Grow staghorn fern in bright indirect light, soak the moss when it is dry, and leave the brown shield fronds in place. Staghorn fern is Platycerium. Shops also say elkhorn fern or antelope ears. Staghorn sumac is a shrub, not this fern.
Give it bright indirect light, soak the moss when it is dry, and leave the brown shields
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light; a north or east window, or a porch out of hot afternoon sun | Do not set it in a hot, sunny window, which scorches the antler fronds |
| Water | Soak the moss and the brown shields when the moss feels dry, then let the mount drain | Do not keep the moss soggy, which rots the rhizome behind the shields |
| Shields | Leave the brown, papery shield fronds on the mount; they cover the roots | Do not peel those brown shields off, and do not wipe the gray felt off the antler fronds |
| Winter | Keep it as a houseplant, and bring a porch mount in before nights drop into the 40s | Do not leave it out through a freeze, and do not feed in winter |
staghorn fern is Platycerium bifurcatum, an epiphytic fern with two kinds of fronds. The rounded shield fronds clasp the mount and turn papery brown. The forked antler fronds hang out from that shield and do the growing. [1] Those brown shields belong on the plant. They cover the short rhizome and the roots, so peeling them off leaves the crown open to dry air and rot. Soak the moss and the shields when the moss feels dry, then hang the mount so water can run off. Deer and rabbits usually leave it alone, so you can site it for light, not as a deer fence. [2]
Give it bright, indirect light. A north or east window is enough. A little morning sun is fine. Hot afternoon sun scorches the antler fronds. Water the crown as well as the moss, because the fronds take in water too, then let the mix dry slightly before you soak again. [3] A slight wilt recovers after a soak. A mount that stays wet rots. Do not wipe the gray felt off the antler fronds; that covering slows water loss. [4]
- Place it in bright, indirect light. Harden it before any outdoor porch sun, or the antlers bleach.
- Soak the moss and the brown shields when the moss feels dry. Let the mount drain before you hang it again.
- Leave the brown shield fronds in place. Cut only a withered antler frond, never a live green shield.
- Feed a dilute balanced fertilizer once a month from spring through early fall. Skip feed in winter.
How do you care for a staghorn fern?
Give it bright indirect light, soak the moss when it is dry, and leave the brown shield fronds in place.
How often should I water a staghorn fern?
Soak the moss and the brown shields when the moss feels dry, then let the mount drain. Soak less often in cool weather.
Should I cut the brown shields off?
No. Those brown, papery shields cover the roots. Leave them until they fall on their own. Cut only a withered antler frond.
Can staghorn fern grow indoors?
Yes. Most of the country keeps it as a houseplant in bright, indirect light. Bring a porch mount in before nights drop into the 40s.
Cut only withered antler fronds, and bring the mount in before nights drop into the 40s
This fern does not need pruning like a shrub. When an antler frond browns or breaks, cut it at the base, next to the shield, with clean scissors. Leave healthy green antlers, and leave every brown shield until it loosens on its own. A second plant from a pup is a separate job on How to Propagate Staghorn Fern.
It will not take a freeze. Grow it as a houseplant, or bring a porch mount in before nights drop into the 40s. Water less from fall to spring, when growth slows, and skip fertilizer until spring. Mounting a nursery plant onto a board is a separate job on Planting Staghorn Fern.
Not staghorn sumac, not a Boston fern, and not a bird's nest fern
A shop tag that says staghorn is sometimes staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina: a colony shrub with fuzzy twigs and compound leaves, not a fern. See How to Grow Sumac if the plant has leaflets and a woody stem. A hanging Boston fern is Nephrolepis: fine, dropping fronds and no brown shields on a board. See How to Grow Boston Fern if the basket is a fountain of fine fronds.
A bird's nest fern is Asplenium: a vase of undivided fronds from a crown, not forked antlers. See How to Grow Bird's Nest Fern if that is the tag. A rabbit's foot fern is Davallia, with lacy fronds and furry rhizomes over the pot, not shields on a mount. See How to Grow Rabbit's Foot Fern if the pot has furry feet. Elkhorn fern on a US tag is usually this same plant, not a second kind.
Is staghorn fern the same as staghorn sumac?
No. Staghorn sumac is a shrub with compound leaves. This plant is a fern with shield fronds and forked antlers.
Is this a Boston fern?
No. A Boston fern has fine, dropping fronds and no brown shields on a board. This plant has clasping shields and forked antlers.
Keep it in bright indirect light, soak the moss when it is dry, and leave the brown shields on. Mount a nursery plant in spring if it is still in a pot.
FAQ
What about 'Netherlands' or other named forms?
Those are named forms of this same staghorn fern, with slightly more upright or lobed antlers. The same light, soak, and brown shields still apply.
What about giant nest-forming staghorns?
Those are related species we do not hold, often sold as Platycerium superbum or grande. They still want bright indirect light and a soak when the moss is dry if that is the tag.
Are staghorn ferns toxic to cats?
No. The plant is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Still keep pets from chewing the fronds, because any plant material can upset a stomach.
Are the brown patches on the antler tips pests?
Usually not. Those are sori, the spore clusters. Scale insects are scattered discs you can scrape. Wipe the antlers if you see scale, and keep the moss from staying soggy.
Should I feed it a banana peel?
Skip that indoors. A peel in the moss smells and draws fungus gnats. Use a dilute balanced fertilizer on a soak in spring and summer instead.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/staghorn-fern-platycerium-bifurcatum/ - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/platycerium-bifurcatum/ - [3] UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions -
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/staghorn-fern/ - [4] Gardener's Path -
https://gardenerspath.com/plants/foliage/grow-staghorn-fern/
This note is part of Platycerium Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors