Hi, I would appreciate the advice of anyone right now to ensure my plants survival! I've only had the fern for maybe 5 months now, and I am still trying to intuitively estimate what it needs. I've read a little on it, but I am still unclear. The leaves on one side of the plant are bent completely over, and I have lost some as they had dried up and gone brown. I increased the watering, but I haven't seen any improvement. I increased the light by moving it into the direct sun, rather than the indirect sun spot where it used to hang from the ceiling. Basically I am not sure if I am watering too much, or too little. Does anybody know how quickly the leaves should spring back up if it is due to lack of water??
Perhaps too much light. If you can, please post a photo: helpful in diagnosis. Am assuming you are aware that the staghorn does get 2 kinds of leaves:the tall green ones AND the flat ground-or-bark hugging kind that start out green and turn brown and crispy...?
Yes, I see the brown ones....its the long ones that are showing distress. Im unable to post a photo at the time. The best description i can give is that half of the long green leaves are bent almost in half, it looks like its wilted...but water hasn't helped them bounce back.
oh, and i only moved it into the light a week ago....not seeing any changes before i was hanging in indirect light
Do you know that some types are strongly reflexed (bent back) as a normal pattern of growth? http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/12/p_BKS020370.jpg http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/plat_spp.cfm HTH Chris
interesting.... it wasn't like that when I got it 5 months, and its only half of the plant thats doing it.....as well, some leaf sections have been falling out with a dried crisp brown base
I have two growing in one of those green wire baskets with the 3 chains attached. The basket has a few inches of sphagnum moss that I molded to the basket shape when moist, then filled with orchid bark chips. It receives bright dapple/filtered light like the link mentioned and only watered when dry, so it gets (thoroughly drenched) at the kitchen sink once a week. Once in a while I'll cut up some banana peels and throw them on top of the chips.The peels contain something yummy for the stags, sphosphorus and potassium.
hmmm....to be honest, i dont even know what this guy is sitting in. I bought him in a plastic hanging pot...and i cant see beyond the plant itself into the pot
When I bought the stags, they were planted in what looked to be a course potting soil which drained very well, and probably would have done alright for a while. These plants naturally grow in trees, so I wanted the growing medium to be even more loose and airy so it would drain faster. I washed off all the soil and planted them in the chips. In the warmer months you can hang it outdoors in a tree:)
