Staghorn fern care
Antler-shaped fronds; often mounted on a board. (Platycerium)
- Light
- Medium, indirect light
- Water
- Soak the root ball when it is nearly dry…
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Care card
Light
Medium, indirect light. No direct sun.
Water
Soak the root ball when it is nearly dry, about once a week.
Humidity
Loves humidity: a bathroom with a window, a pebble tray or a room humidifier helps.
Soil and pot
Rich, moisture-holding potting mix with drainage.
Feeding
Weak liquid feed once a month in spring and summer.
Through the year
Spring
Trim brown fronds and start light feeding.
Summer
Check the soil often; ferns dry out fast in warm weather.
Autumn
Move it away from heaters before they come on.
Winter
Dry indoor air is the hardest time: mist or use a pebble tray.
Leaf trouble?
Why houseplant leaves turn yellow
Several yellow leaves at once usually mean the roots are staying wet. Feel the…How often to water a houseplant
There is no single weekly schedule. Water when that plant's soil says so, then…Brown tips and crispy edges
Brown tips usually mean dry air, a pot that dried out too far, or minerals in…Drooping houseplant leaves
Droop can mean thirst or roots that are too rotten to drink. Feel the soil…Fungus gnats and other small pests
Fungus gnats breed in mix that never dries. Letting the top layer dry, and…Background
Platycerium is a genus of about 18 fern species in the polypod family, Polypodiaceae. Ferns in this genus are widely known as staghorn or elkhorn ferns due to their uniquely shaped fronds. This genus is epiphytic and is native to tropical and temperate areas of South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Guinea.
From Wikipedia’s article Platycerium, by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More fern plants
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: toxic and non-toxic plants Pet safety
- Wikipedia: Platycerium Background