Stag & Elkhorn care
Healthy & Happy Plants
Staghorn ferns (Platycerium) are epiphytes, their natural habitat is growing on the trunks of trees in forests not in soil.
They thrive in a warm humid environment but are tolerant of temperatures lower than 15 degrees if protected from frost.
They love bright indirect light but we have species that are sun hardy and are happy in full sun..
As delicate as they look they are hardy plants capable of coping with long periods of drought - the quickest way to kill a Staghorn is to over water it.
It is important that they dry out in between watering.
This makes them an excellent low fuss indoor plant. They can happily grow indoors for years.
When kept indoors they can be watered, or soaked in a bucket of water for 15 minutes once every two months. Putting them out in the rain occasionally is good for them too.
They live off rainwater and humidity, collected and absorbed into their base shield fronds.
In nature they collect their nutrients from decomposing leaf debris, dead insects and bird guano that fall into their fronds.
At home, if you have yours growing indoors, you can lightly fertilise with an organic fertilizer such as Seasol twice during the warm months.
ONLY 1 BANANA PEEL PER YEAR
The basal frond is the shield that grows around the base of the plant.
It starts out as a green disk-like leaf that eventually turns brown and papery.
This papery shield must remain on the plant as it aids in nutrient and moisture absorption as well as protecting the roots of the plant.
The fertile fronds are the upright antler fronds.
At times through the year these will produce the spores that allows this plant to seed. These fronds are covered with a silvery fuzz which aids in moisture and nutrient collection and must not be removed.
Plant Species
Platycerium Bifurcatum Elkhorn
Happiest in part shade but can be sun hardened.
Elkhorns self propagate by developing pups and over time will become a large group of Elkhorns.
They have shield fronds and fertile fronds, the shield fronds start out green and then develop into a brown papery base plate which protects the roots.
The fertile fronds look like deer antlers and carry the spores of the plant.
Platycerium Bifurcatum
Jazz Hands
Jazz Hands were rescued off a property being demolished, they had spent 25 years growing in full sun and living off rainwater. It is our toughest species.
But tough only by nature as it is our frilliest variety. The fertile fronds are upright with short lobes that wave in the wind like a hand - enjoying jazz!
The shield fronds are upright and crown-like with a fresh lime green colour.
Platycerium Superbum Staghorn
Can only be grown in part shade.
They are singular plants that can only be propagated from spores which are like the seeds of this plant.
They can grow very large when happy, encompassing a whole tree trunk upto two metres across.
They have ever green shield fronds which curves outward to collect water and nutrients.
They have large fertile fronds that hang down from the shield fronds. These produce spores and resemble like stag antlers,
hence the name.
Platycerium Veitchii
Silver Fox
Silver Fox is a species that originated in Queensland which makes it our least cold tolerant, but most drought hardy.
This is an Elkhorn variety so self propagates like the P. bifurcatum species. It has beautiful silver fertile fronds that can a meter long with flat round shield fronds.