How to Grow Staghorn Ferns? Care Methods and Precautions
1. Soil preparation: For growing staghorn ferns, use imported peat moss of 5-40 mm grade that is loose, well-draining and well-aerated. Crush the peat moss and mix well with water. The standard for adding water is: after mixing with water, when you clench a handful of peat moss tightly in your hand, water seeps out from between your fingers. Then it is ready for potting.
1. Soil preparation:
For growing staghorn ferns, use imported peat moss of 5-40 mm grade that is loose, well-draining and well-aerated. Crush the peat moss and mix well with water. The standard for adding water is: after mixing with water, when you clench a handful of peat moss tightly in your hand, water seeps out from between your fingers. Then it is ready for potting. A 9 cm pot uses about 250 ml of peat moss per pot, and one 300-liter bag of imported peat moss can fill about 1,200 cups.
2. Potting and planting:
For reused old pots, they must be soaked in a 1000-fold dilution of potassium permanganate for more than half an hour, then rinsed with clean water and dried for later use. Small potted plants are generally grown 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 the base of the plant level. The substrate should be moderately firm, filled to 9/10 of the cup, 2 plants per pot.
3. Fertilizer and water management:
Staghorn ferns like a humid climate environment and require the relative air humidity of the growing environment to be 60-75%. During the vigorous summer growth period, more misting is needed to maintain a high-humidity environment. Whether grown in pots or hanging baskets, place them in half shade and spray fertilizer water once every ten days. Apply 1-2 times a month of dilute cake fertilizer water or a mixed nitrogen-potassium chemical fertilizer. In winter, control the amount of watering.
4. Temperature regulation:
The optimum growing temperature for staghorn ferns is 18-30°C. During the day, they can also grow well in a 33-35°C environment. They are averse to cold and frost, and the overwintering temperature needs to be kept above 10°C. When the winter temperature drops below 4°C, they enter a dormant state. If the ambient temperature approaches 0°C, they will die from frost damage.
5. Light management:
Staghorn ferns are afraid of strong light exposure, so avoid direct strong light or dry wind. They grow well near bright indoor windows. When cultivated in a greenhouse, 50-70% of sunlight should be shaded in summer, and about 30% shading in winter is more suitable. Although staghorn ferns have 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:
Leaf spot disease commonly harms the spore-bearing leaves of staghorn ferns and can be controlled by spraying a 600-fold dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. When ventilation is poor, scale insects and whiteflies harm the spore-bearing leaves or sterile leaves. When few in number, they can be picked off by hand or killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate. Some staghorn ferns are more susceptible to fungal or bacterial diseases, so attention should be paid to adjusting the ventilation environment and not overwatering.
How to Grow Staghorn Ferns: Propagation Methods of Staghorn Ferns
Staghorn fern, also known as elkhorn fern, bat fern, and staghorn fern (Platycerium), is a plant in the genus Platycerium of the family Polypodiaceae. How do you grow staghorn ferns? Let us look at the propagation methods of staghorn ferns below.
How to Grow Staghorn Ferns
1. Soil selection in staghorn fern cultivation methods
Staghorn ferns are epiphytic plants, and the soil used for their cultivation is very different from the requirements of other potted plants. Staghorn ferns usually use a small amount of fern roots, moss, or leaf mold plus a small amount of decomposed dry cow dung as the growing substrate, tied onto sections of wood with bark, or planted in flower pots, wooden frames, or coconut shells made into pot shapes and planted inside.
2. Temperature, humidity, and light in staghorn fern cultivation methods
The optimum growing temperature for staghorn ferns is 18-30°C. They are averse to cold and frost, and the overwintering temperature is best kept above 10°C. When the ambient temperature approaches 0°C, the plant will suffer frost damage and die. Therefore, during cultivation, air convection should be strengthened in summer so that the internal temperature of the plant can dissipate, and misting can be used to cool it down. In winter cultivation, attention should be paid to keeping warm, and the staghorn fern plant can be wrapped in plastic film to overwinter.
Staghorn ferns are afraid of direct sunlight and grow well near bright indoor windows. During cultivation, place them in half shade in summer or shade 50%-70% of sunlight; in winter, shading about 30% of sunlight or placing them in a bright indoor location is more suitable for care.
