How To Water A Mounted Staghorn Fern

It's a fact: staghorn ferns are stunning. Mounted on a lath, wrapped in vintage burlap, and hung a wall, these plants are truly living works of fine art.

In that location are dozens of species of staghorn ferns, and until recently, they were quite rare. Now though--thanks to species native to Australia, Platycerium bifurcatum, that is relatively easy to care for and propagate--they're increasingly popular business firm plants.

Staghorn fern care intimidates many people who visit our nursery, and nosotros'll be the offset to acknowledge that these plants can be picky. Before we dive into our best practices for staghorn fern care, it's essential to know a flake of background information nigh how these epiphytic beauties grow.

Staghorn Ferns are Epiphytes

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 ways that in they grow on other plants or copse in their natural growing environments.

In the torrid zone (and even warmer parts of the United states similar Florida), staghorn ferns grow to truly massive proportions, jutting dramatically out of the crooks of trees. Their roots concur them in place, and they absorb water and nutrients through their fronds.

Anatomy of a Staghorn Fern

One of the reasons that staghorn fern care seems daunting is that the plant's anatomy differs from that of most other mutual houseplants -- even other ferns. There are nigh 12,000 fern species, and ferns are amongst the most ancient plants. Whereas other institute species reproduce through flowers and seeds, ferns have neither; rather, they release microscopic spores into the air (a fleck like mushrooms and mosses), which eventually become new plants.

Anatomy of a Staghorn Fern Fern leaves are really chosen fronds, and staghorn ferns have ii types. The first, and about prominent, is the "antler" frond - these are the large, bifurcated leaves that shoot out of the middle of the plant, and from which staghorn ferns get their names, since they resemble the antlers of deer or moose. Spores develop on the lower these fronds, and look a bit like brown fuzz -- don't remove the spores! This is a no-no in staghorn fern care.

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 establish roots, and take up water and nutrients. These fronds start out green, but eventually turn brown and dry upwardly. This is a totally normal part of the staghorn fern life-bike -- in fact, this is 1 of the most common misconceptions in staghorn fern intendance. A brown shield frond does not mean your staghorn fern is dying, and dried shield fronds should never be removed!

The final function of the staghorn fern is the root brawl. Since stags are epiphytes, their root systems are fairly minimal, and help the plant adhere to its home. Because the roots are so minimal, staghorn ferns demand extensive drainage and are especially susceptible to root rot.

Now that we have a chip of background about these mounted beauties, here'southward our best practices for staghorn fern care.

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How Much Light Does a Staghorn Fern Need?

When you picture a fern, you probably imagine the shady, lush wood floors of the Pacific Northwest. You might and so think that your stag will appreciate a dark infinite, merely you would be wrong! Staghorn ferns are native to the tropics -- the species that we about commonly characteristic, Platycerium bifurcatum, is native to Australia.

Staghorn ferns need vivid, indirect or diffused light to thrive, though nigh species must exist protected from the harsh rays of the direct dominicus. Nosotros tell people to put staghorn ferns in the brightest space in their domicile where, once more, the plant will not take direct sun. Rooms with Southern and Eastern exposures tend to exist best, though unobstructed North windows will practice. Western light is fine, but exist careful, as this afternoon exposure tends to exist hot and harsh.

Can Staghorn Ferns Survive in Artificial Light?

Unfortunately, the short reply is no. We don't recommend putting your staghorn in a room without natural sun. Basements tend to be a no-get.

H2o

How to Water a Staghorn Fern

How to water a staghorn fern

Your watering regimen consists of two processes: misting and soaking.

Misting the fronds

Use a spray-canteen that emits a fine, ambient mist, such as a contumely mister.
Mist the unabridged found, focusing on the underside of the antler fronds and the shield fronds.

Watering the roots

Soak your staghorn fern facedown in a sink or bowl of water for near 5 minutes, or until the roots are fully saturated.
Alternately, place the plaque in a sink or shower, and permit room-temperature water to run over the root brawl until it is saturated.
Allow your institute to drip dry before re-hanging.

How Often to Water a Staghorn Fern

Under and over-watering are the almost common causes of staghorn fern failure. There is no hard and fast rule as to how often a staghorn fern will need watering - the corporeality of light, humidity, and heat they receive in your home will dictate your watering schedule. Still, here are a few rules that tend to work well for us:

A good rule of thumb is to water once per week in dry, hot times of twelvemonth, and in one case every two to three weeks during cooler months. Beginning with this schedule, and arrange as necessary depending on your space.
Staghorn ferns absorb water through their fronds, every bit well every bit their roots. This means that they respond well to misting and appreciate boiling spaces.
More humidity = less watering. If your staghorn fern is in a space where it receives lots of ambient humidity, like a bathroom, you'll probably exist able to reduce your misting and watering.
More light or rut = more than watering. During the summertime, exist especially attentive to your stag. Most species can handle a bit of drought, even to the point of wilting, but not much more. Through summer and fall, mist your plant regularly, and check the moss at the base of the plant regularly for dryness.
Less light or heat = less watering. Remember that these plants don't tolerate overwatering. During the winter, you lot'll probable demand to cut back on watering. Keep in mind, though, that if your institute is straight over a heating duct or almost a fireplace, that will dry your plant more quickly.
If the antler fronds begin to brownish or blacken at the base, this is a sign of over-watering. Reduce watering to one time monthly until plant shows sign of recovery
If the antler fronds begin to chocolate-brown at the tips or wilt, this is a sign of under-watering. Increase watering equally needed.

A Annotation on Moosehorn Ferns

Moosehorn ferns (Plateceryium grande) are more drought tolerant and slightly more susceptible to root-rot than other staghorn fern species.

To water these plants, nosotros recommend that when the soil/moss at the base of the plant feels dry (if no moss is exposed, gauge by weight), place found under faucet and run the tap and then water flows on the board, behind the institute, for most iii minutes.

Try to avoid wetting the foliage. If a black spot appears on the flat shield frond, that is an indication of over-watering. Effort decreasing watering and improving air circulation to make sure the institute is able to adequately dry out subsequently watering. This is especially important during winter.

Temperature

Staghorn ferns are surprisingly cold-hardy, only for optimal growth, the temperature should not be immune to drop below l degrees or above 100 degrees.

Staghorn ferns tin can be placed outdoors when temperatures stay within this range. Be extra conscientious to go along staghorns out of direct sun and well-watered when hung outdoors. Bring your staghorn fern back within when temperatures go chilly at night.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing your staghorn fern will promote vigorous growth, peculiarly in younger plants.

Feed your staghorn fern monthly during periods of active grown (spring and summer). Utilise a counterbalanced, h2o-soluble fertilizer (ratio of one:i:one). During periods of dormancy (fall and winter), reduce fertilizing to every other month.

Some people suggest feeding your staghorn fern past slipping a piece of banana skin under the shield frond, merely indoors that might cause a fruit fly issue.

Mature staghorn ferns tin can survive with a twice-yearly feeding.

Remounting Your Staghorn Fern

Our burlap-wrapped staghorn ferns are intended as permanent installations, and we don't recommend re-mounting your staghorn fern. Since the establish is epiphytic, the root infinite on the original lath will be sufficient.

Re-mounted giant moosehorn fern at Pistils Nursery

However, when the shield fronds begin to pitter-patter to the edges of the plaque, standard practice is to attach your board to a larger piece of wood with a few nails (see prototype). Be careful not to nail through the shield frond or root ball when remounting!

Platycerium grande | Moosehorn Fern

Follow these staghorn fern care guidelines, and you should see your constitute thriving in no time! Accept any questions or your own best practices for staghorn fern care? Share with the states in the comments!