What is the white stuff on staghorn fern?

Mealybugs and scale.

Mealybugs and scale can appear to be diseases even though they're actually pest infestations. These sap-sucking insects are master mimics, making themselves appear as white, fluffy tufts or waxy shields attached directly to the plant.

What is the fuzz on my staghorn fern?

The fuzzy dust-like coating is actually part of the plant. Tiny hairs grown from the leaf that create a slight textured surface. These hairs have several positive benefits for your Staghorn.

How do you get rid of mealybugs on staghorn ferns?

Hose down the staghorn fern with a strong blast of water to dislodge and wash away mealybugs, repeating if new egg sacks appear. Using a cotton ball dipped in nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol, dab mealybugs and saturate them with the liquid, killing them.

Should I clean my staghorn fern?

Washing staghorn fern plants should be done carefully and should never involve wiping the fronds with a sponge or cloth. Take a close look at the plant and you'll notice that the fronds are covered with a felt-like substance that helps the plant retain moisture.

What does a healthy Staghorn look like?

American Staghorn fern (P. andinum) displays short, upright, antler-like basal fronds along with longer, slender, drooping fertile fronds, and lots of pups. Staghorn fern (P. bifurcatum), the most widely grown species, produces heart-shaped basal fronds and long, arched antler fronds.

Platycerium bifurcatum (Staghorn Fern) Houseplant Care — 237 of 365

What does a healthy staghorn fern look like?

On a mature Staghorn Fern, it is easy to quickly distinguish between the two because the fertile leaves are the long antler-shaped green leaves, while the sterile leaves are the brown and dry looking leaves at the base of the plant.

What kills white mealybugs?

What kills mealybugs instantly?

On small infestations on houseplants, a 70% or less solution of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol in water may be dabbed directly on mealybugs with a cotton swab to kill them or remove them.

Does soapy water get rid of mealybugs?

Homemade dish soap spray - Soap will suffocate mealybugs. Combine 1 tablespoon of dish soap with a quart of water and spray down your plant. Test the spray on one leaf before applying to the rest, and repeat every few days as needed.

What does an overwatered staghorn fern look like?

Since the Staghorn Fern is an epiphyte that naturally grows along tree trunks in the tropics, its roots are smaller than you might expect and are easily overwatered. This can lead to root rot and harm your plant. Keep an eye out for brown or black spots at the base of the antler fronds, which indicate overwatering.

How often should a staghorn be watered?

A good rule of thumb is to water once per week in dry, hot times of year, and once every two to three weeks during cooler months. Start with this schedule, and adjust as necessary depending on your space. Staghorn ferns absorb water through their fronds, as well as their roots.

Do banana peels help staghorn ferns?

Using banana fertilizer for staghorn ferns is an easy way to maintain your plant's health while reducing kitchen waste. Depending on the size of your fern, feed it with up to four banana peels a month to provide potassium plus smaller amounts of phosphorus and micronutrients.

What can I do with Staghorn spores?

Once you have the spores, fill a seed tray with peat based potting medium. Press the spores into the top of the medium, making sure not to cover them. Water your seed tray from the bottom by setting it for a few minutes in a dish of water. When the soil is moist, remove it from the water and let it drain.

Does fuzz on a staghorn fern grow back?

Sterile Fronds

These fronds do not produce spores -- their purpose is to hold the staghorn fern to the tree. As they age, these fronds develop fuzzy brown spots, eventually turning completely brown and dry. They will be replaced by new, green fronds as a natural part of the plant's growth.

Can plants recover from mealybugs?

The mealy situations mentioned above are bearable, and plants such as these will most likely recover quickly with a little assistance. Other times though, the plant can be so infested and damaged, that it's best to just KILL IT WITH FIRE!

Do mealy bugs ever go away?

It may take weeks or even months of constant vigilance to end your mealybug woes. Even if you don't see any on the plant, they are tiny, so they can't really be seen unless there's a lot of them; that, and they may emerge from crevices and hiding spots from the area around the plant just when you think they're gone.

What is a natural way to get rid of mealybugs?

Apple cider vinegar. Take 1 ounce of apple cider vinegar and mix it with 2-3 ounces of water. Pour this liquid into a garden sprayer and spray in the evening. Apple cider vinegar stops the molting process of mealybugs, and will also help to kill the majority of pests on the plants.

Can mealy bugs infect humans?

Mealybugs can cause (great) damage to indoor plants and are tedious to get rid of. However, you do not have to worry about your health as the pests are not harmful to humans.

What does mealybug look like?

Mealybugs have pinkish-purple bodies but often appear white or light gray once they cover themselves in a cotton-like wax. They vary in size from 1/20 - 1/5 of an inch long. Their oval-shaped bodies look like they have many legs around them, but this is actually part of their protective waxy coating.

How do you get rid of white sticky stuff on plants?

One mealybug home pest control is to scrape away any white residue and spots on plants leaves that you can find. Then, using a solution of one part alcohol to three parts water with some dish soap (without bleach) mixed in, wash down the entire plant. Let the plant sit for a few days and repeat the process.

How do you keep staghorns healthy?

Staghorns need very little maintenance. In fact, those grown onto the trunk of a tree can usually fend for themselves and care should be taken not to over feed or overwater them. In conditions with full overhead shelter, such as under the eves of a house, supplementary feeding and watering is advisable.

Do staghorn ferns like to dry out?

Humidity. The staghorn fern is a typical jungle plant that does appreciate plenty of humidity. If your home has very dry air it might not be happy in there. Try placing the plant in one of the more humid areas of the house, like the bathroom, or run a humidifier to keep the moisture levels up.

How long do you soak a staghorn fern?

For easy watering, remove your fern and its mounting from the wall (or wherever it's hung) and soak in a sink filled with water for 10 to 20 minutes, or until the roots are fully saturated. Allow to drip dry before rehanging.

How do you revive a dying Staghorn?

Here's what I would suggest. Fill the hole with sphagnum peat moss (looks like fibrous, tan moss) or homemade compost. Add a small amount of a slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote or Nutricote, into the hole as you add the moss or compost. This will provide nutrients and encourage growth.