Why does your Asplenium bulbiferum have fine webbing? Diagnose the cause and fix it with our step-by-step guide.
Pet FriendlyThe presence of fine webbing is a classic sign of spider mite infestation, which thrives in the warm, dry conditions often found around Hen and Chicks Ferns. These microscopic pests pierce the plant cells to feed, causing stippling and eventual discoloration.
Certain nymph stages of hemipteran insects produce silk-like webbing as they move across the plant surface. While less common than spider mites, they can cause localized damage to the developing 'chicks' on the frond tips.
In cases of extremely high localized humidity and poor air circulation around the dense center of the fern, fine fungal mycelium can sometimes be mistaken for webbing. This usually accompanies damp, decaying organic matter at the base of the plant.