Grow
Staghorns & Elkhorns
Staghorns and elkhorns are some of the most amazing-looking plants yet, despite their exotic appearance, they’re relatively easy to grow. The reason they look so different to most other plants is that they’e evolved to survive in the treetops. Stags and elks are epiphytic, which means they grow high up in the rainforest canopy.
Stags and elks have minimal root systems (just enough to anchor them to the tree) but they’re well adapted to catch leaves, debris and rainwater falling from above. Unlike most other plants, which absorb water and nutrients through their roots, these ferns can only survive if they capture sufficient quantities of moisture and nutrients from the surrounding air.
So how do we grow them in the garden? Well, success depends on re-creating the conditions these plants enjoy in the wild:
Postion
The best position is light shade with occasional patches of sunlight. Although they’ll cope with light frosts, the plants need good protection in cold areas.
Drainage
Good drainage is essential and easy to maintain if the plants are attached to a suitable backing board made of long-lasting material. Although the ferns may grow on living trees in the rainforest this may be detrimental to the tree, so it’s best to attach them to an inert backing.
Supports can be made of wood, recycled rubber or an existing tree stump. Tie the fern onto the backing with a soft tie made out of something like a strip of nylon stocking. If the elk or stag becomes very weighty, it’s best to support it from beneath with some sturdy wire threaded through an old piece of plastic hose. This will stop the wire cutting into the soft tissue of the fern.
Fertilising
Feed gently. Stags and elks have minimal nutrient requirements. After all, they usually exist on little more than the rotting leaves they’ve managed to collect. Don’t overdo it: half a handful of gentle, organic Dynamic Lifter pellets will be enough for an established fern. Re-apply twice a year. If you’d prefer to use something non-smelly, apply half-strength Thrive Soluble Plant Food every few weeks throughout the growing season.
Pests & Diseases
Happy staghorns and elkhorns are usually relatively free of pests and diseases but they are often attacked by scale insects. Treat sap-sucking scale insects by applying, low toxic, systemic Confidor. Spray thoroughly over the leaf surfaces and saturate the stored organic matter. Use scissors to trim untidy leaves.
Don’t worry about large brown felty patches that develop beneath the fronds: these are the spores, the dust-like particles that represent the reproductive stage of these exotic plants.
Comments (4)
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Marg
Yates site member
06:48, 19 November 2011
What is the easiest way to take a cutting I have 3 very large Stag Horns and would like to multiply them but am afraid to do damage
George
Yates site member
22:05, 05 January 2012
You can't take cuttings of a stag horn as it is a single growth plan. On the growths that look like horns the brown dust under the growth are spores which you can place in a wet area but this is a slow process. If it is a elk you can simply split the plant.
GARRY
Yates site member
18:25, 22 December 2011
I HAVE A LARGE STAGHORN HANGING ON MY FENCE .THE STAG HAS A LOT OF DEAD LEAVES ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLANT CAN I REMOVE THEM WILL IT HURT THE PLANT
GARRY
Yates site member
16:40, 23 December 2011
can i prune out the dead leaves in the centre of my old staghorn.How and When is the best timelight
George
Yates site member
22:02, 05 January 2012
Yes you can prune them out as the growth comes from the centre core at the front
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