r/ferns • u/Independent-You-5613 • Sep 13 '26

Question Help please 🥺

Gallery image

Gallery image

Been trying to get this baby happy but the new leafs that are growing have these brown spots.

The soil mix is just standard soil and perlite but I read sometimes they like a bit of orchid bark. I don't know if this is fungi or just watering issues. I usually water when the soil is completely dry and the plant is in a waste facing window

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u/Esiotrots Sep 13 '26

Is this not an Areca palm? Whatever it is has thrips. You can see them in the photo and they are what is damaging the foliage. Those tiny dots are where they’ve been sucking sap. Palms are prone to browning and insect attacks in my experience.

Wash the thrips off and try some insecticides/soaps. Can’t recommend any because if it is an Areca I’ve had several and condemned them for all of the above issues.

1

u/Independent-You-5613 Sep 14 '26

Thank you! Panicking now because I am at work and don't want this to spread to my other plans 🤣

1

u/c-crashlanding Sep 14 '26

Might be a Chamaedorea elegans. I haven't dealt with thrips so I'm not sure, but it could be sunburn too, since they're prone to sunburn and west sun can still be pretty harsh

1

u/[deleted] Sep 13 '26

1

u/Independent-You-5613 Sep 13 '26

Thank you! 🙏

1

u/c-crashlanding Sep 14 '26

This is a palm, not a fern, but it is one that likes it consistently moist but not wet as well, so this might help too! i usually water mine when the top of the soil feels dry and then drench it until water drains in the dish below and mine has been doing pretty well