Staghorn ferns like a humid climate environment, and during cultivation the relative air humidity of the growing environment is required to be 60-75%.
3. Watering and fertilizing in staghorn fern cultivation methods
Staghorn ferns have high fertilizer and water requirements. Applying a small amount of liquid fertilizer during the growing period of staghorn ferns can make them grow luxuriantly, but excessive fertilization is not advisable. Fertilization should follow the principle of "light fertilizer applied frequently," and the greatest taboos are applying concentrated fertilizer and applying only nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium fertilizer. During the peak growing season, more fertilizer can be applied appropriately, while in winter fertilization should be controlled.
Staghorn ferns grow very luxuriantly in environments with relatively high air humidity and also require relatively little watering. Therefore, they are very suitable for greenhouse cultivation. The simplest watering method for general indoor planting is to soak the entire plant in water once a week. On sunny days or during high temperatures, water appropriately more; during cloudy and rainy days or low-temperature periods, reduce watering. Especially in summer when temperatures are higher, watering should be arranged as much as possible in the cooler morning hours, and the plant should also be misted frequently. In the cold winter season, water less and keep it appropriately dry, and arrange watering as much as possible at noon on sunny days when the temperature is higher.
Propagation Methods of Staghorn Ferns
The commonly used propagation method for staghorn ferns is division, and spore sowing can also be used. Division is best done in early spring (February and March) after the soil thaws. The main method is to cut young plants from the mature plant and plant them separately. When cutting, cut off the shield-shaped sterile frond together, and plant them in a substrate mixed with osmundine fiber, chopped sphagnum moss, crushed charcoal, and leaf mold or peat soil, placed in a shady and humid environment for cultivation. After they survive, transplant them into the planting holes of wall-mounted planting boards, referring to the wall-mounted cultivation method for bird's nest ferns.
Staghorn Fern Platycerium wallichii Hook. Staghorn Fern Illustrated Guide: How to Grow Staghorn Ferns / How to Propagate Staghorn Ferns
Staghorn Fern ProfileStaghorn Fern Platycerium wallichii Hook.
Cultivation Methods and Precautions for Staghorn Ferns: Introduction to Staghorn Ferns
Staghorn fern (scientific name: Platycerium wallichii Hook.), also known as elkhorn fern, bat fern, and staghorn fern, is a plant in the genus Platycerium of the family Polypodiaceae. It is native to tropical regions such as eastern Australia and Polynesia, and is an epiphytic ornamental fern. Its spore-bearing fronds are very distinctive, shaped like sika deer antlers.
Staghorn ferns are perennial epiphytic herbaceous ferns with dimorphic fronds. The basal fronds adhere to tree trunks, and the fertile fronds fork 3-5 times irregularly into antler shapes.
The first type is the spore-bearing frond (fertile frond), which is large, extends into the air, forks, and resembles deer antlers, with downy hairs on the frond surface. It can produce spores, and the sori are clustered on the back of the frond tips.
The second type is the sterile frond (sterile leaf), which is smaller, round, oval, or fan-shaped, varying by species. It clings densely to the attachment surface, overlapping. When young it is tender green, later becoming papery light brown, and has the function of storing nutrients and water.
A rare plant newly discovered to be distributed in China, it is found only in Yingjiang in southwestern Yunnan, growing in tropical rainforests at altitudes of 210-950 m, mostly epiphytic on tree trunks and branches. It is also distributed in the Indochina Peninsula and is a national second-class protected rare species.
Staghorn fern is a plant in the genus Platycerium of the family Polypodiaceae, mainly native to tropical and subtropical regions, with about 17 species. They grow in tropical rainforests, using the decaying organic matter on tree surfaces as nutrients, and hold onto trees with hard, smooth fern fronds.
Although it is native to hot tropical rainforests, it has strong adaptability. Chinese staghorn ferns have begun to enter the stage of development and utilization, and the prospects for their potted production are very broad.
