How to Grow Staghorn Fern? A Complete Guide to the Latest Growing Methods
Staghorn fern, also known as elkhorn fern, staghorn oak fern, staghorn fern brake, and so on, is an epiphytic plant of the genus Platycerium in the family Polypodiaceae, considered the most unusual in form among ornamental ferns, distinctive and delightful, and also a precious and rare gem among indoor foliage plants. It is very popular for decoration and arrangement in parks, botanical gardens, shops and on windowsills in Europe and America. Now let us take a look at how to grow staghorn fern!
Growth Habits of Staghorn Fern
Staghorn fern prefers a warm, shady and humid environment, fears direct strong light, and does best in diffused light. In winter the temperature should not be lower than 5℃. The soil is best loose leaf mold. It shows alternation of generations, with both the sporophyte and the gametophyte living independently. Its distribution area has a tropical monsoon climate, hot and rainy, with an annual average temperature of 22.6℃, an average January temperature of 15-17℃, an extreme minimum temperature not lower than 5℃, an extreme maximum temperature of 39.5℃, annual precipitation of about 2000 mm, and relative humidity not lower than 80%. It often grows epiphytically on the trunks and branches of monsoon forest trees dominated by Toona ciliata, Albizia chinensis, Ficus benjamina and others, and can also grow epiphytically on the trunks of trees at forest edges, in open woodland, or on dead standing wood, using humus leaves to accumulate fallen leaves, dust and other materials as nutrients.
Division Propagation of Staghorn Fern
1. Division time: Division propagation of staghorn fern is best carried out in early spring (February, March) after the soil thaws. The temperature at this time is more suitable for the recovery of the staghorn fern's root system and does not affect its absorption of its own nutrients. At the same time, when the sterile fronds of the staghorn fern grow too densely, division propagation can be combined with adjustment, which is beneficial to the growth and development of new sporophytes.
2. Division method: Take the mother plant out of the flower pot, shake off excess potting soil, separate the tangled root system as much as possible, and cut it open with a sharp knife into two or more plants. Each divided plant must carry a considerable amount of roots. Each small seedling obtained from division is a new individual.
3. Division management: After the divided plants are potted, water the roots or give one thorough watering. Because its root system has been greatly damaged, its water absorption capacity is very weak, and it takes about 3-4 weeks to recover and sprout new roots. Therefore, within 3-4 weeks after division, watering should be controlled to avoid root rot. However, the transpiration of its fronds is not affected. In order to maintain the water balance of the fronds, the leaf surface needs to be misted 1-3 times a day, and no fertilizer should be applied during this period. After division, if the sunlight is too strong, it should be placed in a shade shed for care.
Growing Methods for Staghorn Fern
1. Soil mix: For growing staghorn fern, the soil should be imported peat of 5-40 mm grade that is loose and has good drainage and aeration. Break up the peat and mix it evenly with water. The standard for adding water is that after mixing with water, when a handful of peat is squeezed tightly, water seeps out from between the fingers. Then it is ready for cup planting. A 9 cm pot uses about 250 ml of peat per pot, and one 300-liter package of imported peat can fill about 1200 cups.
2. Potting and planting: Old pots that are reused must be soaked in a 1000-fold solution of potassium permanganate for more than half an hour, then rinsed with clean water and dried for later use. Small pots are generally planted in pots with a diameter of 12 cm. When planting, first place about 2 cm of substrate at the bottom of the cup, then move the screened seedlings into the cup. Small seedlings should not be planted too deep; it is best to keep them level with the base of the plant. The substrate should be moderately firm, filled to 9/10 of the cup, with 2 plants per pot.
3. Fertilizer and water management: Staghorn fern likes a humid climate environment and requires the relative air humidity of the growing environment to be 60-75%. During the vigorous summer growth period, it needs more misting to maintain a high-humidity environment. Whether grown in pots or hanging baskets, place it in a semi-shady spot and spray with fertilizer water once every ten days. Apply thin cake fertilizer water or a mixed nitrogen-potassium chemical fertilizer 1-2 times a month. In winter, control the amount of watering.
4. Temperature regulation: The optimum growth temperature for staghorn fern is 18-30℃. During the day it can also grow well at 33-35℃. It fears cold and frost, and the overwintering temperature needs to be kept above 10℃. When the winter temperature drops below 4℃, it enters a dormant state. If the ambient temperature approaches 0℃, it will die from frost damage.
5. Light management: Staghorn fern fears strong light, so avoid direct strong light or dry wind. It grows well near a bright indoor window. During greenhouse cultivation, 50-70% of sunlight should be shaded in summer, and about 30% in winter is more suitable. Although staghorn fern also has a strong ability to adapt to weak light, when light is insufficient, growth is slow and the plant becomes weak and spindly.
6. Pest and disease control: Staghorn fern commonly suffers from leaf spot disease damaging the sporophylls, which can be prevented and controlled by spraying a 600-fold solution of 65% zineb wettable powder. When ventilation is poor, scale insects and whiteflies damage the sporophylls or sterile fronds; when few, they can be picked off by hand or killed by spraying a 1000-fold solution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate. Some staghorn ferns are more susceptible to fungal or bacterial diseases, so attention should be paid to regulating the ventilation environment and not watering excessively.