Staghorn fern are penis of the genus Platycerium . They make a dainty houseplant and are comparatively easy to deal for . They can be grown year - round of drinks alfresco in expanse protect from Robert Lee Frost and freezing . In their instinctive home ground they can be seen growing high up in the crowns of tree diagram .
Range
Staghorn ferns are native to tropical central Africa include Madagascar , southeast Asia , the Pacific island and Australia . One coinage is native to the Andes peck of Peru . The popularity of staghorn ferns has lead them to be cultivated in other tropic and semitropic neighborhood where they have become tame such as in Hawaii and southerly Florida .
Description
Staghorn ferns have two types of fronds : uninventive and fertile . unfertile fronds grow prostrate against the tree and are usually disc regulate . When they are mature , they are a clean fleeceable coloration until they mature when they die off and turn brown , but rest attached to the plant . After several growing season , the aseptic fern frond build up create a natural sponge to hold water for the flora during ironic times . They also catch fall debris such as tree diagram leaves that help leave nutrients to the fern as they decompose .
rich frond grow from the same central bud as the unfertile fronds but are normally held erect or hang pendulously . They are light green and usually covered with fine hairs and are forked , sometimes elaborately . They resemble deer antler which is where this plant gets its common name . These fronds also make spore in dark-skinned patches on the underside .
Growth Habit
Staghorn fern are epiphytic plant and do not grow in soil . An epiphyte is a plant that farm on another plant but is not leechlike . It only uses the host plant as supporting and causes no damage . Some mintage have been found growing lithophytically , meaning they produce on rock-and-roll .
Types
There are 17 different specie of staghorn fern and several recognized hybrids and cultivar . The most commonly seen is P. bifurcatum which forms dense lump of several plants often get hold of 5 understructure or more in diam . This is a favorite because it has the ability to hold out brief temperature drops to 25 degrees making it suited for twelvemonth round outdoor maturation in Florida , Texas and southern California . The largest staghorn fern like P. superbum can get 5 to 6 foot across with prolific fronds hanging down 6 or more feet . There are several dwarf cultivars that may only progress to 1 base across with 1 to 2 foot prospicient fertile fronds .
Care
Young staghorns can be grown in flock with well drain grease , but will postulate to be mounted when they start to get gravid . They can be mounted on just about anything , unremarkably tree fern , redwood or cypress slab , sometimes directly on a tree trunk or on rock walls . finally they will ground themselves and become connected to the mount . They like part shade and bright light . They prefer a high humidity storey over 50 percentage . Let them dry out between watering .
References
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