Staghorn fern help...

[Jerm]

Hey guys, my first post here and it isn't about orchids, sorry. I picked up a staghorn fern today that someone was throwing away. I have always wanted one of these but never took the time to start one. This thing is huge, I could barely lift it into my car. Part of it has died but part of it is very much alive. I would love to do what I can to save this amazing plant. Should I take the living portions off and start a new fern or should I remove the dead parts and try to get it to fill back in? Right now it is in my car since I picked it up over my lunch break from the office. I will try to post a pic of it tonight or tomorrow.

[greenbean]

Well, depends on where and how much died off. I'll wait to see your pics when you post them, but I'd say try removing a couple divisions as backups and clean up the main plant to see if it does fill in.

I love these ferns. They're so awesome. There's a place near my home that sells them. I'll have to stop by when I'm home for the summer again to pick one up.

[Jerm]

Thanks Evan! Here are some pics that I took of it.

[cb977]

I have a rather large staghorn here and whenever I see leaves that are turning yellow or get spotted (as in your pictures) I just remove them. Don't even need to cut them, they just pull out when they're ready

Good luck with yours...it looks great!

[harrywitmore]

I would leave it in tack and remove only the dead fronds. I believe once you begin to pay it some attention it will be an awesome specimen.

[greenbean]

Wow! That is huge!! Since I haven't actually grown these, I defer to Sue's and Harry's advice.

Good luck! It certainly has all the potential to be a magnificent specimen. Now I'm REALLY itching to get my own.

[flhiker]

I agree with all, These things are hardy. They also like potassium so I feed mine banana peels. Just cut up small bits and place it in the large brown back leaves. Evan I wish you lived a little closer I would give a big one I have sitting on the ground (too big to ship). Ive tried to give it away but no one I offered it to wants it and I can't throw it out. I also have a very big one in my tree.

[greenbean]

Dave, thanks for the nice thought, but if it's too big to ship, I probably wouldn't have room for it anyways. I'm having to get rid of an Epiphyllum in my house because it's over 3 feet across and tall! Luckily the nursery I work at will take it, and they can use it as propagation stock, which I've been doing for them for a year or so.

It's beautiful, but I can have at least a dozen orchids where that cactus was growing! I reached a point several years ago where I almost always have to get rid of plants to get any new ones. I'm working on convincing my parents to build a greenhouse or a sunroom, but by the time they come around, I'll be looking for my own place.

[Jerm]

Thanks for the advice guys! I hung it up over the weekend and removed the dead parts. It actually has a lot of new growth under all of that stuff. I can't believe the size of this thing, it took alot to hang it. It probably weighs close to 100 lbs. the ball in the middle is around 4' across, this has to be pretty old. I think that it will fill back in nicely. I can't believe that someone was throwing this away. I will post new pics of the it after I cleaned it up. Are these easy to propogate? I am thinking about making some small ones once it fills in.

[greenbean]

That's great! Can't wait to see pics of it after it fills back in.

I think all you need to propagate these is pry off the little pups (plantlets that sprout at the base, around the steril fronds) and pot, mount, or hang them as separate plants. I know, I shouldn't be trying to give advice when I've only read about staghorns, but I just can't help myself. Someone with experience will come along and support, expand on, or dispute my advice.