Staghorn fern care guide

The staghorn fern grows on tree trunks in the wild. It has two kinds of fronds. Flat, round shield fronds hug the mount and cover the roots. Long, forked antler fronds reach out like deer antlers. Most people grow it on a wooden board on the wall. It is safe for cats and dogs.

Light

Give it bright indirect light. An east window is ideal. A spot a few steps back from a south or west window works too.

Hot direct sun scorches the fronds. In low light, the antler fronds grow thin, floppy, and dark.

Water

A staghorn fern takes in water through its shield fronds and the moss around its roots. Misting alone is not enough.

Soak it when the moss and shield fronds feel dry. Set the mount or pot in a sink of room-temperature water for 10 to 20 minutes. Let it drip dry before you hang it back up. In spring and summer, that is about once a week. In winter, every two to three weeks.

Too much water rots the base. Black spots at the base of the fronds are the warning sign. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Mounting and potting

You can grow it in a pot or on a mount.

To mount it, use a wood board or a slab of cork. Spread a thick layer of damp sphagnum moss on the board. Set the root ball on the moss with the shield fronds against the board. Wrap fishing line or plant wire around it, between the fronds, to hold it in place. Over time, new shield fronds grow over the line and lock it on.

In a pot, use a chunky orchid bark mix and a shallow pot with drainage holes. Move it to a mount when it outgrows the pot.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. It grows fuller with more humidity. A bright bathroom suits it well.

Keep it between 16 and 27°C (60 and 80°F), and above 10°C (50°F).

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Add it to the soaking water. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

The brown shield fronds

Shield fronds start green, then turn brown and papery. This is normal. Do not cut them off. The brown layers protect the roots and hold water. New green shield fronds grow over the old ones each year.

Pruning

Cut off antler fronds that are fully brown. Never remove the shield fronds.

The antler fronds have a fine, silvery fuzz. It protects them from sun and water loss. Do not wipe or polish the fronds.

Propagation

Mature plants grow small pups at the base. When a pup has its own shield frond and a few antler fronds, cut it away with a clean knife. Keep some roots attached. Mount it on its own board with damp sphagnum moss.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Brown, papery shield fronds	Normal. Leave them.
Brown patches under the antler tips	Spores. This is normal.
Black spots at the base of the fronds	Too much water
Wilting, limp antler fronds	Thirst. Soak it.
Pale, scorched fronds	Too much direct sun
Thin, dark, floppy fronds	Not enough light

Pests

Scale and mealybugs are the most common pests. Pick them off with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Do not use oil sprays. They clog the fuzz on the fronds.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists the common staghorn fern as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Varieties

• Common staghorn fern, Platycerium bifurcatum, is the easiest to grow. It makes pups.
• Platycerium ‘Netherlands’ has short, upright antler fronds and stays compact.
• Platycerium superbum grows huge, with wide shield fronds. It does not make pups.
• Platycerium willinckii has long, narrow, hanging antler fronds with lots of silver fuzz.