Money Plant
Epipremnum aureum
low lightpet cautionToxic to pets
SPECIMEN NO. 542
Native toJava to New Caledonia
Pet safe
Staghorn Fern
Platycerium bifurcatum
Also known as: Elkhorn Fern
A striking epiphytic fern with two types of fronds: rounded, shield-like basal fronds that hug a mounting surface, and long, antler-shaped fertile fronds that fork like a stag's horns. Traditionally grown mounted on wood rather than potted.
7–7dwatering range
bright indirectlight needs
15–26°Ctemperature
Watering amount
How much water does my Staghorn Fern need?
Estimated guideline, not a precise measurement — scale up for larger pots, brighter light, or active growth; scale down for smaller pots, lower light, or winter dormancy. Always water until it drains from the pot's base rather than measuring exactly. Use soil moisture and plant condition as the primary guide; the ml value is only a rough estimate.
Watering guide
Season note
Soak (mounted plants) or water thoroughly (potted) about once a week, letting the mount/medium dry out somewhat between waterings; mist fronds a few times a week for humidity.
Overwatering signs
Blackening at the base, root/frond rot
Underwatering signs
Wilting, curling fronds
Light & placement
Light level
bright indirect
Best rooms
Care details
Soil
None if mounted (sphagnum moss on wood/bark); well-draining orchid mix if potted
Humidity
Prefers high humidity
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer at half strength monthly during growing season
Temperature range
15°C – 26°C
Plant care guide
Staghorn fern, botanically Platycerium bifurcatum, is native from Java through New Caledonia, including eastern Australia, where it grows commonly as an epiphyte, attached to the trunks and branches of larger trees in humid subtropical and tropical forest habitats. It belongs to the fern family Polypodiaceae, within the genus Platycerium, which comprises roughly 18 recognized species distributed across tropical regions of the world; Platycerium bifurcatum is by far the most widely cultivated and commonly available species in this genus, prized specifically for its comparative ease of care and propagation relative to its rarer, more demanding relatives.
The plant's most distinctive and immediately identifiable feature is its two structurally and functionally different types of fronds. Basal fronds — also called shield fronds or nest leaves — are flat, rounded, sterile structures that press directly against the surface of a host tree (or, in cultivation, a mounting board or container), starting out green and gradually turning brown and papery with age; these fronds serve a genuinely important dual function, anchoring the plant securely to its support while also curving slightly to trap falling leaves and other organic debris, which decomposes over time to provide the plant with a self-renewing source of nutrients despite having no soil-based root system to draw from. The second frond type, the fertile fronds, are the plant's true visual signature: elongated, deeply forked, antler- or stag-horn-shaped structures, covered in a fine, felty, silvery-white coating of protective scales, that can grow up to three feet long and give the species both its common name and its equally popular alternate name, elkhorn fern.
Toxicity
Pets: Non-toxic to pets
Humans: Non-toxic to humans
ASPCA lists Common Staghorn Fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. No documented toxic principle affecting humans either.
Frequently asked questions
Is Staghorn Fern safe for cats and dogs?+
Yes, it's generally regarded as pet-safe, and no toxic principle is documented for humans either, making it a safe unusual statement plant for pet households.
How do I water a mounted Staghorn Fern?+
Soak the moss/root ball in room-temperature water for about 20 minutes once a week (or run it under the sink), then let it drain fully before rehanging.
Can a Staghorn Fern grow in regular potting soil?+
It's an epiphyte and prefers being mounted or grown in a very loose, well-draining orchid-style medium — traditional dense potting soil tends to stay too wet and cause rot.
