What's eating my blue rabbit's foot fern?

Blue Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia griffithiana) is most vulnerable to scale insects and mealybugs, which hide in the furry, exposed rhizomes creeping over the pot edge. Spider mites attack the fine fronds in low humidity. Inspect the rhizomes carefully — their surface can conceal small infestations for weeks.

Waxy bumps along the silvery-blue rhizomes and frond stalks; fronds yellow and growth slows. Wipe rhizomes gently with a neem-oil-dampened cloth and scrape scales with a soft brush; repeat every 7–10 days.

White cottony colonies tucked into the furry rhizome surface; sticky honeydew drips onto lower leaves. Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with weekly neem oil spray for three to four weeks.

Pale stippling and fine webbing on delicate frond segments; frond tips yellow and dry out rapidly. Raise humidity, shower the fronds, and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days until infestation resolves.