Rusty tips on my fiddlehead ferns

Cindy Foley
by Cindy Foley
do they need fertilizer? north facing and moist. new fronds are blackish
  3 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Aug 30, 2014
    Do you mean an ostrich fern? That is the one people most commonly eat as a fiddlehead. In all honesty I don't think I've ever heard of anyone fertilizing them. Old fronds on an ostrich fern would naturally be black. Can you post a photo?
  • as Douglas states there is no need to fertilize them. They love the moist areas and prefer more of a bog and they do not like to dry out. What is going on sounds normal and these ferns will take over the whole side of your house within a few short years. They can be quite aggressive but they are beautiful. happy gardening!
  • Therese Ryan-Haas Therese Ryan-Haas on Aug 31, 2014
    Maybe they have brown dust on them like Rust Mold? Or brown on the back of leaf that could be spores? Till we get pictures who knows.