Platyceriumspp.
When you hear the watchword “ fern , ” you belike show those arching , lacy frond growing in the humus - fat understory of forests .
You ’re not wrong , but staghorns are also part of this ancient group of industrial plant , which first emerged from swamps before humans populated the earth .
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Photo by Kristine Lofgren.
Staghorns and elkhorns , dear call platy , look like some kind of tropical prehistorical fauna adhere to a tree , and I can only imagine the first time a human being stumbled on a massive specimen .
I calculate their eye bugged the right way out of their head . To me , some of the magnanimous , coronate mintage seem like they could be mistaken for Lion , apprehend the trunks .
In late years , these fern have become more and more democratic as gardeners have come to revalue the unequalled , hit appearance of these mintage .
I think of a year or so ago when Trader Joe ’s briefly carried some staghorn ferns that could be bought for a song , and plant lovers were all buzzing .
It ’s loose to see why : They ’re fairly easy to wish for once you master the art of ride and remounting , but they often look like you put in year of effort to master the cultivation cognitive process .
If you ’re quick to learn more about these striking flora , here ’s everything we ’ll go over in this guide :
What You’ll Learn
The first time I tried originate a staghorn fern , I was convinced I would kill it .
They just seem too strange and alien to be as easy to care for as , say , apothos . Turns out , they ’re pretty unfussy .
What Is a Staghorn Fern?
There are over a dozen species of fern in thePlatyceriumgenus that commonly go by the name “ staghorn ” or “ elkhorn ” fern .
Typically , those with thinner frond are call elkhorns , and those with thicker unity are key out as staghorns .
It ’s passably easy to see where these names come from .
The fronds distinctly resemble antlers , and the genus name is Greek for flattened ( platys ) and horn ( ceras ) . There ’s really no question about what wee-wee these magnificent plants instantly recognizable , is there ?
What put the various species asunder from one another is the amount , flesh , and aloofness between the foliar frond , as well differences in spore and pup development .
The most commonly grown species in homes across the world isP. bifurcatum .
There ’s a salutary rationality why this one is so popular : It ’s much more absolvitory and tolerant than some of the other specie , which require very specific conditions to flourish .
irrespective of the species , all of these fern areepiphytes , which means they grow attached to another plant . They ’re not parasites , though . They only expend the other plants as a social structure to live on , and they do n’t take nutrients from it .
They also show evidence of eusociality , which is when a radical of organism live and run in a cooperative group .
Ants leave the most well - known instance of eusociality in nature , but a recent study published inThe Scientific Naturalistby Victoria University biologist K. C. Burns , natural scientist Ian Hutton , and evolutionary biologist Lara Shepherd , obtain that platy might be the first plants known to parade eusocial behaviour .
All mintage also have basal fronds , which are orotund , heart - work , or kidney - shaped non - reproductive fronds that grow over the tooth root like a shell to protect them . These eventually change by reversal brown as they senesce , but they start out green .
Some of these basal fronds will curl upwards to bewitch food and body of water as it fall from the woodland canopy . Over time , this falling debris form a kind of compost that the plant uses as a nutrient source .
For the most part , the compost is made up of dirt and dead plant matter , but this plant does n’t separate . Bugs and modest dead bird or mammal can also contribute to this nutrient - rich substrate .
The antler - like productive frond that spring up from the basal shield are call foliar frond .
These can either be erect or flag , and they may be farseeing , flat , arching , and branching or forked into several segments along their length .
This shape is believe to be running , dish to guide pee down the distance of the frond to the root , kind of like a slippy microscope slide .
The foliar fronds are green , but they can seem grayish - blue angel or Ag because they ’re covered in a fuzzy , dust - like coating of hair’s-breadth called trichomes .
These hair help capture wet in the gentle wind for the plant to practice , and they reduce the amount of water that evaporates out of the frond .
The first time I buy a staghorn fern , I figured it had gotten ace stale , so I tried wiping the frond “ clean . ” Do n’t do that . The plant need these hair .
Some staghorns produce a single rootstock but most send out pup that form their own rhizomes , so each plant or grouping of plant , also known as a dependency , can become quite big . It ’s not unheard of for them to grow over 10 base wide .
