Hi Brenda
I don't know anything about ferns, but I do know a lot about bonsai.
In the bonsai business, we often find a small critter that leaves behind a sticky residue on everything. The first time I found it on my ficus, it had covered leaves, the pot rim, plus the surrounding table top.
I'm not sure where you'll find additional info on the Garden Web about scale, but they are easy to remove with a soap based spray.
Try searching Google for Scale Bugs.

Good Luck

Mark Hill

This is almost certainly a case of scale insects on your fern. Look for small, brown bumps along the stem, and on the leaves. They may be on the upper and/or lower surfaces of the leaves. You'll be able to remove those little bumps with a nudge of a thumb nail.

I've never known scale insects to be easy to control, and you must be careful about what you use. If the infestation is advanced, this plant would be disposed of at my house. I have a zero tolerance for chemicals.

Ack! I will go look for the spots (it's too dark now) but I can't possibly get rid of the plant, it is enormous. What chemical solutions are open to me?

Brenda