Pest identification
What's eating my hammock fern?
Scale insects
Signs: Brown waxy bumps on frond stems and midribs; honeydew; yellowing and frond dieback
Control: Remove with alcohol-soaked swab or brush; apply horticultural oil spray every 2 weeks
Spider mites
Signs: Bronze stippling and fine webbing on frond undersides; rapid browning in dry indoor air
Control: Increase humidity; shower fronds weekly; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes and bite marks on young fronds; silvery slime trails on or near the plant
Control: Hand-pick at night; apply iron phosphate bait around (not on) the plant; reduce moisture on soil surface in evening
Keep hammock fern pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Hammock Fern pests — FAQ
What is eating my hammock fern?
Hammock Fern is an adaptable fern grown as a houseplant or in warm outdoor beds, where it faces scale insects and spider mites indoors, and slugs and snails outdoors. Mealybugs also appear on indoor specimens. Slugs prefer young unfurling fronds in moist conditions. Match your pest response to where the plant is grown.
How do I get rid of scale insects on hammock fern?
Brown waxy bumps on frond stems and midribs; honeydew; yellowing and frond dieback Remove with alcohol-soaked swab or brush; apply horticultural oil spray every 2 weeks
How do I get rid of spider mites on hammock fern?
Bronze stippling and fine webbing on frond undersides; rapid browning in dry indoor air Increase humidity; shower fronds weekly; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on hammock fern?
Ragged holes and bite marks on young fronds; silvery slime trails on or near the plant Hand-pick at night; apply iron phosphate bait around (not on) the plant; reduce moisture on soil surface in evening