My friend has an enormous staghorn, and she was wanting to cut the plant and make it into 4. When is the correct time to do this? And is it possible without killing the plant? Thank you for your time.

Hi BA. To answer your question the best way to reduce the size of your friend's staghorn is by removing (or transplanting) the pups that grow from its base. If this hasn't been done before there may be a few pups which are now the size of the plant and are hard to distinguish.

Find these and remove them bring the fern back to a more manageable size.

If you want to propagate the pups then make sure you retain a ball of sphagnum moss behind each one and follow the mounting directions already mentioned.

The best time would be in spring or autumn to split these however if you have really cold winters you may want to wait until spring.

I recently cut off the dead portion of the prothallium on my staghorn fern. will new ones grow back? Will the plant survive? It is a small plant about 4 to 6 inches on the frond (leaves).

April - if it's only the dead portion of the prothallium that you've removed then I think you shouldn't have any problems with your plant surviving. However, I would recommend in future that you leave this in place as it protects the rhizoids and sperm cells for future production.

Your staghorn will naturally discard any dead parts over time so unless they look really unsightly I would leave them alone.

My staghorn is 26years old and I recently moved I have it out side on an upside down flower pot, It started getting black spots on the fronds I think between the rain and the sprinkler system it is too wet. I have just moved it into my porch and have it sitting across a wagon (the only way I can move it)allowing air to get under it. I will be sick if it dies is there anything else I can do or is this a sign of another problem besides too wet? I have cut off all of the fronds with black on them.
Thank you Kathy

should the hard wood for placing staghorn ferns on be a finished piece or raw wood or kiln dried? I want to place mine but confused about this.

Sharon, it all comes down to how often you want to be replacing the mounting board. IMHO I think the best option is an oiled hardwood. Varnished or synthetically sealed boards can break down over time and may be detrimental to you fern so it's best to keep away from these.

Using raw wood has the limitations of splitting and warping that could bring forward the need to remount earlier than expected.

What do you feed a staghorn fern to keep it green?

Hi, I just recently acquired a staghorn from work. It was a part of a much larger plant, which was going to be discarded and I just ripped off a large section that had fronds that are just over a foot long. It has quite a few layers of the dead material and some roots. I have attached it to a piece of wood with spagnum and green wire. I soaked the spagnum before attaching the plant in a nutrient rich solution. It has taken a few days for the spagnum to dry and now there are what look like some blackish blemishes on the plant. Additionally the leaves themselves seem very dry and are beggining to crinkle up. Could it possible be a magnesium defficiency, or simply a watering problem? I have been spraying the plant with water every day or two . Shes not in real good shape, any advice would be great. Thanks

Ryan, it sounds like your staghorn may have contracted Rhizoctonia a fungus that some ferns are susceptible to. This is usually caused by too much water and too much humidity. Reduce, or at least stop for awhile, and try and find an airy spot to hang it. It may not survive but doing this will give it a pretty good chance.

I have a very large staghorn that stared in a basket connected to a hanging hook by 3 metal wires. Today 2 of the wires rusted through and I now have to figure out how to re-hang the fern. Help..it is round in shape, so putting it on a board will not work, also, I like the size, so I don't want to take the pups off. Is there a way of rehanging by placing "straps" around the fern? Thanks..

I have a problem simular to Susan G. My plant is about 3-4 feet in diameter and has fallen for the third time, wires rusted. What would be the best way to rehang it?

I have a staghorn fern and i moved about 10 months ago, it use to do really well but lately it is doing so poorly. it is in a metal basket and the basket might be geting too tight it is growing around the metal. the fronds are very thin and withered. i love it so much and i am so afraid i am killing it please advise

Just a comment. Usually Staghorn fern refers to Platycerium superbum, which has only a single growing point and never forms pups. The fern which grows into clumps and forms pups, and is pictured above, is probably Platycerium bifurcatum, and is known as the Elkhorn fern. I grow most of my elkhorns on a hessian bag of old cow manure suspended by a piece of very solid galvanised chain. The oldest of these ferns is nearly thirty years old, and needed a block and tackle to move recently. They just love old bananas. And this is in southern Victoria.

The center of my fern turns brown, while more green leaves sprout around the brown.It is also sprouting babies around the coconut lined basket.I am constantly cutting out the brown or dead sections and the leaves and babies keep coming. Am I doing something wrong? also we are placing banana peals around the plant. Please any advise or comments would be most appreciated, I have had my fern three years.

