Help for my Staghorn!

My 35-year-old Staghorn fern is in trouble. Mealybugs have bored into the interior; aphids and small brown things (scale?) are on some of the fronds.

Many years ago, when some kind of boring insects invaded, I got advice from a local nursery in New Orleans and soaked the plant in some recommended insecticide solution. I don't have such experts near where I live now. I haven't found specific instructions on the Internet, but I'm leaning toward making up a solution with castile soap.

I'd appreciate advice from anyone as quickly as possible.

Hi marilynnla
I live on the Gol;d Coast Queensland .
The Birth place of the Stag Horn .
They literaly grow wild in my back yard .
I have 10 acres and there are at least 20 wild ones around .
Which leads me to say Don`t bath them in soap of any kind .
It is not a natural thing to them .
I have a friend who used Grey Water on his and killed them all .
I don`t know what the answer will be for your problem . Kell

Thanks for the warning. Would love to see those wild ones!

This is of cause an Elk Horn .
But it`s all I have on file at the moment .
I`ll take some more through the week .

Thanks for the great picture!

Kell, what kind of snake is that??

It`s a 8 ft carpet snake .
http://www.smuggled.com/auspyt4.htm
I do Snake relocating .
I get paid to go get them out of ppl`s houses .
It`s like getting paid for picking your Flowers .

I'd pay you to do that too if I had a snake in my house. It's a win-win situation!! Even for the snake!

Sofonisba ,
Next time you have a snake .
Just Send me $ 72 .

US or Australian? How fast can you get here?

I`m not coming to get it .
I mean just send me the money and ignore the Joe Blake .

Hey, I was away for a few days and on my return, all the talk is about a beautiful snake instead of my languishing Staghorn! However, I enjoyed the commentary and did get some good tips at the fern forum. It's doing much better, and I've relaxed a bit about the problems.

Ginger, my dad had a business in Australia and lived in Melbourne for many years. Though he died in 1961 shortly after returning to the US, I've always dreamed of visiting Australia. I even know how to pronounce it! But it's a long way from Louisiana.

Glad you are Back on the thread .
You will love Oz.
And you would always be made very welcome .
Also good news about your EH .

I need to correct your original Post at the top .
What you have there is an Elk Horn , not a Stag .
Hope that does not upset you to much .

This is a Stag .
http://mgonline.com/stagcoronarium01.jpg

Ooops. Sorry about that Marilynnia. Wish I could help your fern. I started reading this thread because my Staghorn has scale and I was hoping to find out what to do about it.

Hey Ginger! Phhhhttttt! LMBO

Harper

Nice! So how do you tell the difference between an elkhorn and a staghorn?

Sofonisba,
No Idea what Phhhhttttt! LMBO means ???

A Stag Horn has only 2 Big leaves as per pic in my link .
And 2 big horns sticking out .

A Elk Horn has multiple Heads like in my Snake Pic .

No problem, Sofonisba; glad you came along. You may want to check out my "Ferns" thread.

Thanks, Ginger, but how do I tell her she's not a "Staghorn" after 35 years in my care, but an "Elkhorn", without precipitating PTSD? And I'm waiting for the "spores" pic, but I'll check it out on "Ferns."

Now, since we live in one of Louisiana's "Tornado Alley's," might I wish to be transported to Oz free of charge?

Well it worked for Dorothy & her dog Toto .
So it might work for you .

Here is a link to the 2 types of Ferns .
First the Stag Horn .
http://rainforest-australia.com/Staghorn%20Fern.htm

Then the Elk Horn .
http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2004/platycerium-bifurcatum.html
Mine with the python in it is a ELK HORN .

LOL! Okay. Phhhhtttt! Is just another way of saying "humph!" because you weren't coming to get my snake. LMBO means Laughing My Butt Off. It just doesn't feel funny anymore when I have to explain it.

Marilynnla, I'll definitely check out your 'ferns' thread. I'll also check out the links you posted ginger! Thanks!

Harper

How is the fern looking today marilynnla ?

Here's a close-up I just took. The white things are back, too. Perhaps they are scales and not aphids, as I thought.

Cooooo-ieeeeee ,
I thinks I hear an echo .
marilynnla , I`m saving your pic . to show to others .
It may be some sort of Ummerican disease?