It is a good material for indoor three-dimensional greening. If staghorn ferns are attached to old dead wood or decorated in hanging baskets, embellishing a study, living room, and windowsill, they add even more natural charm. Staghorn ferns are relatively commonly cultivated in Europe and the United States, often used in hanging baskets or basket stands for decorative viewing. Although production volume cannot compare with flowering potted plants, they have certain advantages due to convenient management and a long ornamental period.
Morphological Characteristics of Staghorn Ferns
Staghorn ferns are epiphytic plants, and their main characteristics are as follows:
The rhizome is fleshy, short and creeping, densely covered with scales; the scales are light brown or grayish white, dark brown in the middle, hard, linear, 10 mm long and 4 mm wide.
The fronds are in 2 rows, dimorphic; the basal sterile fronds (humus-collecting fronds) are persistent, thickly leathery, fleshy in the lower part, up to 1 cm thick, thin in the upper part, upright, sessile, adhering to tree trunks, up to 40 cm long, nearly as long as wide, apex truncate, irregular, forking 3-5 times, lobes nearly equal in length, rounded-obtuse or pointed, entire, the midrib raised on both sides, veins indistinct, both sides sparsely covered with stellate hairs, green at first, soon withering, brown.
The normal fertile fronds often grow in pairs, drooping, grayish green, 25-70 cm long.
They split into 3 main lobes of unequal size, base cuneate, decurrent, nearly sessile. The inner lobe is the largest, forking many times into narrow lobes; the middle lobe is smaller; both are fertile. The outer lobe is the smallest, sterile. The lobes are entire, the whole surface covered with grayish white stellate hairs, and the veins are thick and prominent.
The sori are scattered below the notch of the first forking of the main lobe, not reaching the base, green at first, later turning yellow; the paraphyses are grayish white, stellate hairs. The spores are green.
Ecological Habits of Staghorn Ferns
Staghorn fern, also known as staghorn fern, likes warm, shady, and humid environments and is afraid of direct strong light. Diffused light is best. The winter temperature should not be lower than 5°C, and loose leaf mold soil is suitable.
It has an alternation of generations, and both the sporophyte and gametophyte live independently.
The distribution area has a tropical monsoon climate, hot and rainy. The annual average temperature is 22.6°C, the January average temperature is 15-17°C, the extreme minimum temperature is not lower than 5°C, and the extreme maximum temperature is 39.5°C; the annual precipitation is about 2000 mm, and the relative humidity is not lower than 80%. It is often epiphytic on the trunks and branches of monsoon forest trees dominated by Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina (Wall.) King, Albizia chinensis (Osh.) Merr., and Ficus benjamina L., and can also be epiphytic on tree trunks or dead standing trees at forest edges and open forests.
Staghorn ferns use humus-collecting fronds to accumulate fallen leaves, dust, and other materials as nutrients. At the beginning of the rainy season, 2 new humus-collecting fronds and 2 fertile fronds grow at the top of the short stem. The humus-collecting fronds of the previous year wither and rot in the current year, while the fertile fronds gradually dry up and fall off only in the spring of the following year.
Production Standards for Staghorn Fern Cultivation Techniques: 12 cm pot, height 10 cm, crown width about 30 cm, growth cycle 10 months.
Substrate preparation: Use imported peat moss of 5-40 mm grade that is loose, well-draining and well-aerated. Crush the peat moss and mix well with water (standard for adding water: after mixing with water, when you clench a handful of peat moss tightly in your hand, water seeps out from between your fingers). Then it is ready for potting. A 9 cm pot uses about 250 ml of peat moss per pot, and one 300-liter bag of imported peat moss can fill about 1,200 cups.
Requirements for potting seedlings: Choose high-quality seedlings from professional production, seedling height 5-6 cm, crown width 6-8 cm, number of leaves 4-5, free of pests and diseases, no dead leaves or yellow leaves.
Potting: For reused old pots, they must be soaked in a 1000-fold dilution of potassium permanganate for more than half an hour, then rinsed with clean water and dried for later use. Small potted plants are generally grown 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 the base of the plant level; the substrate should be moderately firm, filled to 9/10 of the cup, 2 plants per pot.
