How often should you water a Staghorn Fern?
A good rule of thumb is to water once per week in dry, hot times of year, and once every two to three weeks during cooler months. Start with this schedule, and adjust as necessary depending on your space. Staghorn ferns absorb water through their fronds, as well as their roots.
Can a Staghorn Fern live indoors?
They do great outdoors in temperate climates but also make fine houseplants with a little effort. This is all about how to grow a Staghorn Fern indoors, even though are homes are nothing like the rainforest. Staghorn Ferns can be grown in a pot, in a wire basket as well as on a wire frame.
Can staghorn ferns grow in shade?
The key is to expose the fern to lots of light, but to keep it out of the direct rays of the sun. A staghorn fern in full sun will get scorched. On the other hand, growing staghorn ferns in shade that is too dense will slow their growth considerably and encourage the growth of fungus and disease.
How do you keep a Staghorn Fern happy?
Light: Bright filtered light is best. Protect from harsh sun which can make the fronds turn light in colour and mark the foliage. Water: During the growing season (Spring and Summer) thoroughly soak the potting mixture, then allow to almost completely dry out before watering again.
Where is the best place to hang a Staghorn Fern?
How to Hang a Staghorn Fern with Chains. Staghorn fern plants grow best in part shade to shady locations. Since they get most of their water and nutrients from the air or fallen plant matter, they are often hung on limbs or in the crotches of trees much like they grow in their native environments.
What temperature is too cold for Staghorn Fern?
Staghorn fern flourishes in warm, humid climates and should be protected from cold conditons. It's generally considered a tender plant; most species can't tolerate temperatures below 55°F. However, Platycerium bifurcatum and Platycerium veitchii can withstand temperatures as low as 30°F.
How do I encourage my staghorn fern to grow?
The Staghorn plant does not like being cold as it is used to warm rainforests. Fertilizer: To feed your Staghorn Fern, use a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer at half strength every watering. This helps the plant get enough nutrients to continue to grow its impressive fronds!
Do staghorn ferns do well in pots?
Staghorn ferns can grow in pots, but they should not be planted in mineral soil. Instead, use a well-draining planting medium made primarily of organic matter. A 50/50 mixture of orchid bark and cactus potting mix is appropriate.
Can staghorn fern survive in low light?
Growing staghorn ferns is easy. If they get low to medium light and moderate moisture, they will thrive. In fact, whether grown indoors or outside, provide moderate moisture and a humus-rich medium when growing staghorn ferns.
Can I use Miracle Grow on my staghorn fern?
Outdoor ferns can be fertilized in spring, preferably with a slow-release plant food such as Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed. If plants are divided or transplanted in the fall, there is no need to add fertilizer to the soil at the same time. Watch your ferns for signs of fronds turning brown along the edges.
Are coffee grounds good for staghorn ferns?
Banana skins, coffee grounds and tea bags are excellent slow release fertilizers that you can place behind your Staghorn or Elkhorn plants.
What is the best food for Staghorns?
They can be fed by placing organic matter such as leaf litter, banana skins or compost at the back of the plant (near where it meets the backing board) or watered with a very diluted dose of SeaMax Organic Fertiliser Liquid. Elkhorns and staghorns may also benefit from watering during very hot, dry periods.
How do you care for a staghorn fern indoors?
Staghorn ferns grow well in average home temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees. During temperate summers, they appreciate the heat and humidity outdoors, but be sure to avoid direct sunlight. Move them back inside when night temperatures drop into the 50s. High humidity is vital for good staghorn plant health.
How do you hang a staghorn fern indoors?
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Can a staghorn fern live in a bathroom?
Ferns make great plants for bathrooms as they love humid, shady environments. The Staghorn Fern with its unique, fuzzy foliage and its delicate shape is a fantastic addition to any space. We've said it once and we'll say it again: moisture-loving ferns are an excellent choice for the bathroom!
What do you do with staghorn ferns in the winter?
Growing Staghorn Ferns in Winter Keep the plant in a spot that receives bright but indirect light, and water less frequently than you did during the growing season, only once every few weeks.
How to keep a staghorn fern from misting?
If your staghorn fern is in a space where it receives lots of ambient humidity, like a bathroom, you’ll probably be able to reduce your misting and watering. More light or heat = more watering. During the summer, be especially attentive to your stag.
How to get rid of staghorn fern?
Soaking your staghorn fern. Soak your staghorn fern in a sink or basin of water for 10-20 minutes, or until the roots are fully saturated.
What is the second type of staghorn fern?
The second type of staghorn fern frond is called the shield frond. These are the round, hard plate-like leaves that surround the base of the plant. Their function is to protect the plant roots, and take up water and nutrients. These fronds start out green, but eventually turn brown and dry up. This is a totally normal part of the staghorn fern life-cycle -- in fact, this is one of the most common misconceptions in staghorn fern care. A brown shield frond does not mean your staghorn fern is dying, and dried shield fronds should never be removed!
