overwatering and Staghorn Fern
Quick answer
If overwatering is what's going on with your Staghorn Fern, the most likely cause is: When a Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) is kept too wet, the basal tissue of the antler fronds blackens and decays because the epiphytic root mass and basal shield fronds cannot tolerate anaerobic, waterlogged sphagnum; the rot advances from the lowest part of the antler fronds upward as the crown stays saturated past the brief wet/dry cycle the plant requires.
Start here:
- 1. Stop watering the plant for a few weeks so the moss and root ball can dry back to an airy, barely moist state, then return to a normal watering regime of weekly soaking in a hot dry room or every 2-3 weeks in a cool humid one.
- 2. After each soak, let the mount drip-dry completely before rehanging, and clear any black or mushy roots from the basal shield area so oxygen can reach the surviving rhizome tissue.
Why overwatering happens to Staghorn Fern
Staghorn Fern
When a Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) is kept too wet, the basal tissue of the antler fronds blackens and decays because the epiphytic root mass and basal shield fronds cannot tolerate anaerobic, waterlogged sphagnum; the rot advances from the lowest part of the antler fronds upward as the crown stays saturated past the brief wet/dry cycle the plant requires.
How to correct overwatering on Staghorn Fern
- 1
Stop watering the plant for a few weeks so the moss and root ball can dry back to an airy, barely moist state, then return to a normal watering regime of weekly soaking in a hot dry room or every 2-3 weeks in a cool humid one.
- 2
After each soak, let the mount drip-dry completely before rehanging, and clear any black or mushy roots from the basal shield area so oxygen can reach the surviving rhizome tissue.
Keep overwatering from repeating on this Staghorn Fern
Allow the mount to drip-dry thoroughly after every soak and never let the staghorn fern sit in standing water, watering only when the moss is approaching dry rather than on a fixed schedule.