Can you cut back a staghorn fern?
You can trim dead and damaged foliage from the staghorn fern at any time of year. The plant doesn’t require regular pruning, so there is no optimum time for a trim.
How do you trim a staghorn fern?
Cut it as you would a pie. You can cut a larger fern into several or few pieces. Becovery is quickest if you divide the plant into just a few, larger pieces. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut down into the brown shield and sever a group of fronds that has developed at a tip of a branching rhizome.
How do you rejuvenate staghorn?
Here’s what I would suggest. Fill the hole with sphagnum peat moss (looks like fibrous, tan moss) or homemade compost. Add a small amount of a slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote or Nutricote, into the hole as you add the moss or compost. This will provide nutrients and encourage growth.
Why do staghorn leaves turn brown?
If the antler fronds begin to brown or blacken at the base, this is a sign of over-watering. Reduce watering to once monthly until plant shows sign of recovery. If the antler fronds begin to brown at the tips or wilt, this is a sign of under-watering.
Are coffee grounds good for staghorn ferns?
Up-to-date gardeners know that California’s low rainfall and alkaline soil are tough on acid-loving plants. Coffee grounds act as a mulch and soil improver. A few staghorn owners even advocate using the entire banana, placing it into the paper-like platycerium that supports the main plant.
What kind of wood do you use to mount a staghorn fern?
cedar
Mounting Staghorn Ferns should be done on rot resistant wood like cedar. Because of the aggressive way that they are watered, and the fact that they are so closely connected to the wood, you need something that can last long term.
Are staghorn ferns fuzzy?
They have a fuzzy white coating on the fronds that many people mistake as dust but it is actually hair projecting from the leaf surface. Do not try to remove this fuzz, the coating is actually protecting the plant from getting sunburn and is thought to inhibit moisture loss from the leaf surface.
Can you over water staghorn fern?
Since the Staghorn Fern is an epiphyte that naturally grows along tree trunks in the tropics, its roots are smaller than you might expect and are easily overwatered. This can lead to root rot and harm your plant. Overwatering can also lead to fungal infections that appear as black spots on your Staghorn’s fronds.
Is it OK to cut off a staghorn fern?
Although the staghorn fern depends on the host tree for survival, it doesn’t harm the tree. Staghorn fern is a fascinating plant to grow at home, and over time it can become very large. To divide a large staghorn fern, cut the plant apart when the frond shield has turned brown and dry.
How did the staghorn fern get its name?
Fern leaves are actually called fronds, and staghorn ferns have two types. The first, and most prominent, is the “antler” frond – these are the large, bifurcated leaves that shoot out of the center of the plant, and from which staghorn ferns get their names, since they resemble the antlers of deer or moose.
Where to plant staghorn fern in Central Florida?
However, gardeners in North and Central Florida should bring their ferns inside when extremely cold temperatures are expected, if possible. As an epiphyte, the ideal planting spot for staghorn fern is mounted: on a slab of wood, some tree fern fiber, or even a rock.
What kind of fern is easy to care for?
While some species of staghorn fern can be a bit difficult to care for, these two species are low-maintenance and commonly grown. Other easy-to-grow species of staghorn fern are P. alcicorne and P. hillii. Choosing the right place for your plant is an important step.