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Imagine that. The first frost is near and you decide to protect your fern by moving it indoors, which seems like a great idea right now.
You place the potted plant near a well-lit area and allow it to thrive indoors. A few days later, water the plant.
As soon as the water fills the pot, you smell a terrible smell that almost knocks you over.
It seems to come from the fern and when you approach the pot you can smell a slight fishy smell. Where can this smell come from?
Today we are going to discuss some common reasons why your fern may smell like fish or give off other foul odors. Here it goes:
Contents
Why does your fern smell like fish?
Thinking that your fern plant is creating a fishy smell can be quite overwhelming.
After all, the plant should help circulate fresh air and shouldn’t be the reason you need an air freshener around the house.
Interestingly, even if you think the plant is responsible for that nasty smell, that’s not exactly the case. Your floor is to blame!
You see, cool earth usually gives off an earthy scent that makes you feel grounded and connected to Mother Earth.
However, once it starts emitting odors, like fish, all is probably not well in the background.
Most of the time, it all comes down to a buildup of water, which causes a number of problems, as we’ll see later.
So it’s worth keeping in mind that it’s not your plant’s fault and the easiest way to deal with the smell is to treat the soil.
How does water make your floor smelly? Healthy soil contains air bubbles that help plant roots breathe.
When the soil contains too much water, these air pockets fill with water, creating an environment where plant roots cannot thrive; also called anaerobic environment.
Such conditions are ideal for the growth of harmful bacteria that give off the odors you get.
How to Stop Your Fern from Smelling Fishy
Now that you know waterlogging is the likely problem, the key is to monitor your watering habits.
It also helps to check the condition of your soil and the weather conditions you live in as follows.
General assessment
Seasons
Leaving your plant outside during the rainy season will likely give it a lot more water than it needs, which can lead to a toxic soil environment.
You need to move the plant or find a way to reduce the amount of water it receives during this season.
soil structure
The floors are not the same. If you use heavy clay soil in your pot, you will find that it retains water longer due to poor drainage.
Therefore, it is in your best interest to find loose, airy soil for your plant.
give too much water
Sometimes the problem lies in your watering habits. The more water you give a soggy plant, the easier it is for carbon dioxide and ethylene to build up around the roots of the plant.
Over time, root growth slows down and this, in turn, hinders the growth rate of the plant.
leaching
The more water you give a plant, the more nutrients will leach out of the soil. This continuous loss weakens the plant and makes it vulnerable to pests and diseases.
If any of the above issues are the cause of the waterlogging issue, the following signs will appear on the affected fern.
If you like this article, check out our article on How to keep your Boston fronds from curling.
flood signs
leaf changes
As more nutrients are removed from the soil, the leaves may become discolored and yellow. They may also begin to wilt and die as their leaves soften.
algae growth
You may also notice a buildup of algae on the floor, indicating microbial activity in the affected soil. This growth may also be present on ferns growing in the garden.
towards
If worms appear on the surface of the soil, it indicates that the conditions below the soil surface are not ideal.
The worms can no longer survive in this state of lack of oxygen and must stay on the surface to live.
weeds
The anaerobic environment created by the lack of oxygen contributes to the growth of weeds such as docks.
If you end up with more weeds than usual, waterlogging could be the cause.
aromas
Soil can give off a variety of odors, from sour to urine, fishy to mildew. People describe the changes in their soil in different ways, but they all point to this toxic soil environment.
water recovery
It could also be that the floor above is collecting water and this water does not seem to be draining at any time, indicating that it is saturated.
You may also be interested in: Can I Grow Ferns Alone in Water?
Plagues and diseases
A plant cannot thrive in a toxic environment. You will notice that your fern has become much more susceptible to disease and pests.
Where you are looking for pesticides more often than in the past, waterlogging may be the problem.
rotten root
Unfortunately, root rot is not easily diagnosed from the outside and often destroys the plant when it becomes apparent.
You may notice a change in leaf color and shape at first. If you don’t act quickly, the rot can completely kill the plant by robbing it of its ability to absorb nutrients and water.
The easiest way to check for root rot is to pull out a plant and check the roots. If they look discolored and soggy, you have a problem with your hands.
Treat your soggy plant
Your flooring is responsible for the horrible smell and there are several ways to deal with this problem as follows:
Cleaning
You should spray any residue on the leaves of the plant. To do this, you can use a pressurized hose in proportion to the size of the plant.
You should also remove any mud that has accumulated on the floor. To do this, wear protective clothing to make sure you don’t come into contact with the toxins.
Combine the waste, bag it, and place it in a container where it won’t contaminate other plants in your home.
brushwood
Prepare warm soapy water and use it to scrub the outside of the jar to remove toxins.
Make sure the soap is organic, as porous pots can absorb it and transfer it to soil that is no longer healthy.
replant
Start by removing all contaminated potting soil and use it in a hot compost system to get rid of pathogens.
In the meantime, you should wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from contact with toxins.
Clean the inside of the pot and add fresh potting soil. For extra ventilation, add worm castings and vermiculite.
Before returning the affected plant to the pot, remove any dead shoots or foliage with clean tools, maintaining a high level of hygiene during the process.
To fill
If transplanting doesn’t work, try putting microorganisms back into the soil to see if they improve.
Good examples are fresh compost and worm droppings added to the top layers of soil.
Be careful not to disturb the roots as this can further weaken the plant. Keep adding these treatments every two weeks until you notice an improvement in the soil.
Water
Since this problem started with excess water, it would be ideal to make sure to keep the humidity level at an optimal level.
With the help of a moisture meter, you can check the amount of water in the soil at any time. Ideally, the level should be between 40% and 70%.
Anything above 70% reduces available oxygen in the soil, creating a toxic environment.
Anything below 40% can cause wilting and make it difficult for the plant to absorb nutrients.
pipeline system
In addition to having well-drained, airy soil, the pot should also have plenty of drainage holes in the base.
Make sure nothing is blocking these holes so water can flow freely.
frequently asked Questions
Why do some ferns smell like urine?
Your plant may smell of urine because of soggy soil or because your pets have used the fern as a toilet.
When pets are at fault, spray the plant on its side before standing it up and let it sit for half an hour.
Then fill a spray bottle with half a teaspoon of tea tree oil and a cup of room temperature water.
Mix the ingredients well and aim the sprayer at the base of the fern, making sure to soak the top layer with the mixture. The smell of tea tree masks the smell of urine.
If engorgement is the culprit, see the first section of this article.
Why does your fern smell musty?
A musty smell indicates too much water and mold.
You can easily solve this problem by repotting the plant and changing the watering as described in our first section.
Why does your fern smell like rotten eggs?
Root rot is the likely cause of your fern’s rotten egg smell, due to a toxic environment created by a lack of oxygen in the soil.
The transplant should solve this problem. Please see the first part of our article.
The good news is that any unpleasant smell coming from your fern is likely due to the condition of your soil.
So, a few changes to your watering habits and a change of potting soil should be enough to get rid of the stench. Happy gardening!
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
How to grow asparagus ferns from tubers?
How do you save a dying staghorn fern?
What Are the Benefits of a Boston Fern?
What is the ideal humidity for a Boston fern?