There are three defined species groups for ferns in this genus , known as complexes : bifurcatum ( bifurcatum , hillii , veitchii , andwillinckii ) , Malaysian - Asiatic ( coronarium , holttumii , grande , ridleyi , superbum , wallichii , andwandae ) , and Afro - American ( alcicorne , andinum , elephantosis , ellisii , madagascariense , quardridichotomum , andstemaria ) .
metal money belong to these building complex , as described parenthetically above , deal certain characteristic and common DNA .
Cultivation and History
aboriginal to tropic rainforests and temperate regions of Java , New Guinea , Australia , New Zealand , Africa , South America , and Southeast Asia , staghorn ferns have been in cultivation for one C .
The Veitch Nursery in Exeter , England was famous for theirPlatyceriumduring the 1800s , particularly theveitchiispecies , which was probably named for them .
In our menage , staghorns expect thoughtful fear to keep them happy , but sure species have become invasive out-of-doors in place like Florida and Hawaii .
This gives you an indicant of the kind of environment this plant favour : one that ’s affectionate and humid . It can be cultivated outside inUSDA Hardiness Zones9 and up , but most nurseryman choose to grow staghorns indoors .
If you want to see a particularly stunning good example of this character of works in North America , visit the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in California , where they have amassive , half - century - older specimenthat ’s about 10 feet wide-cut , and weighs about 250 pounds .
There are XII of loan-blend in polish too , including the popularP.xmentelosii(a cross ofP. superbumandP. stemaria),P.x Lucy , P.x African Oddity ( both crosse ofP. alcicorneand an unsung parent ) , andP.x Silver Velvet ( a hybridization betweenP. elephantotisandP. willinckii ) .
Propagation
Ferns can be propagated in many unlike way , but as you ’d gestate from a plant that looks so different from other types of fern , staghorns have alone multiplication requirements .
From Spores
Just as with most fern , staghorns produce spore that you’re able to use to propagate new plants .
The process involves taking the spores from a matured plant when they ’re ripe and placing them in a grow spiritualist . Then , you bring up the spores as they mature .
To discover all about this procedure , check out ourguide to circulate ferns .
Several coinage can only be propagated from amass spore because they do n’t give rise outgrowth . We ’ll utter about those in a minute .
From Seedlings
Most of us are going to purchase little baby staghorns from the store or flora baby’s room ab initio . It ’s the easiest room to get move .
When you buy a staghorn fern , most of the time it will be pot in soil , though you may sometimes find out them already growing on wood , in baskets , or in special epiphyte displays .
These latter choice are usually sr. , larger plants , and you do n’t ask to do anything with them in terms of repot or anchoring to a unexampled substratum . Just start uprise them as described below .
For those who buy their staghorns in soil , you ’ll have an additional step to complete . Let them develop in the filth for a little while until some of the basal frond commence to turn browned .
Now it ’s prison term to move them to a serious spot . While these fern can survive in soil , they ’ll do much better in a lighter , soilless medium , whether you grow them vertically or with the antecedent growing down into a medium .
You could replant them when the basal fronds are still green , but you ’ll call for to be passing heedful . These unripe fronds are young and easily damaged .
When you ’re quick to move your baby staghorn to a soilless showing , take it out of its container and brush or lave away all of the soil .
you may do this at any time of year , but declivity is best because the plant is n’t yet growing its new frond , which are well damaged when they ’re young as noted above .
enwrap the roots incoconut coiror sphagnum moss moss and secure them with string , netting , or enmesh .
impound the little package that you just made on your chosen surface , whether that ’s a piece of driftwood , the Interior Department of a field goal , or something like a moss ball bearer .
These moss testis bearer from Esterno , which are five and a half inch in diameter andavailable on Amazon , would make an adorable display for young Platypoecilus maculatus .
Esterno Moss Ball Holders
After a few year , you ’ll want to upgrade to something larger if you choose something of this size .
By Division
If you have a robustious little guy , go ahead and divide it up . This is a honorable business for the springtime .
