Java Fern

[This Old Spouse]

I got some java fern a while ago, and many of the leaves started getting dark brown spots. Lots of leaves died. With some of the leaves, little "fernlets" grew from them, complete with roots.

I have two categories of questions.

1. How can I help the ferns so they don't lose any more leaves (or is it just a matter of waiting out the "new" period for plants?)? Do they need ferts?

2. What can I do with the little fernlets? Should I remove them? Guide them to the sand? Guide them to some driftwood?

Any help appreciated!

 

[minnnt]

Remove the plantlets and superglue them to some wood.

I also have brown spots all over my java fern, and I'm dosing ferts.

 

[StandbySetting]

Are the brown spots uniform? Similar to this line of colons, but in your case running up the leaf? ::::::::

If so they're just little nodes where the new plants grow, totally normal, generally the leaf that has new plants growing on it dies.

Just pull them off and glue them to the wood/stone.

 

[This Old Spouse]

No, the brown spots aren't uniform. I'm talking brown spots that grow until the entire leaf turns brown, then dies, sometimes showing the little leaflets and sometimes not.

The good news is that the plants that form from the dead/dying leaves seem to be very healthy, with no brown at all.

 

[minnnt]

T.O.S. Mine are exactly the same. I have just removed some plantlets and made a new very healthy clump on some bogwood.

 

[This Old Spouse]

T.O.S. Mine are exactly the same. I have just removed some plantlets and made a new very healthy clump on some bogwood.

Excellent. Time to go out and get some more Super Glue today!

 

[phishyphil]

I maybe mistaken but once a Jave fern Sprouts new Plantlets, it then "Sacrifices" itself and gives all the nutrients to the new leaves, So you will lose one leaf but gain alot more in new growth. You Can, As Minnnt Says, Remove the new growth carefully as they start to grow, and the leaf should survive, but I fine that the leaf never seems to llok the same again, Thats just my personal experience with Java Ferns Pal

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'm just trying to figure out if the leaves are turning brown because I recently got them, or because they're putting out the new leaflets, or both. As I said, the new leaves are very nice and healthy.

Guess it doesn't matter really. So long as something is growing!

 

[phishyphil]

Guess it doesn't matter really. So long as something is growing!

Exactly