Mounting Staghorn Ferns

March 3, 2018

Here in the northeast, a big cleanup is underway after a nor’easter ripped through the area with strong winds and lots of rain and snow. If you follow me on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, you may have seen my post showing what the storm did to a truck on a Hudson River bridge.

At my Bedford, New York farm, the storm kept everyone indoors for most of yesterday, but it was a perfect time for spring chores inside my greenhouse. My gardeners, Ryan and Wilmer, transplanted many seedlings and mounted several beautiful staghorn ferns. The staghorn fern is an unusual and attractive epiphyte that thrives in the tropics. I adore staghorns and over the years have collected quite a few of these magnificent specimens - I love displaying them on my expansive porch during summer. Staghorn ferns are called Platyceriums. They are Old World tropicals native to Africa, northern Australia, and Southeast Asia. These large gorgeous ferns look great in hanging baskets, but can also be hung beautifully against a wall.

Enjoy these photos.

: The covered porch on the side of my house that overlooks the farm is the perfect place to hang big ferns, in particular, Boston ferns and staghorn ferns. Here is what it looks like during the warmer months.

: I love the way these lush green staghorn ferns catch the sunlight. These plants are mounted on wooden boards. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, which means they are air plants. They gladly grow on a wall mount, which lets air circulate around them.

: Recently, I purchased several smaller stagnhorn ferns that needed mounting. There are about 12-thousand fern species, and ferns are amongst the most ancient plants.

: Ryan uses the same kind of wooden boards used to mount the rhipsalis earlier in the week. For this project, he starts by cutting a piece of burlap the same size as the back of the frame.

: These frames measure about 12-inches by 15-inches. They were made right here at the farm using wood from felled trees.

: Once the burlap was cut to the appropriate measurements, using a stable gun, Ryan affixes the burlap to the back of the frame.

: He pulls the burlap taut as he staples to make sure it’s very secure.

: Using a piece of monofilament, or fishing line, Ryan strings it through the burlap and around two or three of the middle slats.

: And then ties the monofilament in the rear of the frame.

: This will be used to hang the staghorn once it is mounted.

: Here is how it looks from the front of the frame.

: Next, Ryan takes the fern out of the pot and loosens up the old potting medium. This promotes good nutrient absorption.

: Here, Ryan places the fern in between the slats so it is snug, and then secures it with garden wire.

: Any gardening wire can be used to secure the staghorn to the board. Wire can be purchased at gardening shops or hardware stores.

: Ryan also uses twine to give the rootball more support.

: Here is the fern completely attached to the frame. Fern leaves are actually called fronds, and staghorn ferns have two types. The first is the “antler” frond – these are the large leaves that shoot out of the center of the plant, and from which staghorn ferns get their names, since they resemble the antlers of deer or moose. The second type of staghorn fern frond is called the shield frond. These are the round, hard plate-like leaves that surround the base of the plant. Their function is to protect the plant roots, and take up water and nutrients.

: Because there was room, Ryan attached another fern to the board in the same way.

: Next, Ryan used Spanish moss to fill the rest of the frame and to cover the soil and roots. Spanish moss is an epiphytic flowering plant native to much of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America, the southern United States, and the West Indies. It grows hanging from tree branches in full sun through partial shade.

: Ryan places a generous amount of Spanish moss around the plant.

: The Spanish moss also gives the staghorn a nice finished look.

: Here is another frame ready to be filled with moss.

: For this one, Ryan uses green moss. Mosses are small flowerless plants that typically grow in dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations.

: Ryan packs it in tightly to secure the staghorn and to fill the crevices of the frame. The idea is to make sure the plant, frame and moss are making good contact. Eventually the shield fronds will grow and cover the base of the staghorn fern and help the plant attach to its home.

: Here is Ryan holding up the finished staghorn. It is a good idea to hold it vertically before hanging to make sure it is well supported and not tipping out of the frame.