Detailed Explanation of Pest and Disease Control Techniques and Methods for the Boston Fern
The Boston fern (Nephrolepis auriculata) suffers from few pests and diseases during cultivation, but sometimes, due to poor management, the following problems can still be encountered: for example, in overly damp places there will be slugs causing damage; when ventilation is poor, scale insects may appear;
In addition, nematodes sometimes cause damage as well, producing brown round spots on the leaves and affecting their ornamental value. As long as these problems are managed correctly and carefully during cultivation, paying attention to following the Boston fern's growth habits and providing it with suitable temperature, humidity, light, soil and other conditions, they can generally be effectively avoided and overcome.
Control of Common Pests and Diseases of the Boston Fern
Boston fern (scientific name: Nephrolepis auriculata (L.) Trimen): epiphytic or terrestrial. Rhizome erect, covered with fluffy light brown long subulate scales, with thick wire-like stolons spreading horizontally in all directions below, stolons brown, unbranched, sparsely covered with scales, with fine brown rootlets. Fronds clustered, dark brown, slightly glossy, blade linear-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, pinnate once, pinnae numerous, alternate, often dense and imbricate, lanceolate, leaf margin with sparse shallow blunt serrations. Veins distinct, lateral veins fine, extending obliquely upward from the midrib, forked in the lower part. Fronds firm herbaceous or herbaceous, brown-green or brown when dry, smooth. Sori in 1 row on both sides of the midrib, kidney-shaped, borne at the tip of the upper veinlet of each group of lateral veins, located at 1/3 of the distance from the leaf margin to the midrib; indusia kidney-shaped, brown, with lighter-colored margins, hairless.
Native to tropical and subtropical regions, wild in mountain forests of various parts of South China. Often terrestrial and epiphytic in rock crevices and on tree trunks under forests beside streams. Prefers warm, humid and semi-shaded environments, and avoids direct sunlight. The Boston fern is an ornamental fern widely used both in China and abroad; besides garden applications, the Boston fern is also a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. The underside of the Boston fern has large numbers of sporangia, used to reproduce offspring.
Control of Common Pests and Diseases of the Boston Fern
Mainly damages leaves; in severe cases it causes leaves to turn yellow and fall off. It can be sprayed with 65% mancozeb wettable powder diluted 600 times.
2. Red spider mite
Prone to occur when ventilation is poor and the weather is hot and stuffy. Mainly damages leaves.
Control method: spraying with water in which 25 g of chili pepper has been boiled in 1000 g of water is simple and effective. It can also be sprayed with 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate diluted 1000 times. For other methods, see the section on pest and disease control for the croton (Codiaeum variegatum).
3. Aphids
Mainly damage tender shoots and tender leaves. When they first appear, soapy water can be sprayed; for other control methods, see the section on pest and disease control for Ardisia mamillata.
Pests and Diseases of the Boston Fern and Their Control Methods
Main Diseases of the Boston Fern
Leaf blight and its control methods
Leaf blight is also called leaf spot blight or leaf spot disease; it mainly harms the leaves of the Boston fern. In the early stage, small brown spots appear on the leaves, and the small spots grow larger and larger; in the later stage, the large spots join together into one patch, causing the entire leaf to wither and fall off. The ornamental value of the Boston fern lies in its emerald-green, glossy leaves; once the leaves wither and fall off, its ornamental value is completely lost. The control method is actually very simple: regularly spraying it with chemicals is enough, and it can be sprayed with mancozeb wettable powder.
Main Insect Pests of the Boston Fern
Red spider mite and its control methods
Red spider mites are mainly common in spring and summer; they gnaw on the leaves of the Boston fern, and after finishing one leaf they move on to another leaf to gnaw, causing very great damage. For control, spraying with chili pepper water or spraying with chemicals can be used; the commonly used method is spraying chili pepper water, which is low in cost, simple, easy and highly effective.
Aphids and their control methods
Aphid infestation mainly occurs when the Boston fern is young; aphids attach to the tender leaves of the Boston fern and suck the nutrients from the leaves. The control method is also fairly simple: spraying soapy water in the early stage is enough, and in the later stage an appropriate amount of chemicals can be sprayed to remove the aphids.