A staghorn fern makes a fantastic houseplant for several reasons! Its unique appearance, low-maintenance care, and air-purifying properties make it an excellent choice for indoor gardening. They have striking, antler-like fronds that resemble the horns of a stag, making them a visually stunning plant. Their unusual appearance adds a touch of nature’s artistry to any space. They can be mounted on a variety of surfaces, such as wooden boards, tiles, or in decorative baskets. Their ability to grow both as hanging or wall-mounted plants gives them a lot of flexibility in how they fit into your décor.
Because they can be mounted, staghorn ferns are perfect for small spaces, apartments, or rooms where counter space is limited. They don’t require a traditional pot or large container, making them ideal for people with limited space or those who prefer a plant with a minimalist aesthetic.
Light Requirements
Staghorn ferns are unique and beautiful plants, but they have specific light requirements to thrive. They do best in bright, indirect light and thrive in environments where they receive plenty of light, but not direct sunlight. Why Indirect Light? In their natural habitat, staghorn ferns grow on trees in tropical rainforests, where they get filtered light through the canopy. Direct sunlight can scorch their delicate fronds and cause browning, especially in the heat of midday sun.
Direct sunlight, particularly in the afternoon, can cause the fronds to burn, leading to brown spots or crispy edges. It's best to avoid putting your staghorn fern in a spot with harsh sunlight. A location near a north or east-facing window is often ideal, where the light is softer.
Staghorn ferns can tolerate lower light conditions, but their growth may slow down, and they might not thrive as well. In low light, they may not produce new fronds, or the older fronds might turn yellow. If you have low natural light in your home, you can supplement with grow lights designed for plants. These can provide the light intensity the fern needs to stay healthy.
Tip: The same lighting rules apply for mounted as well as potted staghorn ferns.
Watering Requirements
Potted and mounted Staghorn ferns have very different watering requirements and processes. This can help you determine if you have the time to care for one style of the fern over the other.
The best way to determine if your fern needs water is to check the moisture of the growing medium. Stick your finger into the base of the fern (or the moss if it's mounted). If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it still feels moist, wait a few more days before watering. Staghorn ferns generally need to be watered about once a week or once every two weeks, depending on the environment's humidity and temperature.
Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, meaning they naturally grow on trees and absorb moisture from rain or humidity. When watering, it’s best to soak the plant thoroughly. For potted plants, water the plant until the water drains out of the bottom. If the fern is mounted, you can either spray it with water or dip the entire mounted plant in a bowl of water for about 10-15 minutes. Make sure the plant is submerged enough to saturate the moss or medium it's growing in.
Tip: If possible, use water that is low in chlorine or distilled water, as chlorine can build up in the soil or moss over time and harm the plant. If you must use tap water, let it sit for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
Humidity
Staghorn ferns thrive in high humidity environments, as they are native to tropical rainforests where the air is consistently moist. 50-70% humidity is optimal for staghorn ferns. They do best in environments with moderate to high humidity, similar to their native tropical habitats. Above 60% humidity is ideal for encouraging healthy growth and vibrant fronds.
In many indoor environments, particularly in dry climates or during winter months (when heating systems dry out the air), humidity levels can drop significantly. This can stress your staghorn fern, leading to dry or crispy fronds.
Humidity Solutions
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Humidity Tray: Place your staghorn fern on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water. This increases the humidity around the plant as the water evaporates.
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Misting: Light misting can help maintain humidity levels, but be cautious about over-wetting the plant. If you mist too often or let the plant stay too damp, it can lead to rot.
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Room Humidifiers: Using a room humidifier can help raise the overall humidity in the room, especially during dry seasons.
Mounted staghorn ferns dry out more quickly than potted ones, so they may require higher humidity or more frequent misting. Keep Mounted Ferns Mistified: Mist mounted staghorns regularly to maintain the required humidity. Alternatively, a humidifier in the room can help.
Common Problems
Brown, Crispy Fronds
Cause: This is often a sign of low humidity, underwatering, or exposure to too much direct sunlight.
Solutions:
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Increase humidity: Use a humidity tray, mist the fern regularly, or place a humidifier nearby to boost moisture levels.
