Plant guide:ðŸŒŋ Fern
Back to Plant Clinic
⚠ Critical
ðŸĐš
Roots

Root Rot in Ferns

Commonly affects: Various ferns (Polypodiopsida)

The plant wilts despite moist soil, and roots appear brown, mushy, and hollow rather than firm and white when checked.

Potential Causes

  1. 1Overwatering combined with poorly-draining soil or a pot without adequate drainage
  2. 2Soil that stays waterlogged for extended periods
  3. 3A pot too large for the plant's current root system, holding excess moisture

Solution Steps

  1. 1Remove the plant from its pot and trim away all rotten roots with a sterilised blade
  2. 2Repot into fresh, well-draining potting mix in an appropriately-sized pot
  3. 3Water thoroughly but allow the top layer of soil to dry slightly between waterings going forward
  4. 4Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes

Prevention Tip

Ferns like consistently moist soil, but moist doesn't mean waterlogged — good drainage is essential even for a plant that dislikes drying out.

More Root Problems Problems

See all →
Root Rot — Pythium & Phytophthora Infection — calathea plant care

Root Rot — Pythium & Phytophthora Infection

Root Mealybugs — Hidden Rhizoecus Infestation

Root-Knot Nematodes — Meloidogyne Galls — monstera plant care

Root-Knot Nematodes — Meloidogyne Galls

Compacted, Anaerobic Substrate — monstera plant care

Compacted, Anaerobic Substrate

See how growers dealt with this →
Track this problem in your grow diary