Staghorn Ferns/ Platycerium bifurcatum

[bubba]

This is a plant that has been in our family for sometime. As best as can be recalled, it was initially cultivated by my wife's Grandmother in the 1930s here in South Florida. She passed it to my Grandmother around 1980-1985. Around 2000, it was past two our family. It has periods of ups and downs, but after we started feeding it bananas, it seems to have regained its stride. Anecdotally, we understand that these ferns virtually live forever if well protected.

[bubba]

I was very surprised by the numerous species of staghorn, which can be viewed in this article:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycerium

[bubba]

The body of this Staghorn is about two (2) feet:

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, bubba said:

This is a plant that has been in our family for sometime. As best as can be recalled, it was initially cultivated by my wife's Grandmother in the 1930s here in South Florida. She passed it to my Grandmother around 1980-1985. Around 2000, it was past two our family. It has periods of ups and downs, but after we started feeding it bananas, it seems to have regained its stride. Anecdotally, we understand that these ferns virtually live forever if well protected.

So are you feeding it entire bananas 🍌 or just the peels?  I am kind of stingy in that regard,  only feeding mine the discarded banana peels.

It is nice that you have kept it in the family,  sort of an heirloom.  I can only dream that someday my granddaughter will appreciate some of my longer lived plants and be growing them when I am long gone.

[bubba]

Whole bananas as they spoil. I know peels only are recommended. I am sure yours will be well grown and hope you pass it on!

[PalmatierMeg]

I'll have to take photos of our hanging staghorn. I believe we've had it about 15 years but it is huge and takes 2-3 men to move/hoist. I don't know if either of our sons wants to inherit it but the older one lives in Ft. Myers and may get it by default. He believes his mom and dad are mental because we spend so much time in our gardens. My daughter-in-law enjoys scarfing up desert roses and other succulents for the patio of their condo and I encourage her interest, which probably peeves my son. But when we're gone I hope the fern goes to someone who will take care of it.

Hey, Bubba, do staghorns like other fruit? I have some over ripe strawberries to feed it if it wants.

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, bubba said:

I am sure yours will be well grown and hope you pass it on!

Mine were given to me from a friend.  Their heritage is from a sale at the Huntington Botanical Garden.  He bought some large specimens and split a couple of them, sharing with friends.  I've had them for about a dozen years now.  The plants I really hope to pass on are some of my Cycads since they can live for several human generations.  Even if some of the less common ones I have become more common in coming years as seed is more readily available from private gardens, mine will at least have a head start.

[bubba]

It is too bad that strawberries ripen so quickly!

[miamicuse]

How do you feed staghorn ferns?

[PalmsandLiszt]

9 hours ago, miamicuse said:

How do you feed staghorn ferns?

I just give mine a good pinch of osmocote once or twice a year into the crown. Occasionally very dilute seaweed if I'm not sure that the osmocote is staying in. They really don't seem to need much in the way of sustenance; light is the critical thing. I don't use banana peels and the like as mine are indoors and I don't want a fruit fly colony, but that doesn't really matter outside. But feeding them decaying fruit is certainly not necessary.

[Missi]

I have a stag horn a friend gave me a division of. She told me it is one of the rarer species but couldn’t remember the species. It has been slowly growing in my powderpuff tree for almost 15 years. I’m really curious as to which species it is. Not sure if it is developed enough to be able to tell yet. 
Also, it is a favored home of my biggest nemesis, electric ants/little fire ants (Wassmania auropunctata). I wonder how I can eradicate them from there and my powderpuff tree in general. Lots of beneficial and beautiful pollinators visit the tree so I don’t want to treat it all over with a spray.

[Kaname-kun]

There are all kinds of staghorns. In Asia they have gone crazy with hundreds of crosses and cultivars. Here are some of the species I grow in trees in our yard (lots more smaller ones mounted on boards in my "nursery" areas).

[Tracy]

[Motlife]

Here's one growing on a Nīkau down the road from me: