Rabbit's Foot Fern problems & how to fix them
Davallia fejeensis
Drooping, yellowing, brown tips, or a plant that just won’t thrive? Here are the most common Rabbit's Foot Fern problems, what usually causes them, and how to turn things around.
Common problems
Root rot
Burying or constantly wetting the surface rhizomes causes them to rot — they belong on top of the soil. A fungal or bacterial infection of the roots, almost always triggered by soil staying wet too long. Caught early, most plants recover within a few weeks after repotting; if most roots are already mushy, recovery is uncertain.
Phytophthora root rot on a dug-up root ball
Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Crispy tips (low humidity)
Low humidity from heating in winter browns the fine frond tips. Brown, dry leaf tips caused by air that is too dry for the plant, common in heated or air-conditioned rooms. Existing crispy tips never turn green again, but with higher humidity new growth should come in clean within a few weeks.
Spider mites
Dry air brings mites; rinse the fronds in the shower periodically as a preventive. Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in warm, dry air and leave fine webbing and speckled leaves. Caught early they are very treatable; most plants recover fully within 3-4 weeks of consistent treatment.
a two-spotted spider mite among its silk threads
Photo: Gilles San Martin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Underwatering
Though tougher than most ferns, prolonged drought still drops fronds quickly. The plant is not getting enough water, either from infrequent watering or soil so dry it repels water. Prognosis is excellent - most underwatered plants perk up within days of proper rehydration.
The mistakes that most often kill it
- Burying the furry rhizomes under soil, which rots them.
- Keeping the pot soggy in a cool winter room.
- Parking it over a heat vent where the air is desert-dry.
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