---
title: "Are these thrips? Birds nest fern. Only on new growth. Had this plant…"
description: "Are these thrips? Birds nest fern. Only on new growth. Had this plant for a while."
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/sIDhSqgbQZSKuuLljBbynw"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Nina9"
published: "2024-05-26T14:52:17.629727Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yJU66bY_6WQZ0t-doy5we3i4gxNWeOLIxb9xevVbGiA/xQrKSyhoRs-FVZUrvNzeJQ.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# Are these thrips? Birds nest fern. Only on new growth. Had this plant…

_Posted by Nina9 on 2024-05-26_

Are these thrips?  
Birds nest fern.  
Only on new growth. Had this plant for a while.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/yJU66bY_6WQZ0t-doy5we3i4gxNWeOLIxb9xevVbGiA/xQrKSyhoRs-FVZUrvNzeJQ.webp?size=large)

## 9 comments

### Chrissy commented on 2024-05-26

Looks more like rust but I’ll wait for a second opinion. Or are they just fern spores?

#### Nina9 replied on 2024-05-26

Oh my gosh, I hope it’s what you think too. I’ll research all of those things. I’ve had this plant for like two years. Hopefully I’m just not remembering this from years in the past.  
My newest plant I got an early March and I didn’t see any signs of anything. Everything else I’ve had for a long time.

#### Chrissy replied on 2024-05-26

I’ve only ever kept outdoor planted ferns so I’m not very sure. I hope others chime in though to give their opinions.

### Andrea C commented on 2024-05-27

Same exactly here. Birdsnest fern. Exactly like this and only on new growth. They don’t move so I don’t think they are pests…?

### V.curios commented on 2024-05-27

It’s like little fibers from the crown the new fronds grow out of. I’ve had a birds nest fern for years and it has this and it has never had a problem. I’d would do an experiment by taking a dry qtip and gently remove the fibers and see if a more come back on the existing fronds or just new ones.

### V.curios commented on 2024-05-27

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wCECSHcwbUsKD2K8AZoTOJ-oNrETtHxZ3L6DBlOoHO8/aWjWNQM7QSGDxLAGOO2z5w.webp?size=large)

#### V.curios replied on 2024-05-27

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wCECSHcwbUsKD2K8AZoTOJ-oNrETtHxZ3L6DBlOoHO8/6fd_zu6SR6uI_p2438Fmtg.webp?size=large)

#### V.curios replied on 2024-05-27

Happily growing bigger and bigger - a bit dusty and sprinkled with cat hair 😆

### Nina9 commented on 2024-05-29

Okay thank you! I must have forgotten and just freaked out. Haha phew

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