Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Smell the soil for a musty or rotten odor.
- Check if the pot has drainage holes at the bottom.
- Gently lift the plant to see if the roots are mushy.
Likely causes
Overwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The fronds turn yellow or brown and collapse, and the soil stays wet for days. The roots will look mushy and dark instead of firm and white.
What to do: Remove the plant from its pot and trim away any black, slimy roots. Repot the fern in fresh, well draining potting mix and a pot with drainage holes.
Poor Drainage
PossibleHow to tell: Water pools at the bottom of the pot or the soil remains heavy and dense. This prevents oxygen from reaching the roots.
What to do: Ensure your pot has holes at the bottom. Use a mix that includes perlite or orchid bark to improve airflow around the roots.
Find out what's wrong with your leatherleaf 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.
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When to worry
Root rot is always a serious concern that requires immediate intervention. If the entire root system is mushy, the plant may not be salvageable.
Stopping it coming back
Always empty the saucer after watering so the plant never sits in standing water.
Leatherleaf Fern: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your leatherleaf 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
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Questions people ask
- Can I save a plant with root rot?
- If you catch it early and remove all the decayed roots, you can often save the plant. It will need time to recover in fresh soil.
- How often should I water to avoid rot?
- Check the soil every 3 to 7 days. Only water when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry to the touch.
More problems with Leatherleaf Fern
- Why are my Leatherleaf Fern's frond tips turning brown?
- What are these brown bumps on my Leatherleaf Fern?
- Why are my Leatherleaf Fern's leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Leatherleaf Fern drooping?
- Why is my Leatherleaf Fern dropping its leaves?
- Why does my Leatherleaf Fern have spots on its fronds?
- Why is my Leatherleaf Fern looking thin and leggy?
- Why are the fronds on my Leatherleaf Fern curling?
Back to the Leatherleaf 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.