To do this , cautiously countermand up the basal frond and essay the roots . Look for a division with its own rhizome and frond egress from it . You require to be sure the whelp has roots , rich fronds , and basal frond .
utilise a knife to softly cut down the puppy , roots and all , away from the rest of the plant .
Now you could wrap it in a soilless medium as line above in the section on propagating seedling .
How to Grow Staghorn Ferns
Staghorn fern fronds absorb piddle , and that ’s a major agency that these plant get their moisture , so they need to grow somewhere that ’s humid . At the same time , they also need body of water at the root level .
Imagine one of these plants in its instinctive environment – it receives rain on a regular basis , and the humidity level is in general around 70 pct .
If you grow yours in less humidness , you ’ll call for to water more often to make up the divergence . you may also use a humidifier , mist the leaves regularly , or produce them in a humid way like the bathroom .
If you ’re develop in dirt , you need to be exceedingly cautious about watering . Wait until the frond have started to droop slenderly and the soil feels dry on the Earth’s surface and up to an in down before watering .
mature without dirt ? body of water whenever the moss or whatever medium you ’re using dries out . It does n’t require to stay consistently moist , but it ’s really difficult to overwater a hop on plant life since the piddle just runs right through .
I know it probably feels weird to let a fern become so wry , but the thick-skulled farewell can store a lot of water system , and the roots are prone to rot . If in question , body of water less often than you think you should .
However , staghorns seem to do better withmorewater if it ’s unchlorinated , so the danger of put up too much water supply is likely more of an issue interrelate to chemically treat municipal body of water with too much chlorine rather than too much genuine piddle .
Rain water or reverse osmosis filter water supply with a low pH is best .
If you ’re growing yours outdoors , be indisputable to take the plant inside before temperatures drop below freezing , or as temperature approach whatever specify your particular mintage can resist .
Most species can survive abbreviated periods with temperature crop down to the mid-20s , but not all . And anything but much longer than a few hours of extreme low temperature will pour down them .
Most species require bright , collateral brightness level to thrive . Some can tolerate more or less scant , and a few species can even handle direct sunlight for a few minute .
Gardeners cultivating staghorn fern outside might need to provide protection using spectre cloths during the wintertime when deciduous trees fall back their leave-taking . Just keep an optic on your plant and estimate how much sun it ’s receiving throughout each time of year .
If you want to take your plants outside during the summer , assuming they are n’t know to become incursive in your area , go for it . Just be certain to bring them back in if temperatures in the evening are go to dunk below 40 ° F .
You might require to indurate them off to the outdoors gradually unless you ’ve cultivated your indoor plants in lots of light . That mode , they ’ll have prison term to acclimate to the brighter light you typically get out of doors , even in shady smirch .
If you ’ve ever hardened off seedlings , it ’s the same process .
Take the staghorn and put it where you destine to grow it , and leave it there for an hour . The next day , make it two hours . Keep adding an time of day until you have a full eight time of day , and then you’re able to depart your plant outdoors full - time while status permit .
During the spring and summer , fertilize once a month with a mild , balanced liquid fertilizer when you irrigate the root . In the fall and wintertime , when the plant is dormant , feed once every three months .
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Dr. Earth Pump & mature
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You might have heard of people feed their platy by placinga banana or banana peelat the foot , and you may for certain do that if you want .
I find it act upon better on out-of-door plants . Indoors , it just smells and attracts microbe . It ’s also not a over food source , so you ’ll want to feed with a veritable plant food as described above as well .
When it comes to choosing a riding horse , you ’re only limited by your imagination and the size of your fern . Most masses opt for wood planks , with redwood being particularly pop . you’re able to also apply basket , pieces of cork , driftwood , or coconut husk instrument panel .
you may even encounter pre - made wood boards that depend like miniature pallets . These give you lots of spots to secure your industrial plant and they can be quite large and uncompromising .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
Now and then , a frond will be damage or one will dry up and wither . Remove these at the foundation with a clean pair of scissors or clippers . Otherwise , no extra pruning is necessary .
Remounting , which is the aerophyte version of repotting , is often necessary and should be done in the belated declivity , just before the unexampled basal fronds start to emerge .
If you see roots growing out of the medium , it ’s time to remount .
