My staghorn fern has not produced new shield fronds, is it dying?

Common problems are overwatering, watering with softened water, and placing them in direct sunlight.

Their function is to protect the plant roots, and take up water and nutrients.

The pups will be attached underneath the brown, dry shield fronds of the plant. In the winter, water less. Staghorn fern has few pests, but may become infested with scale insects or mealybugs. This is a no-no in staghorn fern care. Covering the fronds is a soft layer of fine hairs, which absorb and retain moisture. I mist daily, soak once a week and fertilize once a month. All of the pup-forming species can store large amounts of water in the cork tissue of old shield fronds and eventually all of these turn brown. Staghorn ferns produce brown patches of spores that are sometimes mistaken for disease. This is a no-no in staghorn fern care. 12 Responses to “Platycerium (Staghorn Ferns) with fascinating fronds” Thomas Wilcox Says: October 19th, 2008 at 11:03 am. These fronds start out green, but eventually turn brown and dry up. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes and derive moisture and nutrients from the air and rain, and use trees or rocks for support in nature. It is best to cut into the fern when the latest shield frond is brown, no green or fuzziness left in it. Let the plant dry between waterings. In between those two lobes, on the underside of the frond is a large spore patch. It is a large fern that produces enormous sterile fronds, like a large battle shield, with forks off of the top edge. These shield fronds will stay green. Staghorn Fern ‘Superbum’ on Cedar Plaque Bring the jungle into your home with this easy-to-grow Staghorn Fern ‘Superbum’ that’s mounted on a 11" x 11” handmade cedar plaque with a hanging wire. The LH shield frond is beginning to age which is normal. This is a fungus called rhizoctonia (see Reference 1). this is the best article I finally can understand. Persistent under-watering or direct sunlight will cause greying of leaves and crisping foliage that could easily spell the end for juvenile specimens. The shield fronds should also be in contact with both the moss and the tree or rock. If the plant's base, where the frond branches meet, is black, then the plant is dead. The Staghorn Fern is an unusual plant, being both an air plant and a fern, though it bears little resemblance to most ferns. The second type of staghorn fern frond is called the shield frond. everyone wanted us to mount it, but yours hanging is similar to ours (ours is a little real sick now). A young Platycerum bifurcatum, originally grown in a 4 inch pot, gets mounted on an 11 x 11 cedar board with easy-to-follow instructions by horticulturist, Byron Martin. These ferns absorb water through their leaf fronds & shield fronds as … These are the round, hard plate-like leaves that surround the base of the plant. Now you’ll want to shimmy your plant out of its nursery pot. In nature these pups will eventually grow into new, whole plants.