Staghorn ferns get their unique name from the way they resemble deer or elk antlers. The Polypodiaceae family of plants, which are native to Asia and Australia, grow slowly at first but eventually get rather big and spectacular. There are 17 different Platycerium species, but only the staghorn fern is widely cultivated at home.
Staghorn ferns are thought to be a little challenging to cultivate, but their unusualness and broader availability make them more and more popular with gardeners looking for something a little different to add to their collection of houseplants. These ferns grow on other plants or things for support but are not parasitic because they are epiphytic. They have two different leaf types: shield fronds, which are thin, flat leaves that cover and protect the root ball structure and absorb water and nutrients, and antler fronds, which emerge from this base and can grow to a maximum length of three feet inside (and even longer in the wild).
Light
Staghorn ferns favor a position with constant, filtered light for storage. Having said that, if provided enough water, heat, and humidity, they can withstand greater sunlight. Just be careful not to expose the delicate fronds to any direct sunlight as they are prone to burning.
Soil and Mounting
Staghorn ferns should be mounted after they reach maturity, even if young ferns can be planted in a moist standard potting mixture. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, which means they flourish in environments similar to those found in your house. In the wild, they grow on the sides of trees or other plants. You’ll need a starter lump of peat, moss, compost, or other organic material to mount, but you shouldn’t require any more soil after that.
The fern is mounted by fastening it with fishing line or wire to a wooden board or bark slab with its bottom encased in a lump of peat, compost, moss or another organic material. After that, the mounted fern can be hung on the wall. The fastening material will eventually be covered as the young fronds expand to encircle the older ones. The mass may need to be remounted on a bigger slab if it becomes heavy and huge over time.
Water
An important factor in the success of a staghorn fern is proper watering. They will require frequent watering, but the base should be allowed to dry out in between. In warmer areas or throughout the summer, this should be done around once a week; in cooler climates, this should be done once every two to three weeks. Remove your fern and its mounting from the wall (or wherever it is hung) and soak it in a sink of water for 10 to 20 minutes, or until the roots are completely saturated, to make watering your fern simple. Before rehanging, let drip dry.
Your plant is probably being overwatered if you see the fronds starting to brown or blacken at the base. Likewise, it probably needs to be watered more frequently if the tips of the fronds start to brown or wilt.
Temperature and Humidity
The most important thing to keep in mind is that staghorn ferns enjoy humidity. Although older staghorn may endure brief periods of frigid weather, they prefer warm, humid environments. Particularly when they’re young, it’s important to keep those temperatures (at least above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and below 100 degrees Fahrenheit).
Try putting your plant in one of your home’s more naturally humid spaces, like the bathroom or kitchen, to boost the humidity around it. If it doesn’t work, try using a small humidifier or periodically misting the plant to boost the humidity in the area.
Fertilizer
You can feed your staghorn fern once a month with a well-balanced, water-soluble fertilizers to encourage greater development; this is best done in the spring and summer when the fern is actively growing. During the autumn and winter, the frequency of fertilizing can decrease to every other month. Follow the directions on the product packaging for how much to use.
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