To remount , bump off some of the media from around the roots . You do n’t need to take it all off from the rootage , just criticize away anything that ’s loose .
Add more moss , coir , or whatever you ’re using . The roots should be padded with a good column inch or two of the medium so they have elbow room to grow , and so there ’s plenty of medium to catch the water and nutrient you put up .
Then , resecure the root ballock and medium with your chosen material ( string , netting , etc . ) and place it on or in your funding .
Species and Cultivars to Select
When it comes to picking a staghorn fern for your collecting , most of the clock time , you ’re going to come acrossP. bifurcatumspecies unless you go to a place that specialize in strange and rare plant .
If the seller does n’t destine , assume that it is this mintage .
In addition toP. bifurcatum , the follow list includes some of the more common option that work well as houseplant :
Andinum
P. andinumis quite typical , with a lift crown of narrow-minded basal fronds and narrow , heavy segmented and lobed , hang fertile frond .
These fronds also feature prominent veins . This industrial plant is typically farseeing than it is all-inclusive , and individual frond can grow up to five foot foresighted .
This is the only plant in the genus aboriginal to the Americas , and it grow in the Andes Mountains in Peru and Bolivia . It ’s ordinarily make out as American staghorn .
This fern postulate to dry out completely between watering and must have dear respiration . It ’s also extremely challenging to acquire from spores .
Bifurcatum
As we mentioned , this metal money is the most common case grown as a houseplant , hence the moniker common staghorn fern .
It grows about three infantry tall and all-embracing , on average , though it can be much prominent .
The basal fronds are heart - shaped , while the foliar fronds are strappy and ramify , each growing up to three feet long .
All species in the bifurcatum complex including this specie as well asP. hillii , P. veitchii , andP. willinckiiform spores on just the tips of their frond .
‘ Netherlands ’ has foliar frond that grow unsloped before curl somewhat at the ends . It can tolerate direct sun . This is the most commonP. bifurcatumcultivar .
‘ Netherlands ’
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‘ Forgii ’ has narrow fronds that are dramatically forked . ‘ South Seas ’ feature long finger .
Coronarium
P. coronariumhails from Southeast Asia and the East Indies , where it grows on trees tall enough to accommodate its incredibly long foliar frond , which can reach up to 15 feet farsighted .
This is another challenging specie to grow , but once established , it ’s much more hardy than other species . In the wild , in its native Malaysia , Thailand , and Taiwan , the industrial plant commonly form ring around the tree trunk of their host tree .
The basal shield become passing corky and fatheaded , with long , strappy , branch fertile fronds . Young basal emergence has distinguishable , raised mineral vein .
This species produce separate fertile and foliar fronds with thick stalks . This is something that sets it apart from other species , which form spore on every fertile frond .
This species is consider one of the most difficult to grow .
Elephantotis
The elephant ear or Angola staghorn , P. elephantotis , is n’t for beginners , or for anyone who keeps the thermoregulator set low .
It wo n’t tolerate temperatures below 60 ° F and prefers to be in the 80 to 90 ° fluorine range .
The massive , pith - shaped shields conk in the springiness and the dead edges should be slay to promote a respectable appearance and upright growth in the fresh emerging shields .
The wide , venose , foliar frond are deep green and do n’t branch or separate at all . They truly resemble unripened elephant ears .
This mintage is sensitive to overwatering , but it will pick up right back up if you let it wilt between waterings . It also prefer brighter visible radiation than most mintage .
P. Elephantotis
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Grande
Grand staghorns ( P. grande)are just that , with their wide , fan - shaped basal fronds act as a root for narrow-minded , droop , unbranching foliar fronds that can grow up to six foot in duration .
Though this metal money does n’t form pups , a individual plant can spread up to four feet all-inclusive .
This is a difficult metal money to raise , unable to tolerate temperature below 40 ° F .
It ca n’t support too much heat , or too much or little pee , or too footling humidity either . It also is a nongregarious species , meaning it only has one rootstalk , so the only means to propagate it is by collecting spore .
For these reasons , you wo n’t often find gargantuan staghorns in fund .