My fren was in a wooden basket which is now gone,
and the fern is very securely attached to a tree. I would like to move it. but am concerned that it will damage the root ball since it is so firmly in the v of the branches.
shall i give in and leave it where it is or take the
"fern" by the horns and go for it. Thanks for your help Donna

I have a staghorn originally purchased 25 years ago. The birdsnest was in the wire baket and the staghorn on the outside. Over 25 yrs it has grown dramatically. So much so that is no longer able to be supported in the tree, and is sitting on the ground. It would be at least 2 metres in diameter, still has the birds nest, and is growing new plants on the one side. Any suggestions on how to dissect this plant?

I'm going to transplant a large staghorn? elkhorn fern it isnow in a wash tub around 18" diameter ther are a bunch of ferns i hope i don' screw it up.
let you know

To Phil:

"I grow most of my elkhorns on a hessian bag of old cow manure"

"They just love old bananas. And this is in southern Victoria."

Many thanks in advance...

Oh, dear! I don't think my complete post went through.. Phil, I have some questions for you regarding elkhorn ferns. Could you elaborate on hessian bag? How aged is the manure you use and how do you prepare the bananas for the ferns? Blended & diluted with water?

I recently bought a stag horn fern and I am very new to this so any advice would be extremely helpful. The ferns came in a compacted 6x6 small wooden box as do orchids. I removed them from the box and nestled them in the center of layers of moss and orchid chips in a large baskets lined with a dry straw like material for good drainage. They hang from limbs of a huge Magnolia tree semi shady. Is this okay? My hope is that they overcome the baskets into huge round balls as I have seen elsewhere. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance, Tasos

Hi I've recently bought a Stag Horn Fern, I don't know which kind. I'm a little worried because 60% of its leaves are turning brown. What can I do to bring back its vitality?

Thanks
Ralph

My neighbor has a huge fern that was growing on the side of a pine tree. The pine tree died and was cut back to just above the fern. So, of course the pine tree eventually toppled over. It was in almost full sun there. Now she has had it moved and its hanging in a tree at the edge of the woods, with way more shade. Part of the pine tree is still stuck to it. It doesn't look that healthy and I was wondering if there was anything I could find out for her to help with it.

A few months ago, I mounted my staghorn fern directly to a tree using coconut liners. I have recently noticed a white, fungus type matter growing around the fern. The fern still looks like it is in good condition, but I'm wondering what this fungus might indicate? Also, I am concerned about the tree. Should I remove the staghorn fern; will it hurt the tree?

Laurel, this white fungus is obviously the start of some bacteria that is either infesting your tree or the fern. By attaching the staghorn directly to the tree you are in fact causing serious problems for both the fern and the tree in much the same way that mounding compost around the trunk would do.

The moisture from the coconut fibre and organisms living between the staghorn and the tree will seriously affect both plants over time. My suggestion is to remove it immediately and mount it to a board as per the directions on this post.

All the best.

I have found that with all plants I have dealt with, when there are brown leaves, if you trim the brown off you can save plants. whereas if you do not, it will die. This is true of any plant that turns. Even if it is not the whole leaf you can cut off the part you see turning, and still be able to save the plant.

My staghorn has been fine till now. I don't know if it's the old bananas, I give it like 1 every 3 weeks but It looks as if something is creating little holes on the parts that are stuck on my palm tree, what wraps around. Some of the holes look like scratches. There's lots of them all over the base of the plant I would say thousands,pieces are rotting off. What can I do. The plant on the palm right next to that one seems to be starting with the same symptoms. I don't want my staghorns to die. They are a very important part of my landscape. I've looked everywhere for info on what it is and can't find anything. Help!!

I have had my staghorn for over a year. Even though I have had many new fronds I have not been able to get it to produce more base fronds. Any similiar cases?

hi i was in the middle of a project i was going to mount my staghorn fern but i thought it would br nice to polyurethane the board and drift wood ,and then i realised the chemicals mite harm the plant. my question is will the polyurethane harm it

I have 2 staghorns that I had removed off a tree that fell in the bush & attatched them to a lilli-pilli in our shady part of the garden. They were fine for a few years until they developed large brown sections on them, with not much green fronds left. They also have lots of ants in them, so do i get rid of the ants or just try to get the plants healthy again.

I have a staghorn fern that I rescued from an abandoned house and nursed back to health while living in California. It made a wonderful recovery - sprouting tons of new leaves. We just moved to Washington state and I had it in our shed while we were settling in. As luck would have it we just had the worst winter in 30 years. It got much colder than it usually does. I went out to check on my fern and all the leaves look like they had been frozen - even though it was in the shed. They are all grey and crinkly and dry now. I'm in a panic! Can it be saved? Should I cut off all of the leaves? I love this plant and have sch affection for it that I would hate to lose it after all this. Any suggestions?

