Fern drying out and has black hairs and white dots

[Treefern]

I have a tree fern planted in a pot a few years ago. Lately, I noticed black hairs at the bottom of the stems. The leaves started drying out from the bottom up even though I was watering. Then more recently there are white dots on the leaves. I found on the web that they might be spider mites and I can spray them with a water and rubbing alcohol solution. I will try that. Should I worry about the black hairs? Should I repot the fern?

 

[cpp gardener]

The black hairs are normal for the lower part of the leaves. You might try a systemic insecticide for the white spots. The picture wasn’t clear enough to confirm mealybug, but the pattern seems right. Alcohol is very drying, which ferns do not like.

 

[Tetters]

I always believed tree ferns should be planted with the root above ground level ?

 

[cpp gardener]

I think it’s a Blechnum which are sometimes called Dwarf Tree Fern. It isn’t planted very deep, you can see some roots on the surface.

 

[Tetters]

Thanks for that cpp I visualised a small Dicksonia . We can get those here if we look for them. I visited a rainforest when in Tasmania to see my son and his family. The atmosphere and sound of that place will stay with me. It was magical.

Dicksonia antarctica

 

[cpp gardener]

I can only imagine! Like being in a Redwood grove. An outdoor cathedral, hushed by a carpet of fallen twigs and leaves.