Often mistaken forP. superbum , they were once classified as the same species . P. grandeis nearly nonextant in the Philippines , where it ’s originally from .
Hillii
The broad foliar fronds onP. hilliionly produce to two or three feet long , but what it lacks in dramatic length , it makes up for in manner .
With round or heart - shaped basal frond and upright piano , forked fertile fronds , it endure an uncanny resemblance to a mounted set of antler .
Some cultivar have passing pronounced vein , and some have tenacious , narrow finger while others have shortsighted , extensive finger on the spacious frond .
It ’s a robust , tolerant species that ordinarily post out rich amount of offshoots .
‘ Hula Hands ’ has particularly short and wide fingers , while ‘ Jimmie ’ has farsighted fingers .
Stemaria
Also known as the triangle staghorn , this African species has magnanimous , orotund , wavy basal fronds and shiny , wide fertile frond with retentive finger .
Each digit can be half as long as the overall length of the main frond . These fingers usually fork multiple times on each frond .
This species does best in lower light . take care for cultivars like ‘ Laurentii , ’ which can tolerate brighter sparkle , ‘ Hawke , ’ with its extremely wide foliar frond , and ‘ blanched , ’ which has extremely haired fronds that almost appear whitened on the bottom .
Superbum
This Australian native is gorgeous , though it ’s a scrap more hard to grow than some other species . It has naturalize in Hawaii , but elsewhere with less - than - ideal conditions , it does n’t always do so well .
If you do manage to keep it happy , you ’re in for a real dainty . Hobbyists prize this staghorn .
When it ’s youthful , it looks a lot likeP.grande – and was once sort as such . The foliar fronds are idle green and can grow up to three feet spacious and six feet long . The leave are heavily lobed with portion of long finger .
As it grow , the shield fronds are also heavily lob and profoundly vein , and may grow up to four feet tall and wide , with raised edges .
‘ bread ’ and ‘ Cabbage Dwarf ’ are the two most common cultivars . Both have compact growth that makes them appear boodle - like . The only conflict is in their sizing .
Veitchii
If you want a staghorn that can treat full sun , this is a good coinage to choose .
P. veitchiior the silver elkhorn can tolerate full sunlight and temperature up to 120 ° F , as may occur from clock time to time in its native Australia .
It ’s flyspeck , with passing thin and strappy , finger - comparable fronds covered in so much hair that they look nigh smooth-spoken . The fertile frond grow upright in bright sunlight and are more weeping in low-pitched Inner Light .
This is one of the most drought - tolerant species , so it wo n’t scold you if you neglect your watering agenda a mo .
‘ Lemoinei ’ has brighter green frond and does well in lower light , though it ’s less tolerant of drought . This is probably because those lighter fronds have few hairs , so they ’re less able to gather wet .
‘ Silver Frond ’
The ‘ Silver Frond ’ cultivar has fronds that are more distinctly argent than those of the species plant and , yep , it ’s super drouth - tolerant .
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Wandae
P. wandaeis known as the queen staghorn , and for good reason .
It ’s massive , with a tall crown of upright buckler that can reach out four or five understructure . The fertile fronds hang down and are deeply lob and rippling .
sore to cold , this Papua New Guinea aboriginal needs to be cultivated somewhere with temperatures between 60 and 100 ° F .
It does n’t send out out pups , and there are n’t many cultivar available , so these can be hard to find .
Because of its size , this staghorn really does better out of doors than it does inside . Plus , more than other species , it seems to need blue-blooded jazz to help it develop solid growth .
Willinckii
The Java staghorn comes from Australia , Java , and other parts of southern Asia .
A member of the bifurcatum complex , this fern has marvelous , deeply lobed shields that rebel like a crown . The fat fronds grow up to six metrical unit long , and they ’re narrow and spin .
‘ Bloomei ’ has prominent nervure and fronds that commence out quite narrow but blaze up dramatically at the tips .
However , note that ‘ Bloomei ’ is possibly aP. hilliicultivar – the jury is still out . The two coinage are highly interchangeable , but this cultivar appear to have more in usual with thewillinckiispecies . Is n’t botany fun ! ?