I rescued a staghorn fern that has been outside and hasgot hit by the last freeze. Can I save it or should I call it quits. I live in Fl.
Thank you

I have 2 stag horn ferns and the tempatures dropped to the teens in FL where I live. I clovered the plants but they still got burnt by the freeze. When should I cut off the dead leaves. They hang from a tree and are about 4 feet round. Is there anything else I should due? Besides get a heavier blanket. LOL

Is there a way to save a staghorn fern that was over exposed to sunlight for a few days? I think some of the leaves got burned. I moved it to a shady place, but it hasn't responded. Is there hope?

I have had a staghorn for thirty years! It is HUGE, in a big round shape hung with swingset chain fed through a thick hose ( to protect he tree) and hung from the branch of an oak tree. We water it occasionly, feed it three times a year with liq fertilizer, put banana skins on it, and cover it when the temp gets below 35. The leaves will sometimes yello and fall off, we never cut them back. The frons are reaching the ground ( about 4 feet) but do not touch. The plant is easy to take care of and is worth about $500.00. We know because we turned down the offer!

I am a new owner of a staghorn fern. It came with three fronds, one broke away recently. Following the above directions, I have set-up the fern on its own. It's alive, but it's drouping unlike the other two which are out and upright, healthly. Too much water? nOt enough? Board not moist enough? I really would like to save if I can. Thank you.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE THE BANANAS? I HAVE A LARGE FERN AND WANT TO SPLIT IT. I BOUGHT 2 COCONUT BASKETS AND GOT SOME SPAGUM MOSS. ALSO WHAT DO YOU FERTILIZE WITH?

I was wondering if the bananas really work on the staghorns? If so..how do you put them in? I mean to you bury the peel or just lay it on top of the soil? Also...does mircle grow help or harm a staghorn?

if i remove a few pups to replant on a new board, should I trim the leaves as they are 18 inches long?

We have a Elkhorn fern that is six years old and has done beautifully in a hanging wire basket filled with Sphagnum moss. It has grown many "babies" and even has survived an ant attack which we just sprayed with canned spray. My problem is a new one this year. Some of the fronds have developed a white velvet-like condition on the undersides of them that eventually turn brown. It starts on the tips of the fronds. We have cut off the damaged ends of the fronds, but could someone tell me what this is and why is it happening?

my small staghorn fern is dry,hard and looks wilted should i water it?

I have a staghorn fern that is 17 years old. I'd say it weighs about 45lbs and it's consumed 90% of the second basket it's been given.

It's prolly about 36 inches across and it's shaped like a ball, it hangs off of chains on my porch, and it's my best plant.

It started off as a cutting from another fern that an old redneck guy in Florida gave my mom. He said to feed it banana peels, he said to just lay the peel on the plant and let it decompose.

-Trader Will

I have a staghorn fern that is 17 years old. I'd say it weighs about 45lbs and it's consumed 90% of the second basket it's been given.

It's prolly about 36 inches across and it's shaped like a ball, it hangs off of chains on my porch, and it's my best plant.

It started off as a cutting from another fern that an old redneck guy in Florida gave my mom. He said to feed it banana peels, he said to just lay the peel on the plant and let it decompose.

-Trader Will

I have a large superbum that needs a new backboard. It is currently on plywood (ugly). I have some redwood and plan to make a nice board for it to be hung on. My question is, is redwood to acidic for the superbum, and if so, what is the best wood to use?

I have a couple of really large staghorns that used to belong to my gradmother. They are at least 35 years old and very healthy. I have heard that you can propagate them from the spores that are under the leaves. Is this true and can you guide me?

i have recently moved and found a dead stag horn. is there any way of bringing it bck to life or is it to late...
please help

I have a few staghown ferns, they are each at least 5x5 feet large, beautiful, my husband passed away and I cant take care of them anymore and would like to sell, any suggestions where to sell? and how much they are worth
wendy

I AM A VIRGIN AT RAISING STAGHORNS. GOT ANY TIPS.
WHAT IS THIS BANANA THING I'M SEEING HERE. I HAVE A RATHER BABY PLANT IN A WOODEN HANGING BOX. IT GETS A.M. SUN...IS THAT TOO MUCH SINCE I'M IN FLORIDA?

BEING A VIRGIN WITH A NEW BABY PLANT IN A HANGING WOODEN PLANTER I WOULD LIKE SOME TIPS. WHAT'S THIS BANANA THING I SEE HERE? I LIVE IN FLA AND THE PLANT IS GETTING A.M. SUN....IS THAT TOO WARM?
THANKS FOR ANY SUGGESTIONS

I recently read your articles on staghorn ferns. I am little puzzled on the banana idea.How do you fasten the banana skin on the fern and do you use a whole skin or just a piece on the fern. Thanks for helping me out with this rather stupid question.

my stag seems to have attracted several types of ants in the tree
will these cause a problem?

