How To Plant a Staghorn Fern (Platycerium)

Here are instructions for planting a young staghorn fern using spaghum moss and fishing line. I planted three young staghorns: one on a lattice bolted to the side of the house, one on a palm tree, and one on an old palm frond.

I purchased these young staghorn ferns for $2 on clearance from Lowes. The bag of spaghum moss was under $5 and was the size of a big dictionary. I used half of it.

I soaked the moss in a bucket for a few minutes. Then, I tied up the young plant to the lattice...I kept winding & winding the fishing line around the fern-maybe 10 wraps. Then I tied off the line. It reminded me of wrapping up an old ball of yarn...pretty sloppy, but who cares!

I grabbed a handful of sopping wet moss and shoved it on the dirt plart of the fern. Then I wrapped it with more fishing line. I probably shoved 5 handfuls of moss and wrapped 1-2 times after each handful. Some of the moss fell, but that's fine. That's it!

Pretty soon, the brown leaves will grow over the moss and will form a little pot for the plant. There are official names for the green leaves, brown leaves, and roots...take a look at what wikipedia says about staghorns or Platycerium.


My walking buddy and I have noticed about a third of all homes with 5 miles of our neighborhood here in South Florida seem to have two-ft. bronze cranes, a staghorn fern, and a pineapple plant. No exaggeration!!!!!!!!!