Are staghorn ferns easy to grow?

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.

Are Staghorns slow growing?

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.

How often should I 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.

How large does a staghorn fern get?

bifurcatum can be as big as 3 feet across. The plant grows from short rhizomes that produce two types of fronds. The sterile (non-reproductive) basal fronds are the rounded to heart-shaped, overlapping, clasping, shield-like structures at the base of the fern (sometimes called the back plates).

How do you make a staghorn fern grow faster?

Summer growth is most rapid when your fern is exposed to indirect sunlight, such as under a shady tree or potted indoors near a north-facing window. Radiant sunlight allows the fern to maximize its photosynthesis processes without heat stress or sunscald.

Why is staghorn ferns so expensive?

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.

Are staghorn ferns expensive?

“My staghorn fern is turning yellow. What should I do?” Staghorn ferns are some of the most unusual-looking plants home gardeners can grow. They can also be expensive, so it’s important to catch any problems early.

Can you over water staghorn fern?

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. Keep an eye out for brown or black spots at the base of the antler fronds, which indicate overwatering.

Can staghorn ferns tolerate sun?

Staghorn ferns need lots of bright but indirect or diffused sunlight. This is best achieved by placing them next to the brightest window in the house. All directions are fine, but west-facing windows might expose the fern to too much direct afternoon sun.

Do staghorn ferns eat bananas?

Using banana fertilizer for staghorn ferns is an easy way to maintain your plant’s health while reducing kitchen waste. Depending on the size of your fern, feed it with up to four banana peels a month to provide potassium plus smaller amounts of phosphorus and micronutrients.

Can you propagate staghorn fern from a leaf?

Propagating Staghorn Fern Spores. Scrape spores off the bottom of a fern leaf. Hold a leaf from a Staghorn fern over a white piece of paper, bottom side up. Use a butter knife to gently scrape off the little brown dots all over the bottom of the leaf.

What’s eating my staghorn fern?

Sounds like an attack of the staghorn fern beetle. This tiny round beetle chews craters in the fleshy fern fronds and spoils the appearance of the plant. Prune off the damaged leaf and destroy as soon as possible.

Do staghorns like sun?

How to grow stag horns in a garden. Choose a place in the garden that gets filtered sun and is protected from the afternoon sun. Choose an appropriate support for the plant.

Are coffee grounds good for staghorn ferns?

Are coffee grounds good for staghorn ferns? Up-to-date gardeners know that California’s low rainfall and alkaline soil are tough on acid-loving plants. Coffee grounds act as a mulch and soil improver. Some staghorn fern owners throw banana peels on their plants.

Do staghorn ferns need soil?

In its natural habitat, the staghorn fern grows in rainforests in an epiphytic manner, meaning it clings to trees in a non-parasitic way. It doesn’t need soil around its roots, which only really serve an anchoring purpose: water and nutrients are absorbed mainly through the fronds instead.

Where do staghorns grow best?

Native to Australian rainforests, the staghorn Platycerium superbum and closely related elkhorn Platycerium bifurcatum will grow just about anywhere in filtered light with protection from winds.

Can you grow a staghorn fern 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 outside?

Staghorn ferns can be grown outdoors year-round in tropical areas, US growing zones 9 and 10. They can be grown on trees, rocks or in hanging baskets. Mount your fern somewhere that is light but shielded from direct sunlight.

How do you grow staghorn ferns outside?

Optimal staghorn fern outdoor conditions are a part shade to shady location with plenty of humidity and temperatures that stay between 60-80 degrees F. (16-27 C.). Although young staghorn ferns may be sold in pots with soil, they cannot survive very long like this, as their roots will quickly rot.

How do you start a staghorn fern?

Soak a clump of sphagnum moss and set it on the mount, then set the fern on top of the moss so the basal fronds are touching the mount. Tie the fern in place with non-copper wire, and in time the fronds will grow over the wire and hold the fern in place.

Why is my staghorn fern turning black?

Staghorn ferns are fairly pest free. When kept too wet, they are susceptible to a disease called Rhizoctonia sp. This fungus produces black spots on the basal fronds which can spread rapidly, invade the growing point, and kill the plant. If symptoms appear, withhold water and reduce the humidity to slow the spread.

How do you grow a staghorn fern in a wire basket?

Hanging in a Wire Basket

Add enough sphagnum moss so that your staghorn will sit near the top of the basket. Cutting away part of the coir liner allows the staghorn to grow through freely. Place your plant in the basket and gently bring the leaves of your plant through the edges of the basket.