I have mounted my staghorn fern to a peeled out dried coconut last year, with no sphagnum moss or fertilizer. It is not growing. Please suggest me what to do.

Hello- my mom's tree holding a staghorn fell over and I am trying to save any part of the fern. I was not able to remove the entire plant in one piece but rather have about 20 separate pieces. There is still a huge peice left I am not able to cut off. Can i saw it off the tree or is there a trickc i don't know about to remove the plant from the host???

I live in MT - so no outdoor winter plants! My buddy - Hector the Staghorn- does well (15+ yrs) I soak him in the sink with a banana peel in the water - which he LOVES. Hector does occasionall develop some fuzzy growth on the underside of the frons? Should I be concerned? TX

My leaves on my staghorn have turned lime green, i have feed with cow manure, water once a week, give them banana skins...wondering if they are lacking in something to cause this all of a sudden?

I have 2 staghorns that have been with me for 30+ years. Currently, one is on the ground because the tree branch could no longer support it. It's 5 feet in diameter and I will be dividing it up soon because there is no way it can be lifted back onto another branch.

Staghorns are kind of like orchids. Basically, don't overwater, feed it occasionally and let it do it's thing.

I feed my stag plants bananas by just laying the peel in them. No mixing, chopping or anything.

When they do get ants, I have used regular garden ant spray on them with no problems. (I do not saturate the base or leaves with the spray). I have also used liquid organic cleaner on the ants...they don't like that either. No real receipe, just a couple of squirts in a milk jug (gallon) container and fill it up with water. Pour it on the base and the ants vacate the premises.

Black spots may indicate to much sun. They don't care for direct sunlight at all. The leaves that are burnt won't revive. :( Don't give up hope, new fronds will grow.

The white fuzzy stuff on the leaves is normal and protects the plant. Try to minimize touching.

The fertile fronds are the large horn-like leaves which also grow spores for reproduction. They look like brown fuzz on the underside of the leaves. These are good!

The green round fronds that surround the horn fronds are sterile. They are a source of nutrition for the plant and it is a normal occurence for them to turn brown. I usually don't mess with them!

I live in Florida and have had to cover my hanging ferns with sheets and blankets. Not fun, but well worth the hassle. Be sure to cover your plants before nightfall so some heat is retained. With my staghorns, this is a two person job. One holding the sheets and the other rolling and pinning the edges to connect the sheets together. Try to let the sheets/blankets drag to the ground for more insulation.

Don't forget about the wind...so really go overboard with the clothespins. The worst feeling is waking up and all your sheets are blown away and your plant is frostbit. When they do get frostbite, it is sad, but they will rebound. I just leave the damaged protruding fronds alone until spring.

Hope this helps!

THERE is a rust colored powder on the ends of alot of the fronds is this normal and if not what should be done? thanks

I just got a syaghorn fern (elkhorn) in the summer . It did great outside here in mid Ga. , but now that I've moved it indoors it looks awful. I heat with wood so its dry, should I put it in an unheated room? How do "up north" folks care for their ferns in the winter? thank you

My staghorn has scale, little brown things, i pick them off & dispose of them. Anything else I can do?

I have three staghorn ferns I have had for forty years.The temperature dropped to 26 F and the leaves turned black what should I do? Do I cut them off or do I leave alone and wait. Please advise.
Thanks,
karl

my staghorn was hit by a hard freeze and now its leaves are black what can i do to save it.

I have a stag-horn that has been mounted on a piece of wood for several years. One problem I encountered as I was preparing to mount it back then was that I had left it in its flower pot for so long before mounting, that its base took on the shape of the flower pot, making it a strangely "long,tall" plant. Mounted on a board, the bases' shape was not an issue. Now I have dismounted it from its wood board and want to place it in one of those wire half-baskets that you can attach to a fence. My question is: Can I cut the pot-shaped base off so that there will no longer be a 6 inch soil base attached to the plant, thus allowing it to sit better in its new wire home? It is very malformed and doesn't sit correctly. I imagine that in this base are the plants' roots, and I don't know if pruning them away while cutting off the "pot-shaped" base will kill my plant or whether it will adjust. It is and has always been a healthy plant. Thanks

my motherinlaw has a magnificent 45yr old staghorn fern height 6ft diameter 5ft it hangs from 3 large chains from roof of patio she thinks its going to tear the roof down she wants it gone i am trying to help her find someone who might purchase it in san diego ca i thank you for any information you might have