During the vigorous summer growth period, more misting is needed to maintain a high-humidity environment. Whether grown in pots or hanging baskets, place them in half shade and avoid strong sunlight exposure. Spray fertilizer water once every ten days. Every spring, replenish leaf mold and moss. In winter when temperatures are low, water less. When the sterile fronds of the staghorn fern grow too densely, adjust them in combination with division propagation. In China, division propagation is generally used, and there is still no experience with spore propagation of this species. During cultivation, provide epiphytic substrate and humid mist conditions, and refer to the cultivation methods of other species in this genus.
The management of staghorn ferns is relatively simple. During the peak summer growth period, more watering is needed, along with frequent misting, to maintain relatively high air humidity in the cultivation environment, which is beneficial to the growth and development of the sterile fronds and spore-bearing fronds. For outdoor care, they can be hung under a shade shed, and direct sunlight must be avoided to prevent the fronds from yellowing and scorching, which would affect the ornamental value of the staghorn fern.
To increase the beauty of the fronds, during the growing period, spray diluted cake fertilizer water once every ten days or spray quickly available dilute urea on the frond surface, keeping the fronds tender green and thick. Every year, replenish leaf mold or moss in the pot or basket of the established staghorn fern to facilitate the growth and development of new sporophytes. In winter, they must be kept indoors. If the room temperature is relatively low, growth will be slow, so water less. Staghorn ferns can overwinter more safely in a slightly dry state. When the sterile fronds of the staghorn fern grow too densely, adjust them in combination with division propagation, which is beneficial to the growth and development of new sporophytes.
Post-production handling: Staghorn fern is one of the most peculiar-looking ornamental ferns, unique and charming. It is also a precious and rare premium indoor foliage plant. In Europe and the United States, it is very popular for decoration and arrangement in parks, botanical gardens, shops, and home windowsills. If staghorn ferns are mass-produced as hanging baskets, they will not only bring joy to life but also bring relatively good economic benefits.
Cultivation Essentials
[Division time]: Best done in early spring (February and March) after the soil thaws.
[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 have a considerable amount of roots, and its fronds should be properly pruned to facilitate survival.
[Potting and disinfection]: Soak the divided small plants in a 1500-fold dilution of chlorothalonil for five minutes, then take them out and dry them, and they are ready for potting. They can also be drenched at the roots with chlorothalonil immediately after potting.
[Management after division]: After dividing and potting, drench the roots or water thoroughly once. Because its root system has been greatly damaged and its water absorption capacity is very weak, it takes about 3-4 weeks to recover and sprout new roots. Therefore, within 3-4 weeks after division, watering should be moderated to avoid root rot. However, the transpiration of its fronds is not affected. In order to maintain the water balance of the fronds, the frond surface needs to be misted 1-3 times a day (more misting when temperatures are high, less or no misting when temperatures are low). Do not apply fertilizer during this period either. After division, also pay attention to excessively strong sunlight and keep them in a shade shed for care.
[Potting]: When potting small seedlings, first place 2-2 cm thick coarse-grained substrate or ceramic pellets at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, then cover with a layer of substrate about 1-2 cm thick, and then place the plant in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning the roots.
The substrate used for potting can be one of the following. Garden soil: cinder = 3:1; or garden soil: medium-coarse river sand: sawdust (mushroom residue) = 4:1:2; or one of paddy soil, pond mud, or leaf mold. Or peat + perlite + ceramic pellets = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part; garden soil + cinder = 3 parts + 1 part; peat + cinder + ceramic pellets = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part; sawdust + vermiculite + medium-coarse river sand = 2 parts + 2 parts + 1 part. After potting, water thoroughly once and place in a shaded environment for care.
[Humidity management]: It likes a humid climate environment and requires the relative air humidity of the growing environment to be 60-75%.
[Temperature management]: The optimum growing temperature is 18°C-30°C. It is averse to cold and frost, and the overwintering temperature needs to be kept above 10°C. When the winter temperature drops below 4°C, it enters a dormant state. If the ambient temperature approaches 0°C, it will die from frost damage.
In summer:
1. Strengthen air convection so that the internal temperature of the plant can dissipate.
2. Place in half shade, or provide 50% shading.
3. Mist it appropriately, 2-3 times a day.
In winter:
1. Move indoors to a bright place for care.
2. Outdoors, it can be wrapped in plastic film to overwinter, but the film must be opened every two days at noon when the temperature is higher to let it breathe.
