Guest Author - Wendy Lee

Staghorn Ferns (Platycerium) are considered to be a rarity in the plant world, originating from Australia and New Zealand, they make an exotic and novel addition to any plant or fern lover’s specimen list. Ferns are part of a non-flowering group of plants that propagate themselves by spores found on the backs of the fertile fronds; these fronds are the ones that look like flattened deer antlers – hence the name of Staghorn. Spores will look like organized rows of scales, often dark brown or black in color, along the tips of the green fertile frond. The spores mature and open, releasing fertile spores that can be sown in damp peat moss to develop a new plant. These spores will look like brown fuzz along the tips of the fronds, so do not fear that your fern has an infestation of some kind. As with most all ferns, growth is slow and steady which is why propagation by cuttings of suckers or pups from the mother plant are preferred.

These plants commonly are grown on pieces of bark or on bits of peat moss, which the plant envelopes and lives on. In their natural habitat Staghorn fern grow on trees high in the canopy. They are far from being parasitic plants however, as they an epiphyte. This means that they may live on another plant but they do not send roots into their host plant to siphon off nutrients. As the plant matures tawny-brown, paper-like sterile fronds will cover the bottom of it.

As afore mentioned, ferns are slow growing and there fore require very little fertilizer, if any. The best way to water these plants is to dunk the entire epiphyte into a large bucket of water and to soak it. Always allow your Staghorn to thoroughly dry out between dips so as to prevent rotting. They also like a humid environment in which to live in so misting, as well as regular watering, is highly recommended. Be aware however, of over misting, especially in the winter as this can lead to crown rot which can easily devastate even the most established of Staghorn ferns. Also avoid cold drafts or direct hot air while inside – this can lead to wilting and burns.

Filtered light is best for this plant – to simulate the growing conditions in its natural environment in the canopy of large trees. If you plan upon keeping your Staghorn outside for any period of time avoid full sun and windy days.

In order to grow your own Staghorn from a cutting, you will need to mount it to a board of piece of bark using peat or sphagnum moss. You will need to soak the moss long enough for it to be fully saturated with water. Then wrap the moss around the wound of your cutting. You must then tie your prepped cutting to your chosen mount, be it board or bark. The most common materials used for this are fishing line, panty hose, or any natural fiber that will not biodegrade too quickly. The new plant will slowly cover its mount, at which point you can either remount it to a larger board or piece of bark or hang it from a piece of chain and allow the plant to become a hanging specimen. Be cautious as this plant is very compact for its size and can get extremely heavy with some specimens weighing hundreds of pounds.

In short, though slow growing, a Staghorn fern can be a wonderful addition to any fern lover’s collection, both in impressiveness of size and its unique make up.