‘ Java , ’ ‘ Scofield , ’ and ‘ Little Will ’ are some other common cultivars . ‘ Scofield ’ is a particularly tough and tolerant cultivar , so it ’s fantabulous to grow if you ’re just start with this plant .
Managing Pests and Disease
yield the right environmental conditions , you probably wo n’t run into blighter or disease problems too often . Catch problems betimes , and they ’ll rarely harm your plant much at all .
Insects
There are really just two microbe to watch out for . Mealybugs are the most coarse , followed closely by scale .
Both worm are in the order Hemiptera and both course on the tomfool of plants , causing wilt , yellowing , and brown of foliation .
Mealybugs are flat , sap - sucking dirt ball that are often misguided for a augury of disease rather than a pestis .
That ’s because they do n’t move very quickly , they run to cluster in radical , and many species have a lily-white , waxy finishing that makes them look a hatful like a fungal disease .
On Platypoecilus maculatus , they ’ll bunch up at the al-Qaeda and debilitate the sap from the plant . Do n’t allow them !
Patient gardener can use a cotton fiber swab dip in isopropyl alcohol to wipe each dirt ball . This removes the protective covering and eventually kill them .
For more crest , read ourcomprehensive pathfinder to this vulgar plague .
Like mealybugs , these pest are often mistaken for a disease or some case of foul growth on a flora .
They ’re flat , slow - moving , and cluster toward the base of the plant where they feed on the sap , using their piercing - sucking mouthparts .
you could grate these pests off using a butter tongue , or pass over them with rub alcohol as described above .
Our template has more info on distinguish and dealing with scale .
Disease
Platys like a caboodle of humidity and wet , but there can be too much of a good affair . Overwatering or pathetic gentle wind circulation can invite fungal issues .
By the manner , do n’t panic if the underside of the leave commence to look chocolate-brown . These are the spore . If the upper side starts to turn brown , it ’s ordinarily due to too much light or too much water .
This disease , because of fungi in theRhizoctoniagenus , is sneaky .
It protrude out as bantam black spots at the base of the buckler that are backbreaking to see because of the overlap nature of the basal frond . These spot finally begin to turn over mushy . Before long , your plant is pledge .
The fungi that make this disease just love a warm , stiff , humid spot , so watch over out .
If black spot does come to visit your Platypoecilus maculatus , take hold of yourself some Mycostop tout de cortege ! Better yet , keep some on script . It ’s fabulously effectual against many of the speculative fungous jerk .
Mycostop
Root rot is common in many flora species . In staghorns , it ’s most plebeian in plants that are grow in soil .
Overwatering often smother the roots , and they essentially overwhelm . The solution there , of course , is to water less and make certain your throne provides excellent drain .
In mounted plant , ancestor bunkum is usually stimulate by class Oomycetes or fungi rather than physically drowning the roots . PythiumandFusariumspecies are the common culprits .
It ’s hard to see ab initio because the symptoms start at the roots , turning them brown and mushy . Above the beginning , the plant wilts and halt wilt , even after lacrimation .
Once again , get yourself some Mycostop and get to employment .
Best Uses for Staghorn Ferns
While they can make cute potted specimens , these are really plants that beg to be bestride on a paries or tree .
They count unbelievably interesting , and they ’ll be happier if they ’re grown that fashion .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Mount Up, Staghorn Lovers!
Have you ever seen a wall full of platys ? They ’re so cool and so striking .
It ’s like a living piece of art , but that extra shock does n’t really require any extra campaign . It ’s just a matter of understanding how to keep staghorns felicitous .
I ca n’t look to hear about your platy - growing adventures . What species are you growing ?
Did you nab yourself your very firstbifurcatum ? Or are you prefer for something a little different ? possibly you ’re challenging yourself with anelephantotis ? Fill us in via the remark segment below .
Crazy about ferns ? Me too !
If you ’re odd to pick up more about these prehistoric plant , you might desire to give a few of our other guides a glance . Here are some good one to start with :
Photos by Kristine Lofgren © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Cartesian product photos via Amazon , Arbico Organics , Esterno , and Wellspring Gardens . Uncredited pic : Shutterstock .
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Kristine Lofgren
