Water Requirements For Staghorn Ferns
Are you a staghorn plant owner? Are you facing problems with watering your staghorn fern properly? Then don’t be afraid.
In this article, we are going to discuss overall watering techniques to water your staghorn ferns properly.
Additionally, we’ll provide you with how to Water and when you need to water them along with what you need to avoid while watering your staghorn ferns. So let’s begin with the overview of staghorn ferns.
Overview of Staghorn Ferns
- Botanic name: Platycerium bifurcatum
- Common names: elkhorn ferns, staghorn ferns
- Family: Polypodiaceae
- Genus: Platycerium
- Plant: Perennial evergreen
- Native range: Java, New Guinea, Eastern Australia, South Wales, Queensland
- Height: around 35 inches
- Width: around 31 inches
- Shade: Partial
- Soil: acidic, neutral
- Hardiness zone: 9,10,11,12
Staghorn Ferns are basically perennial evergreen plants that look like deer or elk antlers with heart-shaped arching fronds.
They have 17 different species currently existing worldwide. These staghorn are usually native to Asia and Australia along with Java, New Guinea, South Wales, Queensland, and Lord Howe Island.
Their native habitats are rainforest areas with a moist atmosphere. These ferns are very frequently growing and planted for home cultivation.
These staghorn ferns have unique heart-shaped fronds around 12 to 45 cm long. Their grey-green arched fertile also resemble a horn shape or forked, strapped shape which spread usually 90 cm long.
You can grow these ferns on wood planks or any hanging baskets. In order to thrive your staghorn fern, you need to give them a subtropical natural environment such as dappled atmosphere, moisture, and indirect sunlight.
However, these ferns can be invasive sometimes which might give you trouble. However, with correct grooming and maintenance, you can control these ferns’ growth.
How to Water Your Staghorn Ferns?
Root’s Watering
In order to thrive staghorn ferns, you need to water them frequently. During warm seasons you can water these ferns once a week and in winter seasons you can water them every two weeks.
Alternatively, you can also soak these ferns in water for 10 to 20 minutes until they absorb full water. Then let them drip dry before you place your staghorn ferns again.
When you ensure the water is fully drip off from the plant, then you can re-hang your staghorn plant. Avoid over-watering your plants because it can make their fronds brown and yellow.
Fronds’s Misting
You can just simply use any spray bottle or misting bottle to mist your staghorn ferns. Then you can spray over the entire plant or you just spray on the fronds.
When Do You Need to Water Your Staghorn Fern?
Well, there is no specific time to water your staghorn fern. However, you can just simply water them once a week. In dry or hot weather, you can water them twice a week.
Additionally, in winter seasons you can water them every two to three weeks.
However, there are some key techniques that you can observe while watering your staghorn ferns. Here are those:
According to Humidity Level
Staghorn ferns prefer a humid and moist atmosphere around them to grow. So if your plant is already in a humid place, then you can reduce the watering level a little bit.
Since they are already getting much hydration and moisture from the environment then they will not require much watering. Then you can reduce your misting and watering routine as well.
However, if your staghorn ferns are not in a humid place, then you might need to level up your watering level.
Since they will not get much hydration and moisture from the environment, they will be mostly dried out. In such cases, you can often mist and water your plants by observing their root conditions.
According to Soil’s Condition
Sometimes, even if they are in a humid place or dry place, soi takes more time to absorb water. That means you need to water your plant while observing the soil condition.
If the soil is soggy and watery, then skip watering even though it’s routine watering. Wait for a couple of days to dry the water from the soil. Then you can water your staghorn ferns.
If you are unable to understand the soil’s condition, then you can do a thumb technique or thumb check-up. In this process, you need to put your thumb in the soil and press the soil, if you see water coming out from the soil.
Then wait for a few days to water the plant. But if you notice that there is no water, it’s completely dry then pour the water on your staghorn ferns.
According to Light or Heat Requirements
If your staghorn ferns are placed outdoors, then they are exposing much more light or heat than the indoor staghorn ferns. In such cases, their water might be dried out very often.
So you need to water them frequently in those cases if you feel the soil is getting dry due to sun exposure. Additionally, in summer times, there is more heat compared to other seasons.
So, in that case, your staghorn ferns will require more watering.
Conversely, in the winter season, they will not get much sun or heat exposure. So you can reduce the watering level at that time. Simply, you can water them once every 15 days. That will be enough for your staghorn ferns.
What You Need to Avoid While Watering Staghorn Ferns
In order to water, there is a very common mistake we often make which is over-watering the plant.
Similarly, there is another possibility we often forget to water or do underwater to our plants. All these reasons might be problematic to have healthy thriving staghorn ferns.
Overwatering
Make sure you don’t overwater your staghorn ferns. If the antler fronds start getting brown that means you are overwatering your staghorn ferns. Immediately reduce the watering level.
Make sure all the water is fully dried out, then you can water next time until then stop watering.
Underwater
If you observe your staghorn fern’s fronds getting crispy or curled that means you are not giving appropriate water to your staghorn ferns.
In this case, you need to level up your staghorn ferns’ watering level while ensuring the humidity level and sun exposure. Sometimes, over-sun exposure and less humid places can also be the reasons for crispy, curled fronds.
Conclusion
In short, Staghorn ferns are slow-growing perennial evergreen plants that can give your house a mesmerizing look.
Although they are very easy-growing plants, still you need to be a little cautious while you are watering them. Make sure you thoroughly water the plant’s roots and mist the fronds.
According to soil, humidity, and sun exposure, you need to balance your watering techniques. Make sure you avoid over-watering and under-watering in order to have thriving staghorn ferns.
By following all these guidelines, you will be able to get thriving and flourishing staghorn ferns in your house.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How much water do Staghorn ferns require?
-In general, once a week watering would be perfect for staghorn ferns
- Can Staghorn ferns like standing water?
-No! They don’t. It can cause their rhizome to have fungus as well as rotted roots.
- What does an underwater staghorn look like?
-Underwater staghorn ferns will have crispy curled fronds.
- What do overwater staghorn ferns look like?
-Well, over-watered staghorn ferns will have yellow, brown, and soggy roots. Gradually the roots will start to rot.
