

















Elkhorn Fern

4.4 out of 5 (34 experiences)


Also known as
Staghorn Fern
Taxonomy
Platycerium bifurcatum
Platycerium
Polypodiaceae
Polypodiales

How to care for Elkhorn Fern

How often to water your Elkhorn Fern

every 9
Elkhorn Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Elkhorn Fern in your home

a window
Elkhorn Fern may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Elkhorn Fern in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Elkhorn Fern

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Elkhorn Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Elkhorn Fern can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!
Water Needs
Elkhorn Fern prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Sunlight Needs
Elkhorn Fern may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Toxicity
Elkhorn Fern is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.
Humidity
Elkhorn Fern enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.
Soil
Elkhorn Fern is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.
Fertilizer
Elkhorn Fern grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Native Region
Elkhorn Fern is native to Temperate and Tropical Southern Hemisphere.
Flowers
Elkhorn Fern does not flower.
Growth Pattern
Elkhorn Fern is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Elkhorn Fern can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-13b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Elkhorn Fern can be propagated by division into new individual plants.
- Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
- If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
- Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
- Repot the parent plant back into its original pot
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.
Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Elkhorn Fern, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.
Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
Care Summary for Elkhorn Fern
Elkhorn Fern
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 3ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say









So far so good with this one. I love the cork mount as it really adds some flair and makes it look like I brought a piece of nature inside. I’ve only had it a few weeks, so time will tell, but this has become a favorite. I make sure to mist the undersides of the leaves daily. It seems to love humidity.






I always marvel at the massive staghorns you’ll find at City Park’s Botanical Garden in NOLA and my grandmother had one on the shady end of her pool that was the size of a basketball. She started hers in a wire hanging basket and the shield leaves wrapped around the whole thing. They will also attach to pieces of wood for a nice wall hanging. That’s what I plan to do with one that I have an indoor spot to try.

