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Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams

My staghorn fern has only brown sterile fronds

hsw (Boston area)

9 years ago

Hi,

I got a staghorn about a year ago that seems to be doing very well-- it's grown a lot since I got it, and is putting out a lot of new fertile fronds. However, all I said in the title, it appears that all the sterile fronds (even the ones with new fertile frond growth) are brown. Am I doing something wrong? I feel like there should be at least one green sterile frond.

I attached a picture of a brown sterile frond with new fertile frond growth.

Thanks!

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Comments (7)

tropicbreezent
9 years ago
From what can be seen of the fertile fronds they seem quite healthy. The sterile or nest fronds are just the plants 'home made pots'. I wouldn't worry about them. The plant will produce more when it feels the need. Although I agree that it's a bit unusual for the nest fronds to completely brown off before they start getting covered by new ones. But while the fertile fronds look very healthy I wouldn't worry.
hsw (Boston area)
Original Author
9 years ago
ok, thanks for the feedback!! I was really happy with it until I went to the nursery the other day and saw how green some of the sterile fronds on those plants were... they I started freaking out!! I'll stay calm unless I see the plant going downhill
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Sa, from the time mine was tiny to about a year ago, it was tied (in a pot lined w/ plastic wrap) to the top of my bromeliad tree. It got decent light from a south window and from some fl. lights but not GREAT light. I would water it with r/o water periodically. I'd pretty well drench it and then ignore it for a good week or two. Often when I would next water, it had become SUPER light from being so dry. It got too big so i de-mounted it from the tree and this past summer it was in my backyard. It hung under an oak tree for awhile and then hung from a post where it could get a bit more light. Currently its hanging from the ceiling in one of my plant areas. In fact, I just posted some pics on the orchid forum and you can see the staghorn in one of them. I kinda feel that its just time that makes them big. It doesn't seem fussy at all and tolerates really bad conditions so I think just wait a bit longer. Maybe someone else has some better tips, or you could try the moss/fern forum.
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tropicbreezent
9 years ago
Sounds like a good plan. Don't over water, especially in colder weather. They can be quite drought tolerant, for a fern. That comes from them being an epiphyte in a climate that does get dry spells.
hsw (Boston area)
Original Author
9 years ago
I "hose" it down in the bathtub once a week, and spray every day or two. The plant is also on a tray with water to increase humidity. Does that sound OK?
tropicbreezent
9 years ago
Is it mounted or in a pot? Is it on the tray touching the water, or above the water?
hsw (Boston area)
Original Author
9 years ago
it's in a basket with long fibered sphagnum moss. the bottom of the basket is elevated above the tray with water (the basket has a pedestal so the plant and moss doesn't sit in the water).

now that it's getting warmer I will likely move it outside in the near future
tropicbreezent
9 years ago
That seems okay. I'm used to them only being mounted, either with a backing board or on a tree. Platycerium bifurcatum is one of the more cold tolerant species, they can handle a bit of frost, but not prolonged cold. Likely in your warmer weather and out in the air it'll start producing more nest leaves.

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