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Water properly: Make sure the fern gets enough water. Water thoroughly when the moss or medium feels dry, and ensure proper drainage.
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Move the plant: Ensure the fern is not in direct sunlight, which can scorch the fronds. It should be in bright, indirect light.
Soft, Mushy Fronds (Rot)
Cause: Overwatering or allowing the plant to sit in water for too long can cause the fronds or root base to rot.
Solutions:
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Watering habits: Ensure the plant dries out properly between waterings. If the fern is in a pot, make sure there’s good drainage. If mounted, ensure it isn’t sitting in water.
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Inspect for rot: If the fronds or base have become mushy, you may need to trim away the rotting parts to prevent the spread of rot.
Pale or Faded Fronds
Cause: Too much direct sunlight or nutrient deficiencies can cause staghorn ferns to lose their color.
Solutions:
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Move to indirect light: Avoid placing the fern in direct sunlight, as this can bleach out the fronds.
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Fertilize: If the plant is in a nutrient-poor medium, feed it a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every few months during the growing season.
Fronds Curling or Distorted Growth
Cause: Excessive heat, low humidity, or improper watering can cause the fronds to curl or become deformed.
Solutions:
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Proper humidity: Ensure the humidity is high enough, especially if the air is dry or the fern is in a room with low humidity.
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Water correctly: Staghorn ferns prefer thorough watering but need to dry out between waterings. Avoid letting them sit in water.
Leaf Spotting or Fungal Issues
Cause: Fungal infections can appear as dark spots or lesions on the fronds, typically caused by excess moisture, especially if the plant is kept in overly damp conditions.
Solutions:
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Proper watering: Avoid letting the plant sit in water and ensure the fern dries out properly.
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Improve air circulation: Ensure the fern has good airflow to prevent fungal issues.
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Remove affected fronds: Trim away any infected fronds to prevent the infection from spreading.
Common Pests
Staghorn ferns are relatively resistant to pests, but like most plants, they can still encounter a few common ones, especially in humid or indoor environments.
Mealybugs
Appearance: Mealybugs are small, white, cotton-like insects that often cluster at the base of the fronds or in crevices.
Damage: They feed on the sap of the plant, which can weaken the plant, cause yellowing of fronds, and lead to stunted growth.
Treatments:
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Manual removal: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe away mealybugs from the plant.
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Insecticidal soap or neem oil: If the infestation is severe, spray the plant with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil to kill mealybugs.
Spider Mites
Appearance: Spider mites are very tiny, almost invisible to the naked eye. They often leave behind fine webbing, especially around the undersides of the fronds.
Damage: They suck the sap from the plant, causing the fronds to become speckled, yellowed, or damaged. Spider mites are more common in dry, low-humidity environments.
Treatments:
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Rinse the plant: Gently wash the fronds under lukewarm water to remove spider mites and their webs.
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Increase humidity: Spider mites thrive in dry conditions, so raising the humidity around the fern can help discourage them.
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Insecticidal soap or neem oil: Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to treat the plant if the infestation persists.
Fungus Gnats
Appearance: Fungus gnats are small, dark flies that are often seen flying around the plant. The larvae are the problematic stage, feeding on organic matter and roots.
Damage: Fungus gnat larvae can damage the roots, but since staghorn ferns don’t typically have a strong root system in the soil, they are less affected by fungus gnat larvae. However, if you’re growing them in soil, the gnats can still be a nuisance.
Treatments:
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Watering habits: Let the soil dry out more between waterings, as fungus gnats thrive in damp conditions.
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Yellow sticky traps: These can help catch adult gnats.
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BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis): A biological treatment that targets fungus gnat larvae in the soil.
Thrips
Appearance: Thrips are tiny, elongated insects that are usually yellow or black. They can be difficult to spot with the naked eye but may leave behind black specks or silvering on the fronds.
Damage: Thrips feed on plant sap and can cause distorted or deformed growth, silver streaks on the leaves, and black specks (which are their droppings).
Treatments:
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Water spray: A strong stream of water can help dislodge thrips from the plant.
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Insecticidal soap or neem oil: Apply to the plant to kill any remaining thrips.