- Does my staghorn fern even need a pot?
- Which pot is suitable for the staghorn fern?
- How often do I need to repot my staghorn fern?
The tropical staghorn fern is an epiphytic plant, meaning it grows as a guest on another plant. However, it is not a parasite because it does not feed on the plant on which it lives.
The staghorn fern also thrives in pots
Does my staghorn fern even need a pot?
If the staghorn fern is kept as a houseplant, it can either be kept in a pot or rooted on a rough surface such as wood, natural cork or tree bark. The decision is entirely up to you and your preferences. However, caring for the staghorn fern also depends on how you keep it. Because it must be supplied with sufficient water on a regular basis. It is often easier to supply water in a pot.
Which pot is suitable for the staghorn fern?
The staghorn fern does not develop taproots that grow deep down, but rather those that grow wide. Accordingly, a shallow pot or bowl is sufficient for the staghorn fern. You are welcome to plant your staghorn fern in a flat hanging basket (€11.99). Use orchid soil, coconut fiber or a mixture of sphagnum moss or potting soil and peat as a substrate. Bark compost or bark mulch is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative.
How often do I need to repot my staghorn fern?
Repotting is always necessary when your staghorn fern is no longer stable or the substrate is slowly dissolving. Even if this is not the case, you should repot your staghorn fern about every three to five years. The same applies if you grow your staghorn fern on a piece of tree bark or other substrate.
Be careful not to damage the roots. This can sometimes be difficult under certain circumstances, because the roots of the staghorn fern cling to the ground or substrate. Set your staghorn on a new piece of bark or trunk, then tie it back on there.
The essentials in brief:
- choose a flat pot
- First choice substrate: orchid soil
- Alternatives: coir, bark mulch, 2/3 potting soil or sphagnum moss and 1/3 peat
- ideal for hanging baskets
- repot or replant about every 3 to 5 years
tips
You won't have to repot or move your staghorn all that often, but you should think about it about every three to five years.