Question
QUESTION: Kathy,
I have an English fern that I've had for over 6 years (brought in during winter). I was trimming and preparing to put it outside. I noticed a "white hair" covering a large amount of the leaf stalks. Normally the stalks are woody / thick, however, these are now very soft and covered in the white hair. I haven't seen any type of bug on the plant. This seemed to happen rather quickly (I had it outside severl weeks ago). I haven't been able to identify what it is. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Derek

ANSWER: Hi Derek,  I have a feeling that what you are seeing are spores.  Spores mean the plant is growing and will produce more fronds.  kathy

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QUESTION: Kathy,
Having had ferns for years (20+), these are not spores, although I wish they were because I would have a healthy plant. It is some type of fungus. The entire frond has now become soft / rotting to a point with white hair-like growths on most of them. I'm not sure if I'm dealing with NEMATODES or Oedema. It is possible that the hairs were part of the new frond and I'm dealing with a type of root rot that has slowly taken over from below. I have searched photos on fern disease to see if I could match it and haven't found anything close. I took the plant out of the pot and the soil was moist. I'm wondering if due to the soil being moist (too moist?) and low airflow, that it may be a type of root rot?

Answer
Hi Derek,  I do have to say I am not familiar with ferns, however being in the nursery business for over 20 years I do know fungus, and I do not think nematodes would cause that after such a long time.  So now I would tell you to check out Atomic Grow which will make your plant healthy so it will correct the fungus problem, if it is a bug it will make the plant healthy so the bug will go somewhere else and that includes nematodes.  This is the most amazing product I have ever come across and you will find more and more about it in the near future as more people are reading about it.  It is organic and totally safe and does not spoil, made from food. Other than that I hoped I gave you a direction to go.   kathy