[Light management]: It is afraid of direct strong light and needs to be placed in half shade for care, or given 70% shading. If kept indoors, place it in as bright a place as possible, and every one or two months move it outdoors to half shade or shaded care for one month, so that it can accumulate nutrients and recover its growth.
[Fertilizer and water management]: It has high fertilizer and water requirements, but it is most afraid of random fertilization, concentrated fertilizer, and applying only nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium fertilizer. It is required to follow the fertilization (and watering) principle of "light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts and many times, complete nutrition":
Spring, summer, and autumn are its peak growing seasons. Fertilizer and water management follows the cycle of "Hyponex" - "Hyponex" - clear water - "Hyponex" - "Hyponex" - clear water (at the very least, ensure two applications of "Hyponex" per week). The interval period is approximately: 1-4 days for outdoor care; shorter intervals on sunny days or during high temperatures, longer intervals or no watering on cloudy and rainy days or during low temperatures; 2-6 days for indoor care; shorter intervals on sunny days or during high temperatures, longer intervals or no watering on cloudy and rainy days or during low temperatures. Watering should be arranged as much as possible in the morning when the temperature is lower. In summer, water in the morning or evening when the temperature is low, and also mist the plant frequently.
During the winter dormant period, the main task is to control fertilizer and water. Fertilizer and water management follows the cycle of "Hyponex" - clear water - clear water - "Hyponex" - clear water - clear water, with an interval period of about 7-10 days. Shorten the cycle on sunny days, and lengthen the cycle or do not water on cloudy and rainy days. Watering should be arranged as much as possible at noon on sunny days when the temperature is higher.
Containers for Staghorn Fern Cultivation Methods
Staghorn ferns should be planted in specially made pots (that is, several small round holes are drilled in the pot wall, each with a diameter of 3-5 cm). When planting, first fill the gaps of the holes in the pot wall and bottom with fresh palm fiber, then add leaf mold, brown peat soil, and slightly moist sawdust, then plant the plant into the pot, water thoroughly, and place in a cool place. A small amount of fern roots, moss, or leaf mold plus decomposed cake fertilizer can also be used as substrate, and the plant can be tied onto a section of stem with bark and hung in a shady and humid place. After the plant resumes growth, hang it under a ceiling or on a bookshelf where diffused light can be seen. Try to avoid touching the staghorn fern with your hands, otherwise the white downy hairs on the frond surface easily fall off.
Water
During the peak growing season, water more and mist frequently to maintain relatively high air humidity. During the vigorous summer growth period, more watering is needed. Water in the morning or evening when the temperature is low, and mist frequently to maintain relatively high air humidity in the cultivation environment, which is beneficial to the growth and development of the sterile fronds and spore-bearing fronds. In winter when temperatures are low, water less to prevent root rot. Watering should be arranged as much as possible at noon on sunny days when the temperature is higher.
Fertilizing
During the growing period, spray diluted cake fertilizer water once every ten days or spray quickly available dilute urea on the frond surface, keeping the fronds tender green and thick. Every year, replenish leaf mold or moss in the pot or basket of the established staghorn fern to facilitate the growth and development of new sporophytes. The greatest taboos are random fertilization, concentrated fertilizer, and applying only nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium fertilizer. It is required to follow the fertilization (and watering) principle of "light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts and many times, complete nutrition."
Temperature
The optimum growing temperature is 18°C-30°C. It is averse to cold and frost, and the overwintering temperature needs to be kept above 10°C. When the winter temperature drops below 4°C, it enters a dormant state. If the ambient temperature approaches 0°C, it will die from frost damage.
Light
Staghorn ferns are afraid of strong light exposure, so avoid direct strong light or dry wind. For outdoor care, place them under tree shade or a shade shed, and also pay attention to frequently misting the frond surface. For outdoor care, they can be hung under a shade shed, and direct sunlight must be avoided to prevent the fronds from yellowing and scorching, which would affect the ornamental value of the staghorn fern. Every one or two months move them outdoors to half shade or shaded care for one month, so that they can accumulate nutrients and recover their growth.