How many species of staghorn fern are there?
There are about 12,000 fern species, and ferns are amongst the most ancient plants.
What are staghorn fern leaves called?
Fern leaves are actually called fronds , and staghorn ferns have two types. The first, and most prominent, is the “antler” frond - these are the large, bifurcated leaves that shoot out of the center of the plant, and from which staghorn ferns get their names, since they resemble the antlers of deer or moose.
Why is my staghorn fern not growing?
Under and over-watering are the most common causes of staghorn fern failure. There is no hard and fast rule as to how often a staghorn fern will need watering - the amount of light, humidity and heat they receive in your home will dictate your watering schedule. However, here are a few rules that tend to work well for us:
What is the final part of a staghorn fern?
The final part of the staghorn fern is the root ball. Since stags are epiphytes, their root systems are fairly minimal, and help the plant attach to its home. Because the roots are so minimal, staghorn ferns need extensive drainage and are particularly susceptible to root rot.
How hot should a staghorn fern be outside?
They can even go outside if the temperature is between 50-100 degrees as long as they are kept shaded from direct sunlight and watered appropriately. Common Staghorn Fern problems.
How to keep a staghorn fern from wilting?
Increase humidity by misting and running a humidifier, and water more frequently to compensate.
Why are there black spots on my staghorn fern?
Overwatering can also lead to fungal infections that appear as black spots on your Staghorn’s fronds. Remove affected leaves and allow your Staghorn Fern’s soil to dry before rewatering. In warmer or sunnier environments, Staghorn Ferns typically need a little more water, and underwatering is a risk.
Why are my ferns prone to rot?
Overwatering. Since the Staghorn Fern is an epiphyte that naturally grows along tree trunks in the tropics, its roots are smaller than you might expect and are easily overwatered. This can lead to root rot and harm your plant.
Do staghorn ferns need a humidifier?
The Staghorn Fern absorbs water through both its roots (like any other plant) and its fronds, so they will appreciate ambient humidity via misting or running a humidifier in the room, especially during dry winters.
Do staghorn ferns need direct sunlight?
Keep a Staghorn fern in bright, indirect light as direct sun is too harsh for the plant and can cause burns. The Staghorn needs natural sunlight, so it is not ideal for a small apartment or home without access to windows.
Is a staghorn fern toxic?
While the Staghorn Fern is safe and non-toxic people and animals, the fuzzy leaf coating can be damaged by too much handling. Snuggling the Staghorn is discouraged. Expecto Pa-Grow-Num. Good luck caring for your Staghorn Fern!
How to propagate staghorn fern?
Staghorn ferns can be propagated by spore or division. Large, mature staghorn can be easily divided into smaller plants, and even small "chunks" that include a leaf and a bit of root ball can be potted individually. Make sure new divisions are kept warm and moist until they are growing independently.
What does a staghorn fern look like?
Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home.". Staghorn ferns look very much like deer or elk antlers, hence their unusual name. Native to Asia and Australia, the plants are part of the Polypodiaceae family—they grow slowly, but end up being quite large and impressive once mature.
Why do staghorn ferns have black spots?
More frequently, you'll see black spot on a staghorn fern, directly related to too much humidity or traveling spores.
Do staghorn ferns need moss?
Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, growing on the sides of trees or other plants in the wild, and will therefore thrive in similar conditions in your home. To mount, you'll need a starting lump of peat, compost, moss, or other organic matter to act as the base, but beyond that should not need additional soil.
Can staghorn ferns be kept in shade?
Staghorn ferns prefer to be kept in a location that boasts consistent, shaded light. That being said, they can handle more sunlight if given enough water, warmth, and humidity. Just be cautious about allowing any direct rays to hit the fragile fronds, as they can burn easily.
What is the best medium for a staghorn fern?
Many people choose to mount their Staghorn Fern on a wooden board or hang it from a wide basket. In these instances, sphagnum moss is generally the best growing medium. Fix it to your board or basket with wires, and then, securely attach your plant on top of this.
How do you know if a staghorn fern needs water?
In order to understand the watering requirements of the Staghorn Fern, you need to understand a little about the science of the plant and how it absorbs moisture and nutrients. The Fern has two types of leaves: fertile and sterile. On a mature Staghorn Fern, it is easy to quickly distinguish between the two because the fertile leaves are the long antler-shaped green leaves, while the sterile leaves are the brown and dry looking leaves at the base of the plant.
What is a sterile fern?
The sterile leaves are also referred to as shield leaves, as they grow around the root ball, protecting it. When the Staghorn Fern is grown as a houseplant or outside in a garden, the way you water it will depend on the growing medium you have used. In most instances, the plant will be growing on sphagnum moss.
Why are my staghorn ferns' leaves brown?
