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Plant Care
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Ken Andersen
Plant Care Guide
Platycerium wandae

Staghorn fern (Platycerium wandae)

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  • General Information
  • Buy
  • Plant
  • Sow Seeds
  • Fertilize
  • Water
  • Prune
  • Mulch
  • Protect
  • Pest/Disease Inspection
  • Treat for Pest/Disease
  • Transplant
  • Propagate
  • Harvest
  • Special requirements

General Information

Platycerium is the family of ferns we know as 'Stag Horn Ferns'. They are native to different parts of the world, mostly Australia, Africa, South America, New Guinea and Southeast Asia. Most are quite easy to grow in southern California, requiring only a little extra care. Most people grow them on boards of Cedar or Redwood. These ferns will usually grow well if placed in an area with part shade most of the day. A little 'full sun' is usually OK for just an hour or two, but if they get too much sun their leaves may be a little yellow, a lot of sun will burn the leaves. As you get further inland, and thus into hotter and dryer weather, they will require more shade.

Sunset Zones

USDA Zones

Web Link

http://www.themulch.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=728&Itemid=380

Buy

When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share!

January
Platyceriums are available year round at both of our nurseries, please call for availability (San Diego (619)224-8271 or Poway (858)513-4900).

Plant

When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions?

Sow Seeds

When can you plant these seeds? When's the best time? Can you start them indoors and move them out? Do they have any special requirements?

Fertilize

When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year?

January
We recommend using "GroPower Tablets" about 4 times a year to fertilize them, to make the plant grow faster and have larger fronds. Regular "GroPower" works well also, but you should probably apply it more often, perhaps monthly for best results. They can live a long time without any plant food, but the fronds will be smaller and lighter green. They just look a lot better with regular feeding. In the wild, they are primarily fed with bird droppings when they grow in the trees.

Water

Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year?

January
Keep them moist, but not wet all of the time. Give them a good watering with a hose or sprinkler if rains don't provide enough water; let them dry out some before the next irrigation. If you keep them constantly wet, the 'shield fronds' will turn dark brown or black and the plant will not do well.

Prune

When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements?

Mulch

Does this plant need to be mulched? Are there specific types of Mulch which are better for this plant? How much?

Protect

When and how should you protect this plant from birds, deer, rabbits? Does this plant need be covered, or wrapped or painted or moved?

January
Protect from frost during colder months.

Pest/Disease Inspection

What are the common problems this plant will face and when should you look for them to appear?

Treat for Pest/Disease

How do you treat the common problems for this plant? What products or concoctions or natural means do you use? Any special requirements?

Transplant

When's the best time to dig up and transplant this from one spot to another? (This is different than planting). Any special requirements?

Propagate

When's a good time to divide, take cuttings, layer or propagate this plant. Any special requirements?

January
Dividing them is the easiest and fastest way to propagate new plants. In our opinion you can divide them any time of the year, but the best time is in the growing season (April through the end of summer) and if they are divided then they seem to take right off. If you do it when it is cold, you don't see much activity for a few months until the weather warms some. I think almost all divisions will survive no matter when they are done, if they get decent sized pieces. If they are too small, they may not survive the colder months.

Harvest

When's a good time to harvest this plant? What's the best way to harvest? Are there special requirements or features?

Special requirements

Any other requirement for this plant? Is there anything that doesn't fit into the other care categories?