Pest identification
What's eating my frosty fern?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing over foliage, loss of the distinctive white frosted tips, stippling and bronzing of leaves, general dull appearance.
Control: Increase humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier. Shower the plant under lukewarm water to dislodge mites, then treat with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days for three applications.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Swarms of tiny flies around the pot; larvae damage shallow roots causing yellowing and poor growth.
Control: Let the uppermost layer of soil dry slightly between waterings. Place yellow sticky traps to monitor adults; water with a Bti solution (e.g. Gnatrol) to kill larvae in the growing medium.
Mealybugs
Signs: White woolly deposits tucked into stem nodes; sticky honeydew on surrounding foliage; stunted new growth.
Control: Remove visible colonies with an alcohol-dipped cotton swab. Spray the entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap, paying attention to stem junctions. Repeat treatment every 10 days until clear.
Keep frosty fern pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Frosty Fern pests — FAQ
What is eating my frosty fern?
Frosty Fern (Selaginella kraussiana 'Frosty') faces its biggest threat from spider mites when indoor air is too dry — they cause the white-tipped foliage to look dull and bronzed. Fungus gnats colonise its constantly moist soil, and mealybugs can hide among the dense creeping stems.
How do I get rid of spider mites on frosty fern?
Fine webbing over foliage, loss of the distinctive white frosted tips, stippling and bronzing of leaves, general dull appearance. Increase humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier. Shower the plant under lukewarm water to dislodge mites, then treat with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days for three applications.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on frosty fern?
Swarms of tiny flies around the pot; larvae damage shallow roots causing yellowing and poor growth. Let the uppermost layer of soil dry slightly between waterings. Place yellow sticky traps to monitor adults; water with a Bti solution (e.g. Gnatrol) to kill larvae in the growing medium.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on frosty fern?
White woolly deposits tucked into stem nodes; sticky honeydew on surrounding foliage; stunted new growth. Remove visible colonies with an alcohol-dipped cotton swab. Spray the entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap, paying attention to stem junctions. Repeat treatment every 10 days until clear.