Staghorn Fern
Platycerium bifurcatum
Ferns Difficulty: Moderate
📖 About this plant
An extraordinary epiphytic fern with two distinct frond types: broad, round shield fronds that anchor it to its host, and dramatic, antler-like fertile fronds that fork and hang downward. Typically mounted on plaques or boards, it creates a stunning living wall art display. A true conversation piece.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
💧
Water
Every 1-2 weeks
💨
Humidity
High (60-80%)
🌡️
Temperature
18-27°C
🪴
Soil
None required as epiphyte — mount on wood, bark, or sphagnum moss boards
🧪
Fertilizer
Diluted balanced liquid fertilizer or orchid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during growing season
🌐 Common Names
HI
Hindi
स्टैगहॉर्न फर्न
BN
Bengali
স্ট্যাগহর্ন ফার্ন
MR
Marathi
स्टॅगहॉर्न फर्न
TE
Telugu
స్టాగ్హార్న్ ఫెర్న్
TA
Tamil
ஸ்டாக்ஹார்ன் ஃபெர்ன்
GU
Gujarati
સ્ટેગહોર્ન ફર્ન
UR
Urdu
سٹیگ ہارن فرن
KN
Kannada
ಸ್ಟಾಗ್ಹಾರ್ನ್ ಫರ್ನ್
OR
Odia
ସ୍ଟାଗହର୍ନ ଫର୍ନ
ML
Malayalam
സ്റ്റാഗ്ഹോൺ ഫേൺ
PA
Punjabi
ਸਟੈਗਹੌਰਨ ਫਰਨ
AS
Assamese
ষ্টেগহৰ্ণ ফাৰ্ন
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Australia, New Guinea, and Java; widely distributed across Southeast Asia
- 📏 Max height
- 60-120 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 60-120 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Non-flowering
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Non-flowering (produces spores)
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green, Silver
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of pups from the base of mature plants; spore propagation (difficult)
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic to humans and pets
Common issues
- Black spot at base from overwatering
- Rhizome rot
- Mealybugs on shield fronds
💡 Care tips
- Mounted on wood or bark to mimic natural epiphytic growth
- Soak the entire mount in water for 10-15 minutes weekly
- Shield-shaped fronds protect the root ball from drying out
- Feed monthly with diluted liquid fertilizer during growing season
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 11 days, fertilizing every 18 days.
