Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Look closely at the pore surface to see if the spots are just color changes.
- Check for any signs of insect activity like small holes.
Likely causes
Natural aging
Most likelyHow to tell: The spots appear as the bracket matures and the pore surface darkens over time.
What to do: Do nothing. This is a normal part of the fungus growing in the wild.
Insect activity
PossibleHow to tell: You see small holes or tunnels alongside the spots on the underside.
What to do: Leave the fungus alone. Insects are part of the ecosystem that interacts with wild brackets.
Find out what's wrong with your artist's bracket
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
You do not need to worry about spots on a wild fungus. It is perfectly normal for them to change appearance as they age.
Stopping it coming back
There is no way to prevent this as it is a natural part of the organism's growth.
Keep your artist's bracket healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Are these spots a disease?
- No, Artist's bracket is a fungus itself and these spots are usually just natural aging or environmental interaction.
- Should I clean the spots off?
- It is best to leave the fungus exactly as you found it. Cleaning can damage the delicate pore surface.
More problems with Artist's bracket
Back to the Artist's bracket guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.