was soaked weekly and misted daily. Leaves curled, browned at tips with white margins, and white dots appeared near leaf bases

Identifying and Treating Mealybugs or Scale on Staghorn Ferns

An indoor staghorn in a tropical climate had short, bright white, chalky lines (½ long, ⅛ wide) on the undersides of leaves. Leaves looked healthy; two outdoor plants were unaffected. Likely Pests Mealybugs or scale—mino

Staghorn Fern Lifespan and Growth Timeline for Commercial Production

An Australian grower with 200+ naturalized staghorns on pecan trees wanted to start a business mounting and selling pups, not harvesting wild plants. He asked: (1) time to grow a pup to 40 cm fronds, and (2) typical life

Treating Bacterial Blight and Fungal Infection in Staghorn Ferns

A large staghorn (Nellie) declined after six months in a humid atrium: soggy black base, white spots, new leaves browning and falling. The owner moved it to a drier, airy spot under an oak and asked about organic or copp

Mounting and Watering Young Staghorn Ferns: Best Practices

A new owner of baby staghorn ferns (3-inch fronds) asked about mounting on painted/stained wood and watering frequency. Some shield fronds had turned black. Mounting Surface Use untreated wood. The mount provides only st

Staghorn Fern Decline After a Fall: Delayed Damage Assessment

A 12-year-old staghorn fell 3 feet when a car backed into it. After moving it to a higher branch with similar light and water, leaves began dropping weeks later, leaving sparse growth except for a few healthy sections. L

Overwintering Giant Macho Ferns: Lighting, Cold Frames, or Ground Planting

A northern Georgia gardener struggled to overwinter two massive macho ferns (23 and 16 pots, 2+ yards and 1 yard across) indoors. Fluorescent lights were insufficient. The plants were too large to move in and out for eac

Diagnosing Brown Staghorn Ferns: Normal Aging vs. Disease

A grower with six mature staghorn ferns reported all turning dark brown like burnt, including the shield (cap) fronds attached to the trees. They had sprayed a copper solution, unsure if it would help. Key Distinctions

Why Your Indoor Boston Fern Is Dropping Leaves—and How to Fix It

An indoor Boston fern received daily sunlight and weekly watering, yet fronds browned and leaves dropped constantly. A humidifier ran in the same room. Normal Shedding Boston ferns naturally shed some fronds even under i

Diagnosing Leatherleaf Fern Decline: Nutritional Deficiency vs. Fungicide Damage

A commercial leatherleaf fern grower in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) described a three-year problem: mature fronds develop edge discoloration that progresses to brownish-yellow, then reddish-brown in older fronds. La