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Good staghorn fern care requires frequent watering, but allow the plant medium to dry out in between. Fertilize them once per month with a 1:1:1 ration fertilizer diluted in water. The plant is prone to black spot, which is a fungal disease.
How much sun does a staghorn fern need?
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.
How often should I mist my staghorn fern?
Growers often thoroughly mist the basal fronds of staghorn ferns once a week. Spray bottles may be adequate for small indoor staghorn ferns, but large outdoor plants may need to be watered with a gentle, misting hose head. Staghorn ferns should be watered when the upright plants look slightly wilted.
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.
Is staghorn fern an indoor plant?
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 tolerate full 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.
How do you keep a staghorn fern alive?
Good staghorn fern care requires frequent watering, but allow the plant medium to dry out in between. Fertilize them once per month with a 1:1:1 ration fertilizer diluted in water. The plant is prone to black spot, which is a fungal disease.
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. Overwatering can also lead to fungal infections that appear as black spots on your Staghorn’s fronds.
Why are the tips of my staghorn fern turning brown?
If the antler fronds begin to brown or blacken at the base, this is a sign of over-watering. Reduce watering to once monthly until plant shows sign of recovery. If the antler fronds begin to brown at the tips or wilt, this is a sign of under-watering. Increase watering as needed.
How cold can staghorn ferns tolerate?
Most staghorn ferns are considered tender or semi-tender to cold and will not tolerate cold temperatures. There are exceptions, such as P. bifurcatum and P. veitchii, which can withstand temperatures as low as 30°F (–1.1°C).
Can staghorn ferns grow in pots?
Can Staghorn Ferns Be Potted? This is a good question since staghorns generally don’t naturally grow in soil. The key to growing staghorn ferns in baskets or pots is to replicate their natural environment as closely as possible. But, yes, they can grow in pots.
How do you plant a staghorn fern in a hanging 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.
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.
How do you protect a staghorn fern from a cold?
Gardeners in zone 10, for instance, may be able to keep their plants outdoors all winter long if they are in a protected area such as under the roof of a porch or the canopy of a tree. If temperatures are likely to fall near freezing, however, overwintering staghorn ferns means bringing them indoors.
Where is the best place to hang a staghorn fern?
Staghorn fern plants grow best in part shade to shady locations. Because 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.
Where do staghorns grow best?
The spectacular staghorn fern is an epiphyte or ‘air plant’, which grows without soil. 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 staghorn ferns tolerate low light?
The Staghorn Fern does not tolerate low light locations very well and will slowly decline in health, so during winter months you may have to move your plant to a sunnier location or closer to the window.