On younger plants, the sterile leaves start out pale green, but as they age, it is normal for them to become brown and look almost dead. They fulfill a very important purpose to the survival of the plant, so it’s vital that you don’t remove the brown leaves. The primary function of the fertile leaves is reproduction. They produce spores from which new Staghorn Ferns can be grown. The sterile leaves are how the plant feeds itself and protects itself. In its natural habitat, the brown leaves would catch falling debris and foliage from other plants, which, over time, would decompose and release nutrients that would be absorbed by the plant.
Why don't you remove brown leaves from a staghorn fern?
They fulfill a very important purpose to the survival of the plant, so it’s vital that you don’t remove the brown leaves. The primary function of the fertile leaves is reproduction. They produce spores from which new Staghorn Ferns can be grown. The sterile leaves are how the plant feeds itself and protects itself.
What is a staghorn fern?
The Staghorn Fern is an unusual plant, being both an air plant and a fern, though it bears little resemblance to most ferns. In its natural environment of tropical forests, the plant grows on tree trunks or rocks, absorbing moisture from the humid air and collecting nutrients from the falling leaves of overhead trees.
What does it mean when a plant is dark tips?
Dark tips on the fronds mean the plant isn’t getting enough water, and you will need to provide it with more moisture.
How to mount Staghorn Fern?
For staghorn fern mounting you can use a variety of things like you can use a basket to mount it on the wall, you can use a tree, you can use a piece of wood or some pot that can take the weight of the pants when mounted. You need to make sure that the plant is protected and for safety purposes, people choose wired baskets to mount the plant. Just make sure that it receives an adequate amount of warmth, humidity and water at the mounting place for good growth.
Why is Staghorn Fern so expensive?
Staghorn fern is a rare plant species and they require optimal amounts of care for good growth. They are big beautiful plants but you need to take care of their growth requirements like favourable temperature, humidity and fertilizers during the growth period.
How to Grow and Care for Staghorn Plants?
For good staghorn fern care and growth you need to make sure that you mimic the tropical conditions at your home by providing it with the exact amount of indirect sunlight along with constant moisture. Your plant will grow into a beautiful masterpiece if you take care of some requirements to grow this plant.
What is the botanical name of a staghorn fern?
The botanical name of this plant is “Platycerium” and the other most common name for this species is “Elkhorn fern”. Staghorn fern is epiphytic and their leaves have two distinct types of leaves.
How to remove pups from ferns?
You can remove the pups by using a sharp knife from the brown while ferns along with the roots attached to that part. Then pot that cutting into a separate container.
How many species of staghorn fern are there?
There are about 12,000 fern species, and ferns are amongst the most ancient plants. Whereas other plant species reproduce through flowers and seeds, ferns have neither; rather, they release microscopic spores into the air (a bit like mushrooms and mosses), which eventually become new plants.
Can staghorn ferns be hung in a basket?
Though you can find young staghorn ferns sold in pots, mature plants need to be mounted to a board or hung in a hanging basket. Why? Because, like air plants, staghorn ferns are epiphytic plants, which means that in they grow on other plants or trees in their natural growing environments.
Can you remount a staghorn fern?
Our mounted staghorn ferns are intended as permanent installations, and we don’t recommend re-mounting your staghorn fern. Since the plant is epiphytic, the root space on the original board will be sufficient.
How to water a mounted staghorn fern?
When watering a mounted staghorn fern, water can be provided directly to the sphagnum moss slowly with a long narrow-tipped watering can. A slow trickle will allow the moss or other organic material to become fully saturated.
What is a staghorn fern?
Printer Friendly Version. Image by Silivonochka. Once rare, exotic plants found only in tropical forests, staghorn ferns are now widely available as unique, dramatic plants for the home and garden. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, which naturally grow on trees or rocks with specialized roots ...
What does it mean when a staghorn fern is brown?
While brown, dry tissue is normal on staghorn fern’s basal fronds, black or gray spots are not normal and may indicate over watering. If saturated too often, a staghorn fern’s upright fronds may also show signs of fungal rot and spore production may be disrupted. Browning along the tips of these upright fronds is normal though, ...
What is the purpose of staghorn ferns?
When a staghorn fern grows wildly in the crotch of a tropical tree or on a rock ledge, these basal fronds help collect water and fallen plant debris from tropical rains. In time, the plant debris breaks down, helping contain moisture around the plant’s roots and releasing nutrients as it decomposes.
Can you remove brown fronds from a staghorn fern?
This is natural and not a concern, and these brown fronds should not be removed from the plant. The basal fronds are essential for meeting the water requirements for staghorn ferns. Growers often thoroughly mist the basal fronds of staghorn ferns once a week. Spray bottles may be adequate for small indoor staghorn ferns, ...
Do staghorn ferns have fronds?
Staghorn ferns also produce upright, unique fronds which resemble stag horns. The primary function of these upright fronds are reproduction, not water absorption. In the home or garden, staghorn fern water requirements may be higher, especially in times of drought and low humidity.
Do staghorn ferns need to be watered?
Natively, they grow in areas with high humidity and frequent periods of rain. In the home or landscape, these conditions may be hard to mock, and regularly watering a staghorn fern may be necessary.
