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Platycerium Bifurcatum “Staghorn Fern”

Latin name

Platycerium bifurcatum

Pronounciation

(“plat-ee-SERRY-um bye-fur-KART-um”)

Common name

Platycerium bifurcatum

Origin

Eastern Australia and Polynesia (P. bifurcatum), tropical East Africa (P. alcicorne). Other species of Platycerium grow in the wet tropics of Malaysia and South America

How easy am I to care for?

Buy one of my cousins from the nursery:

Staghorn Fern, also known as Stag’s Horn Fern or Platycerium bifurcatum, is an excellent plant for desks, shelves or as a hanging plant. The name Platycerium comes from Greek roots: Platys, meaning broad, and Kero, meaning horn – and this is a great example of the botanical name giving a very clear description of the plant. Large examples truly look like stag’s horns and when displayed on a vertical surface (attached to bark, for example) resemble hunting trophies. In their natural habitat, Stag’s Horn Ferns grow on tree trunks. They have two different types of frond (not true leaves). The flat, round fronds at the base grow to keep a grip on its host tree and can grow up to 60cm across. The horn-shaped fronds that grow outwards are deeply divided and can grow up to 45cm. The horn-shaped fronds carry the spore cases and are the reproductive part of the plant. The younger fronds often have a downy appearance, which diminishes as they mature, but they are rarely a deep glossy green. Do not be tempted to try and polish of the downy surface, thinking it is dust – that will damage the plant

All our potted plants come in compostable coir pots.

Caring for your plant

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Light

Medium – medium-high
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Watering

Keep the growing medium moist and mist the foliage regularly with tepid water
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Pruning

Do not prune. Remove dead fronds with a sharp knife close to the base of the plant, but be careful not to damage any of the other parts of the plant
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Feeding

A little weak solution of fertilizer added to the water every month or so is all that is needed
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Pest & Diseases

Generally pest free

Mill Pond Nurseries,
Mill Road,
Henham,
CM22 6AA

T: 0345 505 3333
E: enquiries@planteriagroup.com

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