Reasons Why Your Staghorn Fern is Not Growing
Is your staghorn fern not growing anymore? Does their Growth stop for a certain level? Well, staghorn ferns are quite attractive and famous indoor decorative plants for gardeners.
But they are very sensitive towels during their growth cycle. If they don’t meet their needs, their growth might stop for a reason.
Hereby, I’ll manifest the staghorn fern’s slow growth reason along with probable solutions. Therefore follow this article from first to last.
Overview of Staghorn Ferns
- Botanic name: Platycerium bifurcatum
- Common names: elkhorn ferns, staghorn ferns
- Family: Polypodiaceae
- Genus: Platycerium
- Plant: Perennial evergreen
- Native range: Eastern Australia, Queensland, java, South Wales, New Guinea,
- Height: around 35 inches
- Width: around 31 inches
- Shade: Partial
- Soil: acidic, neutral
- Hardiness zone: 9,10,11,12
Staghorn Ferns are perennial evergreen ferns that are currently available in 17 different species in Asia and Australia.
These ferns are very common to plant for home cultivation due to their charming home appearances. You can also plant these elegant staghorn ferns on different wood planks, drifts, or any hanging baskets which will enhance their look.
In order to make your staghorn fern thrive, you need to give them a tropical and subtropical environment just like their natural habitats.
In a dappled atmosphere, moisture, and indirect sunlight, they grow best. Nevertheless, they can be a little invasive sometimes if they are grown outside.
The report says that they grow invasively in Florida and Hawaii under a warm climate.
Reasons Why Your Staghorn Ferns Are Not Growing
Let’s see the reasons why your staghorn fern is not growing anymore.
Dormancy Stage
If you observe your staghorn fern is not growing then probably they went on the dormancy stage. Mostly In winter seasons, staghorn ferns become dormant; meaning they stopped growing.
At this time they also require less than the casual times. So if it’s winter time and your staghorn fern is not growing anymore then don’t worry.
Solution: It is just their natural growing cycle. Let your staghorn ferns just the way they are. Don’t do anything extra to make them thrive; it can cause more damage to your elegant staghorn fern.
In the upcoming spring seasons, they will automatically start growing.
Low Light
Another vital reason is your staghorn ferns are not growing anymore, probably they are not getting sufficient light.
Since they need partial to fully shaded places, therefore they will go best in bright, indirect places. But if you place your ferns inside a dark and low-light condition room, they might not get their ideal condition.
Because of the low light conditions, your staghorn ferns can stop growing.
Solution: In this case, fix the placing issue as soon as possible. Relocate your staghorn ferns where they can get enough dappled filtered sunlight, not the direct sunlight.
Because it can also scorch their fronds. Hence, north-facing windows, balconies, rooms, kitchens, or bathrooms might work well for them.
And for your outdoor staghorn ferns, replant them in such places where they get a shaded vibe and atmosphere.
Improper Watering
Furthermore, inconsistent watering can also stop your staghorn fern’s growth to some extent. Both overwatering and underwatering are equally harmful to your staghorn fern growth cycle and will be a barrier to your fern’s successful growth.
Having said that, overwatering can give them a rotten root whereas underwatering can give them a drought condition. In both situations, your staghorn ferns suffer where their normal growth cycle collapses.
Hence, their growth has stopped to some extent.
Solution: To fix this issue, you need to give your staghorn ferns proper watering neither too much nor too little.
For watering your staghorn ferns, once a week or twice a week watering would be enough, however, it also depends on the weather and the climate changes as well.
To water your staghorn ferns, soak them in a water bowl or bucket until all the soil absorbs water thoroughly, and let the water dry first before hanging it again.
Less Humidity
Less humidity is also another reason behind your staghorn fern’s stopped growth. In native habitats, staghorn ferns prefer minimal 60 to 70% humidity around themselves to thrive.
However, they can tolerate up to 50% humidity level; if the humidity level drops below this level they will not grow actively. The low humidity can make your staghorn ferns dull and dehydrated.
And because of the low humidity level, their new fronds become dehydrated and contain less moisture. Ultimately the fronds become smaller than other older fronds and gradually their growth stops at a certain level.
Solution: Therefore, you need to provide them with their ideal humidity atmosphere to make them thrive. For increasing humidity around their surroundings, you can put them inside of your bathrooms and kitchen as well.
They are well-humid places that can provide sufficient humidity to your staghorn. Alternatively, you can also purchase a humidifier or can use a pebble tray for your staghorn ferns which will balance the humidity level around your plants.
Lack of Nutrients
Most ferns need some portion of external nutrients for nourishment. Just like human beings, ferns also need nutrients for them to grow and thrive.
If they don’t get such nutrients to their body, they will stop growing at some point. Similarly, staghorn ferns need nutritional elements like NPK (nitrogen, Phosphorus, potassium) to grow and develop.
If they don’t get such substantial elements, their growth will collapse.
Solution: In order to fix this problem, provide them with a good all-purpose fertilizer for their root. During spring and summer times, feed your staghorn ferns a good water-soluble fertilizer at half strength to increase their growth.
Closing Statement
In a nutshell, Staghorn ferns sometimes get insensitive if they don’t meet their required ideal condition. As a result, you will notice your staghorn fern growth stopped or collapsed.
This could happen due to low light, improper watering, less humidity, and lack of nutrients as well. Further, their growth also stopped during their dormancy stage.
So, identify for which reasons your staghorn fern’s growth has stopped and treat them with the following solutions that have been mentioned above.
Certainly, you will revive your staghorn ferns’ slow growth to an active growth cycle by following this article rigorously.
