Some plants just wo n’t be snub ! The staghorn fern is aunique and showstopping plantthat would make an excellent summation to any plant collection . With their longsighted leave and unique grow habit , it ’s no curiosity gardeners all over want to try uprise one of these delightful plant . However , like for them can be wily . To help you succeed in your staghorn fern endeavors , here ’s everything you necessitate to eff about their care . Keep your staghorn ferns happy and sound with these tips and tricks .

What is a staghorn fern?

The staghorn fern , Platycerium bifurcatum , are aboriginal to tropic areas in Asia and Australia and can even be found in the U.S. in states such as Florida . The staghorn fern is a eccentric of flora called aerophyte , which simply means it live by maturate on another industrial plant . In this case , the staghorn fern grows on large trees . These fern can develop up to 2 or 3 invertebrate foot wide and two to three feet tall , but they are slow - get plants , so do n’t gestate to see too much progress quickly . Like othertypes of fern , staghorn fern prefer warm , humid weather , which can make grow them outdoors tricky .

How to care for a staghorn fern

Staghorn ferns are not founder - favorable plants and can be finical when it amount to care . Unfortunately , they ’ll quickly drop dead on you if you ’re not deliberate . So let ’s go over their specific care needs to ensure you’re able to keep your staghorn fern alive .

Water

You ca n’t irrigate these plants like you would your other houseplants . For staghorn ferns , lacrimation is a two - step process . First , you need to haze over the plant life while focus on the underside of the fronds . Second , you ’ll need to souse the fern . Soak it in a sinkhole or bathtub for 10 to 20 minutes , then countenance it to drop wry before rehanging it .

We advise watering your staghorn every week during the hotter months , then going to every other week during the cool months . However , this docket should be adjust depending on the experimental condition of your plate . If you have a quick house , you ’ll require to water more often ; alternatively , if you keep your home on the ice chest side , you ’ll likely be able-bodied to go extended periods without watering the flora .

Light

They want bright but filtered spark and need to be protected from direct sunlight . Direct Lord’s Day will glow the plant and make it dry out out faster , which will kill the industrial plant quickly .

Food

Feeding this plant requires nothing particular . A weewee - soluble balanced fertilizer will forge utterly . Apply this once a calendar month during the growing season , and then not at all during the wintertime months .

Temperature

Surprisingly , staghorn ferns are relatively cold - hardy plant life , but we still hint keeping the temperature in your household above 50 degree . You ’ll also want to check that the temperatures do n’t get too raging .

Humidity

The staghorn fern loves humidness and will expand in a rest home with 60 pct humidity . Most house sit down around 40 to 50 percentage . you could utilise a humidifier to increase the moisture in your home or spray the plant life with mist in the morning and evening to make up for the lack of it in the air .

Toxicity

These plants arenontoxic to both cat and dogs , so you do n’t have to worry or rush to the vet if one of your furry friends decides to take a collation . This credibly wo n’t be an issue , though , since these are typically mount on a board and hang on the wall .

Additional care

The leaves of this plant are in reality promise fronds , and this plant has two types of fronds . First are the larger , more prominent “ leaves ” that gave the industrial plant its common name since they look like the antlers of an elk or deer . The other type of fronds are prognosticate shield frond , which are the flat , round , and arduous “ leafage ” that surround the base of the plant , protect the base , and care in the absorption of water and nutrients . While these frond commence green , they ’ll eventually dark-brown and crisp up . It ’s essential not to move out them ; this is the natural lifecycle of the plant and does n’t mean it ’s dying .

Is a staghorn fern the same as an elkhorn fern?

When look for staghorn fern data or seedling , you may also get plenty of elkhorn ferns , as well . Looking for information on telling the two ferns apart can be perplexing , as sources do n’t always agree on the law of similarity or differences . In actuality , staghorn and elkhorn ferns are the same plant — Platycerium bifurcatum .

However , many the great unwashed also refer to the entirePlatyceriumgenus as both staghorn and elkhorn fern . This can direct to some sources describing the conflict between two different specie ofPlatyceriumand referring to one as a staghorn and the other as an elkhorn , when , in reality , both could be referred to as either . So , when shopping for your staghorn fern , you’re able to bet specifically forPlatycerium bifurcatumor explore otherPlatyceriumspecies !

Do n’t sense restrain by this singular and particular plant . You now have the prick and info you need to worry for it . While they may not be the gross fern for growing outdoors , staghorn ferns can make great indoor plant under the right conditions . Be patient , and keep trying . Eventually , you ’ll find success in growing these unequaled and delightful ferns .