Staghorn Fern Care: How to Water, Grow and Care for...How to Care For...

Staghorn ferns are stunning.These plants are mounted on a board and hung from a wall.

Until recently, they were quite rare, but recently they have become more common.Thanks to the native species of Australia, Platycerium bifurcatum, it is easy to care for and grow.

Staghorn fern care intimidates many people who visit our nursery, and we will be the first to admit that these plants can be picky.Before we dive into our best practices for staghorn fern care, it is important to know a bit about how the plants grow.

Staghorn ferns can be found in pots, but mature plants need to be mounted to a board or hung in a basket.Why?Staghorn ferns are epiphytic plants, which means that they grow on other plants or trees in their natural environment.

Staghorn ferns grow to huge proportions in the tropics, jutting out of the crooks of trees.Their roots hold them in place.

One of the reasons that staghorn fern care is difficult is that it is different from other plants.Ferns are one of the most ancient plants.Ferns don't reproduce through flowers or seeds, but through the release of small particles into the air, which eventually become new plants.

Staghorn ferns have two types of leaves.The large, bifurcated leaves that shoot out from the center of the plant are known as the "antler" frond.Don't remove the spores because they look like brown fuzz on the lower fronds.In staghorn care, this fern is not allowed.

The shield frond is the second type of staghorn fern.The leaves surround the base of the plant.Their function is to protect the plant roots.The green fronds turn brown and dry up.One of the most common myths in staghorn fern care is that this is a special fern.A brown shield frond is not a sign that your staghorn fern is dying.

The root ball is the final part of the staghorn fern.Since they are epiphytes, their root systems are fairly minimal, and help the plant attach to its home.Staghorn ferns are susceptible to root rot because the roots are so small.

Here are our best practices for staghorn fern care.

The shady, lush forest floors of the Pacific Northwest are what you imagine when you picture a fern.You might think that your man will like a dark space, but he won't.Staghorn ferns are native to the tropics, while the species that we most commonly feature, Platycerium bifurcatum, is from Australia.

Staghorn ferns must be protected from the harsh rays of the sun in order to thrive.The plant won't take direct sun so we tell people to put it in the bright part of the house.Affirmative North windows will do best in rooms with Southern and Eastern exposures.This afternoon exposure tends to be hot and harsh, so be careful with the light.

The answer is no.If you want to put your staghorn in a room with no natural sun, we don't recommend it.It's a no-go to go to the basement.

Staghorn fern failure can be caused by under and over watering.The amount of light, humidity and heat in your home can affect how often a staghorn fern will need watering.There are a few rules that work well for us.

The moosehorn fern is more tolerant of root-rot than other Staghorn Ferns.

To water these plants, we recommend that when the soil/moss at the base of the plant feels dry (if no moss is exposed, gauge by weight of mount), place plant under faucet and run the tap so water flows on the board.

Try not to wet the foliage.The flat shield frond has a black spot on it.Make sure the plant is able to adequately dry out after watering by decreasing watering and improving air circulation.This is important during winter.

For optimal growth, the temperature should not be allowed to drop below 50 degrees or above 100 degrees.

Staghorn ferns can be placed outdoors if the temperature stays within this range.Staghorns need to be kept out of the sun and water.When it gets cold at night, bring your fern back inside.

During periods of active grown, feed your fern staghorn monthly.Use a balanced, water-solublefertilizer.Fertilization should be reduced to every other month during periods of dormancy.

Some people suggest putting a piece of banana peel under the shield frond.

We don't recommend re-mounting your staghorn fern because they are intended as permanent installations.The root space on the original board will suffice since the plant is epiphytic.

Standard practice is to attach your board to a larger piece of wood with a few nails when the shield fronds begin to appear.Don't nail the shield frond or root ball when remounting!

You should see your plant thrive in no time if you follow these guidelines.Do you have any questions about best practices for staghorn fern care?Tell us what you think in the comments.

I was handed down to me by my uncle who is almost 50 years old.Its huge!My great uncle was the first to have it in the family.Is it possible to split this thing up to make smaller ones?Two people have to carry it.I want to make sure I take care of it.

I have a hot house with a lot of animals in it, but I'm really worried about the temperature at night in winter, it gets down to -1 to -9 sometimes.

Can I fit a Staghorn fern on a tree trunk?There is a possibility that a tree has a thick bark.Bruno, thank you for any advice.

I received a beautiful staghorn fern.The back of the plant is meant to be hollow but I placed it into a board.Its beautiful.

My folks gave me my staghorn about 10 years ago, and they had it for 15 years before that.I was moving and it had trouble.It bounced back after a banana.The banana is given to us several times a year.It likes ripe bananas, like ready for banana bread.We wipe/spread a bit of banana mush all over the shield fronds close to where the antler fronds are growing out from, and drop some behind each one.The peel is not used by us.After a week or so, it is a happy plant.Don't be afraid of the banana, your fern will love it.My plant is large, the shield fronds cover an area of about 2 feet tall by 1.5 feet across, and we use 1 whole ripe banana.

Hi!I bought a mount in May of this year.I live in a hot, dry area and mist it daily and soak it once a week.I plan to move it to my bathroom because I know it needs more humidity.I'm concerned that it hasn't grown any shield fronds.Even though I have lost 2 or 3 antler fronds, there is still no sign of shield fronds.I don't know if the increased humidity will help perpetuate that growth or if I'm missing something.I would love to hear any advice.

I need help with my Staghorn, it has more than 20 sprout on it.How do I get the fallen fern back on the wall?It is 26” wide, 16” deep and 36” tall.

We removed the tree because I had a huge hanging horn.Several pups were attached to a tree.After years of bags of leaves from an olive tree and roots taking over, I didn't know what to do with my Staghorns, but I figured out how to attach them with a bungee cord.I don't know if putting banana pills behind them was a good idea because they did not get a lot of ants.I use the hose to water behind the Staghorn.

There is a board with a medium size staghorn attached to it.It was a small specimen.I have never fed it anything other than banana peels.There is a baby growing on the side of it.

Hello!Thank you for the information and education about Australia.I was wondering if it was appropriate to cover the large brown facia fronds with moss.