Dying Java Fern

R

Ronne

IAMCANADIAN
Nov 27, 2002
83
0
0
48
48.25'00"N, 123.22'00"S
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I have had my java fern for about a month now. It is tied to a piece of mopani driftwood with standard sewing thread.

My problem is that about 50% of the leaves have died or are dying (turning brown and disintigrating). The other leaves on the same plant still look great, bright green and growning. The water temp is 78 degrees and the pH is 7.4. All other water parameters are good and my other plants are doing well (amazon sword, valsinaria etc). I don't think I tied the fern to the wood too tight as to crush the roots. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for any input.
 
Usually when a leaf or leaves get old or become distressed they turn a darker green and small plantlets begin to sprout on the margins or tips. Are yours doing that? I wouldn't worry too much if the other leaves are ok. Javas are hard to kill. Look for hte light green plantlets on the old leaves.
Len
 
Transitman, no it just means the the leaf is old and getting ready to die. Leaves throw plantlets when they are getting old or are otherwise distressed, but usually when old.
Len
 
I have had the same java fern (or its descendents) since 1979 (not kidding!). For 3 years in the 1980's it lived in a 5 gallon bucket in the corner of my mom's dining room when I was without a tank. All I did was top off with water due to evaporation. No plant food, no nothing. Now it didn't really grow during this time, but it did not die ouot either. It has very little requirements. Your problem could be too much light. How much light do you have and how close is the JF to the light? Mine does best with very little light.
 
I really wouldn't worry too much. Java fern is very hardy.

I also have a 33 gal low light tank with java fern on a piece of mopani driftwood (and around the tank) and mine did go through a period of leaf dye off (turning brown and rotting on stem like yours) while 60% of leaves were green, growing and healthy.

All I did was pick off the disintegrating leaves when they were getting messy and used Kent liquid fertilizer (3 tsp every 2 weeks).

After a while this stopped and my java ferns were full of only health green growing leaves and only a few old leaves turn brown once and a while. I got them in mid September with 1/2" leaves; now I have bushes of beautiful fronds up to 4.5" and growing.

I would suggest a fertilizer though. I use a Kent liquid supplement dosing 3 tsp every 2 weeks (recommended is 1-3 tsp every week I think). Flourish seems to be a favorite brand of liquid supplement for a lot of people.

I'm sure your java fern will be fine. :)
 
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