Growing Environment
1. Planting pot
Staghorn ferns should be planted in specially made pots (that is, several small round holes are drilled in the pot wall, each with a diameter of 3-5 cm). When planting, first fill the gaps of the holes in the pot wall and bottom with fresh palm fiber, then add leaf mold, brown peat soil, and slightly moist sawdust, then plant the plant into the pot, water thoroughly, and place in a cool place. A small amount of fern roots, moss, or leaf mold plus decomposed cake fertilizer can also be used as substrate, and the plant can be tied onto a section of stem with bark and hung in a shady and humid place. After the plant resumes growth, hang it under a ceiling or on a bookshelf where diffused light can be seen. Try to avoid touching the staghorn fern with your hands, otherwise the white downy hairs on the frond surface easily fall off.
2. Fertilizer and water
During the peak growing season, water more and mist frequently to maintain relatively high air humidity. Apply 1-2 times a month of dilute cake fertilizer water or a mixed nitrogen-potassium chemical fertilizer. In winter, control the amount of watering.
3. Temperature
The suitable growing temperature is 10-15°C at night and 20-25°C during the day. During the day, it can also grow well in a 33-35°C environment, but the humidity must be very high. In its place of origin, staghorn ferns can sometimes withstand low temperatures of a few degrees below zero without damage, but only in a very dry environment.
4. Light
Staghorn ferns are afraid of strong light exposure, so avoid direct strong light or dry wind. For outdoor care, place them under tree shade or a shade shed, and also pay attention to frequently misting the frond surface. They grow well near bright indoor windows. When cultivated in a greenhouse, 50%-70% of sunlight should be shaded in summer, and about 30% shading in winter is more suitable. Although staghorn ferns have a strong ability to adapt to weak light, when light is insufficient, growth is slow and the plant becomes weak and spindly.
Propagation Methods of Staghorn Ferns
Commonly used division propagation
Division is most suitable in June-July. Select robust staghorn fern offsets from the mother plant, gently cut along the bottom of the shield-shaped sterile frond with a sharp knife, plant into a pot with the absorbing roots, cover with moss, and mist to keep moist.
Division time: Best done in early spring (February and March) after the soil thaws.
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 have a considerable amount of roots, and its fronds should be properly pruned to facilitate survival.
Potting and disinfection: Soak the divided small plants in a 1500-fold dilution of chlorothalonil for five minutes, then take them out and dry them, and they are ready for potting. They can also be drenched at the roots with chlorothalonil immediately after potting.
Management after division: After dividing and potting, drench the roots or water thoroughly once. Because its root system has been greatly damaged and its water absorption capacity is very weak, it takes about 3-4 weeks to recover and sprout new roots. Therefore, within 3-4 weeks after division, watering should be moderated to avoid root rot. However, the transpiration of its fronds is not affected. In order to maintain the water balance of the fronds, the frond surface needs to be misted 1-3 times a day (more misting when temperatures are high, less or no misting when temperatures are low). Do not apply fertilizer during this period either. After division, also pay attention to excessively strong sunlight and keep them in a shade shed for care.
Pest and Disease Control of Staghorn Ferns
Leaf spot disease commonly harms the spore-bearing fronds and can be controlled by spraying a 600-fold dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. When ventilation is poor, scale insects and whiteflies harm the spore-bearing fronds or sterile fronds. When few in number, they can be picked off by hand or killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate. Some staghorn ferns are more susceptible to fungal or bacterial diseases, so attention should be paid to adjusting the ventilation environment and not overwatering.
Distribution Range of Staghorn Ferns
It is produced in Nabangba, Yingjiang County, southwestern Yunnan, in mountain rainforests at altitudes of 210-950 m. It is also distributed in Myanmar, northeastern India, and Thailand.
