How to mount a Staghorn Fern ?

[jowben1]

I just purchased a Staghorn fern and it is in a 2-1/2" pot of bark, hanging on a wire/. I would like to mount it on a piece of wood, so as to look more natural. My question is, as the plant gets larger, how do you replace the moss, or other medium?Or do you not have to? Will the plant "attach itself" to the wood? I would guess as the moss rots away, the plant would become dependant upon fertilizer for it's nourishment. Any advice ??? Thanks

[Baz in Oz]

G'day Jowben! Stags and elks almost attach themselves. I find old stockings perfect for the job but almost anything will do as long as the plant is held firmly and can't move. It will quickly grow over the fixings and attach itself to the mounting.
I have seen a huge one growing on a piece of plywood.
Regular light feeds with foliar fertilizer will keep it happy but unlike elks, it is possible to overwater them.
Don't put your banana skins down the garbage disposal as they love them.

Baz

[Donald]

Greetings jowben 1. I have a couple of these interesting plants. Try out these links that have some useful info you might enjoy:
Staghorn Fern, Platycerium
Fern Factory - Fern Factory offers a wide variety of ferns and tropical plants

[Donald]

I have mine in large slated orchid baskets with loosely packed sphagnum. I think you could just about mount them on anything. Good Luck

[cb977]

Mine is sitting in one of those half-round black wire baskets with a coconut fiber liner. It is very happy there and has actually grown through the fiber layer and through to the outside of the wire basket!


and yes, they do love those bananas!!!

[johnblagg]

They will attach themselves in time and the sheild leaves become the medium the roots grow in eventually.just a regulay foliar feeding works goo but I ocassionaly water the base with some miracle grow or such too but its not really needed.

[Baz in Oz]

Very nice healthy plant Susanne. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is not what we Aussies call a staghorn (Platycerium superbum) but one of the elkhorn family which are part of the same family.
Stags don't divide whereas elks do and they (elks)can be grown into a very attractive globe in a hanging basket.
Stags grow very large in a relatively short time given the right conditions.

Baz

[Donald]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The wealth of knowledge on this site. I love it. Not only do I go bananas over this site but the "StagElks" do also when they get their

[cb977]

[jowben1]

Thanks for all the replies.I was most interested to hear that their leaves will eventually become their mulch. Just one more query, How do they like their banana peels served ???