Can we talk about wisteria for a minute? I mean, a vine in full bloom is like something straight out of a fairy tale.The long, vibrant clusters of blossoms and t
06.06.2023 - 17:43 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Grow and Care for Staghorn Ferns Platycerium spp.When you hear the word “fern,” you probably picture those arching, lacy fronds growing in the humus-rich understory of forests.
You’re not wrong, but staghorns are also part of this ancient group of plants, which first emerged from swamps before humans populated the earth.
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Staghorns and elkhorns, affectionately called platys, look like some kind of tropical prehistoric beasts clinging to a tree, and I can only imagine the first time a human stumbled on a massive specimen.
I bet their eyes bugged right out of their head. To me, some of the large, crowned species seem like they could be mistaken for lions, grasping the trunks.
In recent years, these ferns have become more and more popular as gardeners have come to appreciate the unique, striking appearance of these species.
I remember a year or so ago when Trader Joe’s briefly carried some staghorn ferns that could be bought for a song, and plant lovers were all abuzz.
It’s easy to see why: They’re fairly easy to care for once you master the art of mounting and remounting, but they often look like you put in years of effort to master the cultivation process.
If you’re ready to learn more about these dramatic plants, here’s everything we’ll go over in this guide:
The first time I tried growing a staghorn fern, I was convinced I would kill it.
They just seem too unusual and exotic to be as easy to care for as, say, a pothos. Turns out, they’re pretty unfussy.
What Is a Staghorn Fern?There are over a dozen species of ferns in the Platycerium genus that commonly go by the name “staghorn” or “elkhorn” fern.
Typically,
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