Staghorn Fern
Platycerium bifurcatum, aka Staghorn Fern, is native to the rainforests of Java, New Guinea and southeastern Australia. In its natural environment of tropical forests, it grows on tree trunks or rocks, absorbing moisture from the humid air and collecting nutrients from the falling leaves of overhead trees.
They should not be in a position to see the sun directly, although early morning or late evening sun is fine. Filtered sunlight through a sheer curtain is best and most homes are comprised primarily of indirect sunlight. The best spot for them is where they do not see the sun during the majority of the day but still get bright, indirect light.
They will do best in bright light. A nice bright place inside your home would be on the window sill or a stool that is right next to a window, either with or without blinds, depending on if the plant can handle sun. Remember that plants will grow based on how much light they receive.
They like the soil to be relatively dry before the next watering. That usually takes about 2 weeks in an average home environment. It will vary depending on the time of year, your environment and lighting conditions, but for them, it's always safer to underwater or water when you see signs of lack of water (i.e. droopy, floppy, or soft leaves). Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
They like a high humidity environment, give them a mist daily or as often as possible. Alternatively, you can put them around a humidifier. Although they won't die if they don't receive enough humidity, their leaves may have some dry, crunchy, or yellow edges.
Staghorn ferns have two types of fronds: shield fronds and bifurcated (forked) fronds. The former is located at the base of the plant and grow flatly, often appearing dried out or dead (don't fall in to the temptation of removing them). The bifurcated fronds are what the plant gets its common name from, as their forked appearance is reminiscent of deer antlers.
The plant comes with a default nursery pot. The nursery pot is usually 0.5" - 1" smaller than stated to fit into the same size decorative pot. Washable Paper Planter Bags are sold separately.
As with all living things, no two plants are alike. There is some natural variation in size, shape, and characteristics. We make every effort to bring you a plant that as closely as possible matches the plant as it appears on our website, in the size you have chosen, and have a good potential to happily grow in your home.
