Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Smell the soil or mount for a sour, rotting odor.
- Check if the roots are firm or if they fall apart when touched.
- Ensure the pot or mount has adequate airflow.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The fronds turn yellow or black and the base of the plant feels mushy. The roots may look dark and slimy instead of firm and light colored.
What to do: Remove the plant from its container or mount and trim away any black, mushy roots with sterilized scissors. Repot in fresh, well draining media and reduce your watering frequency.
Poor Drainage
PossibleHow to tell: Water pools at the bottom of the pot or the mount stays soggy for days. This creates an environment where rot thrives.
What to do: Ensure your pot has drainage holes or that your mount allows excess water to run off freely. Never let the fern sit in a saucer of standing water.
Find out what's wrong with your resurrection fern
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
If the entire root system is black and mushy, the plant may be too far gone to save. Act as soon as you notice the fronds losing their color.
Stopping it coming back
Allow the plant to dry out slightly between waterings and never let it sit in standing water.
Resurrection fern: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your resurrection fern and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- How do I know if the roots are healthy?
- Healthy roots are firm and usually light brown or tan. If they are black, slimy, or smell bad, they are rotting.
- Should I fertilize a plant with root rot?
- No, never fertilize a stressed or sick plant. Wait until it has fully recovered and is showing new growth.
More problems with Resurrection fern
- Why are my resurrection fern leaves curling up?
- What are these brown bumps on my resurrection fern?
- Why are my resurrection fern's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my resurrection fern's tips turning brown?
- Why is my resurrection fern drooping?
- Why is my resurrection fern losing its fronds?
- Why is my resurrection fern looking thin and leggy?
Back to the Resurrection fern guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.