Staghorn Fern Care Guide: How to Grow Staghorn Ferns

Platycerium bifurcatum, known by the common names staghorn fern and elkhorn fern, is a tropical plant popular for its antler-like fronds. The staghorn fern has gained popularity as an air plant that can grow in a hanging basket or even on suspended wooden boards. This fern species grows naturally in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands. It can also survive in indoor environments that mimic its natural habitat.

The staghorn fern is one of eighteen fern species within the polypod family, Polypodiaceae. Other family members like the large antler fern (Platycerium grande) and the magnificent antler fern (Platycerium superbum) physically resemble the staghorn fern, but they are different species. Biologically speaking, there is only one type of staghorn fern.

The staghorn fern appeals to many home growers on account of its striking antler fronds. Growing a mature staghorn from a seedling can be challenging, as these plants need an environment that closely mimics their natural habitat.

1. 1. Potting: Staghorn ferns are epiphytes. Epiphytic plants grow on the surface of another plant using a simplified root system. Proper staghorn fern care starts by situating these plants in the proper growing medium. You can place your staghorn fern in a hanging basket filled with sphagnum moss and a small amount of potting mix. You can also mount the staghorn fern on a piece of wood or buy a staghorn fern already attached to a piece of wood that you can mount to a wall. Whether you use a basket or a wooden board, sphagnum moss provides the most stable growing medium.
2. 2. Temperature: Staghorn ferns are tropical plants that thrive at room temperatures ranging from sixty to eighty degrees Fahrenheit. If your home's temperature is suitable for an orchid, it will probably also suit a staghorn fern.
3. 3. Sunlight: In most natural habitats, staghorn ferns grow beneath a forest canopy where they rarely receive direct sunlight. Indirect light or dappled light suits the staghorn fern best, while direct sun will burn its antler fronds.
4. 4. Water: The key to keeping staghorn ferns appropriately watered is to maintain even moisture without overwatering. To mimic the fern’s natural conditions, try misting the shield fronds, which are the brown sterile fronds found along the base of the plant. (These basal fronds may look dead, but they are not, so avoid pulling them off the plant.) If your plant is in a hanging basket filled with sphagnum moss and potting mix, you can water the soil directly. Water once a week during the warm growing season and every two to three weeks during cooler months. You can also keep the staghorn fern's environment moist by using a humidifier.
5. 5. Propagation: A mature elkhorn fern has two types of fronds: brown sterile fronds that surround the root ball, and green foliar fronds that hang from the plant. The foliar fronds (also called fertile fronds) produce spores that will eventually release seeds. You can collect these spores in a brown paper bag, and after waiting a few weeks, you will find new seeds at the bottom of the bag. An easier way to propagate a staghorn fern is to look for small offshoots on both sterile fronds and foliar fronds. Clip these offshoots (or snap them off with your fingers) and place them in moist sphagnum moss to help them establish new roots.
6. 6. Fertilizing: Both mature staghorns and new plants need fertilizer. Choose a fertilizer that can be diluted in water and apply it once a month to the sterile fronds around the base of the plant.

A staghorn fern is non-toxic. Home growers need not worry about keeping it in a household with pets and children.

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