Staghorn Fern, Elkhorn Fern, Antelope Ears (Platycerium bifurcatum)

Staghorn Fern, Elkhorn Fern, Antelope Ears
Platycerium bifurcatum

Our 12 year old specimen measuring 7 feet high 6 feet wide.

revlar:

Your staghorn fern is impressive! How did you attach it to the tree? I have a small one that I just purchased and I'd like to mount it on my avocado tree while it is still small.

delecie:
It is hanging from a large chain - about 5 feet above the ground and about 6 feet from the tree. You are lucky not having to worry about winter temperatures in your area - here we have to move this heavy plant into the greenhouse for the winter. Attaching your staghorn to a tree - I would suggest attaching it to a board then attaching the board to the tree and letting the staghorn grow onto the tree. Place a large handful of wet sphagnum moss on the board and secure it with clear fishing line - place your staghorn so that the root is in contact with the moss. Now take another handful of wet moss and cover the entire base of your staghorn leaving only the long horn shaped leaves protruding from the moss - secure this to the board wraping it very well, crisscrossing the moss with the fishing line and secure tightly. It will not look pretty at first but the new flat fronds will quickly cover the moss and fishing line. Attach the board to the tree and eventually your fern will cover the board and grow onto the tree. Keep it moist at first then the rains in southern Florida should be enough - a weak water soluable fertilizer (we use Miracle Gro) 1/4 teas. per gallon of water applied once every other month will keep it happy. Good luck and enjoy

revlar:

Thank you very much for your great instructions. I'll post a photograph after it's mounted.

I have one almost that large but haning in my lanai from a beam...I can't imagine moving that thing for ANYTHING!!!! A couple of years ago my DH made a new frame for it, (it outgrew the one it was in) and we had a heck of a time rehanging it....it had to weight at least 33,000 tons....if an ounce.. I love it though...But if this puppy falls, it will have to grow where it lays................

BTW, I throw my banana peels in every-so-often. I don't know if it does any good, but it hasn't killed it either...LOL

Yours is very beautiful....Enjoy

PS...Hi delecie...............

Hi Hap!

Have you posted a photograph of your staghorn fern on DG? I'd love to see it.

No I haven't.....will get to that in the am is you wish......Ha[

WOW! Your June 10th pic is amazing. My eyes can't figure out what to stare at first. Is the vine locking the ric-rac to the tree or does it send out suckers or something to hold itself to the tree it's climbing? Really cool! Makes me want to put my ricrac out under a tree in my garden too :-). But that Staghorn fern is magnificent! Would you mind posting another pic of it....with a person standing next to it to give a better idea of how big it is. I just can't get my head around it being 7' tall from the pic above.

-Julie

Hey Happy_1,
It is very heavy but nothing near the weight you mentioned. We use our farm tractor with a boom attachment to move it to the greenhouse. Would be interested in a photo of your plant. We also feed ours bannana peels - apparently the potassium is to their liking.

Hi Julie,
The ric-rac does send out small roots that cling to the bark. It has grown quite fast - it was planted there late last summer. Had some chilly winter temps with frost but it wasn't damaged - hope it blooms this summer. I will be posting a picture of a another jungle cactus (night blooming Cereus) that is growing 25 feet up the trunk of another of our grandfather Oaks and loaded with buds 20 or more the last we counted. Your ric-rac would enjoy a summer in the garden and if your winters are mild - free it from its pot.

Here it is....I am so glad I saw this while it was still light. It's a heavy sucker!!!!

Hap

It's beautiful Hap. I sure wish that I had a beam like that to hang plants from.

revlar:
I'm facing a bit of a dilemma with mine. Although I have plenty of time because it's small, I'm not sure if I can mount it to the avocado tree which is the only large tree that I have. I'll post photographs of the tree as soon as possible so that I can get your opinion.

Hap - Great looking plant and I don't think you will have to worry about any additional support for quite a while your beam appears capable of supporting 3 more ferns that size.....very nice

It better support it...it's my house.....that plant pulls down the beam, it pulls down my lanai....LOL

Thanks for letting me share...

Hap