The distribution area has a tropical monsoon climate, hot and rainy. The annual average temperature is 22.6°C, the January average temperature is 15-17°C, the extreme minimum temperature is not lower than 5°C, and the extreme maximum temperature is 39.5°C; the annual precipitation is about 2000 mm, and the relative humidity is not lower than 80%. It is often epiphytic on the trunks and branches of monsoon forest trees dominated by Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina (Wall.) King, Albizia chinensis (Osh.) Merr., and Ficus benjamina L., and can also be epiphytic on tree trunks or dead standing trees at forest edges and open forests. Staghorn ferns use humus-collecting fronds to accumulate fallen leaves, dust, and other materials as nutrients. At the beginning of the rainy season, 2 new humus-collecting fronds and 2 fertile fronds grow at the top of the short stem. The humus-collecting fronds of the previous year wither and rot in the current year, while the fertile fronds gradually dry up and fall off only in the spring of the following year.
A newly recorded plant discovered in Yunnan, China, with an extremely narrow distribution range, it is an epiphytic plant in tropical monsoon forests. Due to severe forest destruction, the host trees of epiphytes are often destroyed by axes, the ecosystem is disrupted, and staghorn ferns find it difficult to survive. Lower altitude limit (m): 210, upper altitude limit (m): 950.
Nabangba in Yingjiang, Yunnan, has been planned as a nature reserve, and a protection institution should be established as soon as possible to carry out work. A small number of plants have already been transplanted from the production area to the dead wood forest in the greenhouse of the Kunming Botanical Garden, where they have survived cultivation and are growing normally. The Tropical Botanical Garden of the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced them to Menglun, Xishuangbanna, for cultivation, and they also grow well.
Variety Classification of Staghorn Ferns
Plant height 40 cm, fronds clustered and drooping, young fronds grayish green, mature fronds dark green, apex forked with concave deep notches, frond surface densely covered with short miscellaneous hairs, sori borne on the frond back. Its cultivated varieties include Netherlands, San Diego, Robert, and Ziesenhenne, etc.
There are as many as 16 species of staghorn ferns naturally distributed worldwide, mainly growing wild in the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. They all have extremely high ornamental value, mainly including:
American staghorn fern (P. andinum), also called Andean staghorn fern. Native to Peru and Bolivia. The spore-bearing frond surface is densely covered with fine hairs, appearing white, and the fronds reach up to 3 m long, very spectacular.
Angola staghorn fern (P. angolense), also known as the African staghorn fern, is distributed in Uganda, Zaire and Nigeria in Africa. The sporophylls are large, shaped like elephant ears, and the sterile fronds are fan-shaped.
Kidney-shaped staghorn fern (P. ellisii), the sporophylls grow upright, and the sterile fronds are kidney-shaped.
Madagascar staghorn fern (P. madagascariense), the sterile fronds arch with deep folds and obvious veins, shaped like a honeycomb.
Triangle-leaf staghorn fern (P. stemaria), the whole plant is grayish-green, the sporophylls and sterile fronds grow upward, the sterile fronds are oblong with wavy tips. The sporophyll has 2 parts, one forked and wedge-shaped, the other relatively small and narrow.
Vasse staghorn fern (P. vassei), the sterile fronds are brown and nest-shaped, and the sporangia are arranged in a V shape on the back of the fronds.
Large staghorn fern (P. grande), the sterile fronds are huge, the light green sporophylls droop, reaching 1.5 m long, and only a 20-year-old mother plant can produce spores.
Hard-leaf staghorn fern (P. hillii), the sporophylls are dark green, hard in texture, and grow upright in a fan shape.
Silver-leaf staghorn fern (P. veitchii), the sporophylls are covered with fine white hairs and grow upright.
Crowned staghorn fern (P. coronarium), the whole plant is light green, the shield-shaped sterile fronds are 50 cm long and 50 cm wide, and the sporophylls droop, reaching 4 m long.
Wallich staghorn fern (P. wallichii), the yellow-green sporophylls are broad and thick, with graceful posture, and it is a rare small species.
Queen staghorn fern (P. wilhelminae-reginae), the sterile fronds are crown-shaped and grow upward, reaching 1.5 m high, and the sporophylls droop, reaching 2 m long; it is a large species.
Willinck staghorn fern (P. willinckii), dark green sterile fronds and sporophylls covered with silvery short pubescence, growing downward, reaching 70 cm long, deeply lobed and ribbon-like. The wide variety of staghorn ferns provides abundant germplasm material for decorating indoor green spaces.
Staghorn fern pictures