Pest identification
What's eating my woodsia obtusa?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Missing or holed new fronds, especially in spring flush
Control: Copper tape around containers; iron-phosphate pellets; improve drainage to reduce slug habitat
Aphids
Signs: Sticky, distorted new growth with visible colonies of small insects
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap; strong water jet; introduce aphid predators such as lacewing larvae
Vine weevil (larvae)
Signs: Root and crown destruction in pot-grown specimens
Control: Apply beneficial nematodes to moist potting mix; inspect roots at repotting and destroy any grubs
Keep woodsia obtusa pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Woodsia obtusa pests — FAQ
What is eating my woodsia obtusa?
Blunt-lobed woodsia is a small native rock-garden and woodland fern. Slugs nip emerging fronds, and aphids occasionally cluster on new growth. Being compact and often grown in well-drained rocky sites, it faces fewer pest problems than larger ferns. Vine weevil larvae can be serious in container culture.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on woodsia obtusa?
Missing or holed new fronds, especially in spring flush Copper tape around containers; iron-phosphate pellets; improve drainage to reduce slug habitat
How do I get rid of aphids on woodsia obtusa?
Sticky, distorted new growth with visible colonies of small insects Spray with insecticidal soap; strong water jet; introduce aphid predators such as lacewing larvae
How do I get rid of vine weevil (larvae) on woodsia obtusa?
Root and crown destruction in pot-grown specimens Apply beneficial nematodes to moist potting mix; inspect roots at repotting and destroy any grubs