In warmer or sunnier environments, Staghorn Ferns typically need a little more water, and underwatering is a risk. Watch for brown spots at the tips of your fronds or wilting leaves, both of which indicate that your Staghorn is not receiving enough water.
How do you revive a wilted staghorn fern?
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.
What does an overwatered staghorn fern look like?
Overwatered staghorn ferns can get black spots, which are a fungal disease. This is kind of like mold or rot due to sitting in too much moisture. Remove any black, mushy parts of the plant if you see them. You will notice brown or black spots near the base of the fronds.
How often should you water a staghorn?
A good rule of thumb is to water once per week in dry, hot times of year, and once every two to three weeks during cooler months. Start with this schedule, and adjust as necessary depending on your space. Staghorn ferns absorb water through their fronds, as well as their roots.
Why is my staghorn fern drooping? – Related Questions
Do staghorn ferns like sun or shade?
Exposure. Staghorn Ferns like bright, natural light but no direct sun. They typically grow under the canopies of trees which provide light shade. An east exposure in your home is fine as well as west or south but with these last 2, make sure your fern is at least 10′ away from a hot window.
Should I mist my staghorn fern?
Growers often thoroughly mist the basal fronds of staghorn ferns once a week. Spray bottles may be adequate for small indoor staghorn ferns, but large outdoor plants may need to be watered with a gentle, misting hose head. Staghorn ferns should be watered when the upright plants look slightly wilted.
Do Staghorns need a lot of water?
Staghorns need very little maintenance. In fact, those grown onto the trunk of a tree can usually fend for themselves and care should be taken not to over feed or overwater them. In conditions with full overhead shelter, such as under the eves of a house, supplementary feeding and watering is advisable.
Do staghorn ferns like to be wet?
The staghorn fern is a typical jungle plant that does appreciate plenty of humidity. If your home has very dry air it might not be happy in there. Try placing the plant in one of the more humid areas of the house, like the bathroom, or run a humidifier to keep the moisture levels up.
How do you water a Staghorn mount?
CARING FOR MOUNTED STAGHORN FERNS
- Place in a bath of room temperature water for 15 minutes until completely saturated or run water gently over the plant in the sink until saturated.
- Drip dry before rehanging.
- Soak once a week and mist leaves in between waterings.
Do staghorn ferns like to dry out?
Staghorn ferns absorb water through their fronds as well as the roots so be sure to soak the basal fronds and the medium. Allow some drying of the growing medium in between waterings; staghorn ferns rot easily if overwatered. Rainwater is best if it is available.
What does a dying staghorn fern look like?
If you find that the stem has turned black, you’re probably too late to save it. Black often spells trouble for a plant, and if black spots appear on the fronds, it usually means the staghorn fern is fighting rhizoctonia.
Is Epsom salt good for staghorn ferns?
And they can lose these substances over time through watering. Epsom salt to the rescue! Epsom salt has minerals perfect for fern growth and fern care.
Where is the best place to hang a staghorn fern?
Since they get most of their water and nutrients from the air or fallen plant matter, they are often hung on limbs or in the crotches of trees much like they grow in their native environments. Chained staghorn fern plants should only be hung from large tree limbs that can support the weight of the plant and the chain.
Can staghorn ferns stay in pots?
Staghorn ferns can grow in pots, but they should not be planted in mineral soil. Instead, use a well-draining planting medium made primarily of organic matter. A 50/50 mixture of orchid bark and cactus potting mix is appropriate.
Where do you put a banana peel on a staghorn fern?
Place the banana peels in the upright portion of the basal fronds or between the fern and its mount. If you’re worried that the peel will attract fruit flies to an indoor fern, soak the peel in water for a few days, discard or compost the peel, then water the plant.
Do staghorn ferns like coffee grounds?
Banana skins, coffee grounds and tea bags are excellent slow release fertilizers that you can place behind your Staghorn or Elkhorn plants.
Is Miracle Grow good for staghorn ferns?
Fern Fertilizer
Outdoor ferns can be fertilized in spring, preferably with a slow-release plant food such as Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed. If plants are divided or transplanted in the fall, there is no need to add fertilizer to the soil at the same time. Watch your ferns for signs of fronds turning brown along the edges.