Pest identification
What's eating my tailed brake fern?
Spider mites
Signs: Stippled, bronzed fronds with fine webbing underneath; premature yellowing and frond death in dry conditions
Control: Shower fronds regularly; increase ambient humidity; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly until clear
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown bumps along petioles and midribs; sticky honeydew; weakened fronds
Control: Scrape off with a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol; follow with horticultural oil spray
Fungus gnats
Signs: Root damage causes drooping fronds despite normal watering; small dark adults fly around compost surface
Control: Let the top layer of compost dry out; use yellow sticky traps; treat soil with Bti drench
Keep tailed brake fern pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tailed Brake Fern pests — FAQ
What is eating my tailed brake fern?
Tailed Brake Fern is an indoor fern prone to spider mites when humidity is low, causing webbing and frond browning. Scale and mealybugs can colonize its stems. Fungus gnats breed in moist soil and damage fine roots. Maintaining consistent moisture without waterlogging and boosting humidity prevents most issues.
How do I get rid of spider mites on tailed brake fern?
Stippled, bronzed fronds with fine webbing underneath; premature yellowing and frond death in dry conditions Shower fronds regularly; increase ambient humidity; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly until clear
How do I get rid of scale insects on tailed brake fern?
Hard brown bumps along petioles and midribs; sticky honeydew; weakened fronds Scrape off with a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol; follow with horticultural oil spray
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on tailed brake fern?
Root damage causes drooping fronds despite normal watering; small dark adults fly around compost surface Let the top layer of compost dry out; use yellow sticky traps; treat soil with Bti drench