What's eating my silver dollar maidenhair fern?

Silver Dollar Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum peruvianum) is a delicate houseplant fern whose large, rounded pinnae are vulnerable to spider mites in dry air and mealybugs at leaf joints. Scale may establish on petioles. Fungus gnats thrive in its consistently moist compost. High humidity and regular monitoring are essential — fronds collapse fast under pest stress.

Tiny pale stipples on pinnae surfaces; fine webbing underneath; fronds yellow and drop in dry conditions Maintain high humidity (60 %+); mist daily or use a humidifier; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every 5 days for three rounds

White woolly clusters at petiole joints and frond bases; sticky residue; stunted new fronds Remove with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab; follow with insecticidal soap spray; quarantine the plant

Tiny brown or tan bumps on black petioles; fronds weaken and yellow over time Scrape off manually; wipe petioles with neem oil on a soft cloth; repeat every two weeks for a month

Root damage from larvae in damp compost; visible adult flies near the pot Top-dress with coarse perlite; allow the surface to dry slightly; use Bti drench for larvae; yellow sticky traps for adults