PLNTversePLNTverse
Plants › Staghorn ferns

elkhorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum)

Platycerium bifurcatum is an evergreen perennial fern that is mainly epiphytic, attaching to trunks, branches, or cultivation boards, though it is also recorded growing on rocks and can form colonies. It is a wild species, not a hybrid or cultivar, and is generally reported to form colonies.

LightIt prefers bright, indirect light to partial sun and tolerates some shade as well as some direct sun, but cultivation sources generally recommend avoiding strong direct sunlight, with particular attention to shade and ai
WaterWater thoroughly during the growing period while maintaining good drainage and allowing the medium to become briefly or slightly dry between waterings; do not allow the roots to remain completely dry for prolonged period
HumidityIt prefers high humidity. It is generally reported to need good airflow.
TemperatureSources differ on the stated hardiness range. It is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost, although it is sensitive to cold and not very sensitive to heat.
Track your elkhorn fern in the PLNTverse app
elkhorn fern illustration

Overview

Platycerium bifurcatum is an evergreen perennial fern that is mainly epiphytic, attaching to trunks, branches, or cultivation boards, though it is also recorded growing on rocks and can form colonies. It is a wild species, not a hybrid or cultivar, and is generally reported to form colonies.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range: Australia is included, while some accounts extend the range to Java or Indonesia, New Guinea, Pacific islands, and New Caledonia. It mainly grows as an epiphyte on trunks and branches in or near tropical rainforest environments, with records also occurring on exposed rocks. It prefers warm, humid tropical to subtropical environments, with low temperatures and frost requiring attention.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, placing it at about 50–100 cm, while mature spread is 50–100 cm. With sufficient water and suitable light, it grows relatively quickly, readily producing offsets and forming colonies. It has distinct shield fronds and fertile fronds; the shield fronds are rounded to heart-shaped, overlap against the growing surface, cover the root crown, trap organic material such as fallen leaves, and commonly turn brown while remaining in place as they mature. The gray-green fertile fronds grow outward from the center, may arch or hang downward, branch repeatedly in a forked pattern, and bear spore-producing areas on the underside of their terminal segments.

Light

It prefers bright, indirect light to partial sun and tolerates some shade as well as some direct sun, but cultivation sources generally recommend avoiding strong direct sunlight, with particular attention to shade and airflow in summer.

Watering

Water thoroughly during the growing period while maintaining good drainage and allowing the medium to become briefly or slightly dry between waterings; do not allow the roots to remain completely dry for prolonged periods, and reduce watering in winter. A single source reports a summer watering interval of about 2–3, so sources are few for this interval. The winter watering interval is 7.

Humidity and airflow

It prefers high humidity. It is generally reported to need good airflow.

Temperature and dormancy

Sources differ on the stated hardiness range. It is generally reported to tolerate brief light frost, although it is sensitive to cold and not very sensitive to heat.

Growing medium and mounting

It needs a medium that drains well while retaining moisture; sphagnum moss, epiphytic orchid medium, or humus-rich, well-drained potting soil can be used, and loam is also listed as suitable. It grows on trees as an epiphyte and can be mounted, grown in a basket, or potted.

Feeding

Sources differ on feeding: diluted balanced fertilizer may be applied during the growing period and reduced in winter, while another source recommends slow-release chemical fertilizer.

Propagation

It can be propagated from spores, by separating offsets or young plants, or by dividing large colonies; it often produces offsets. Spores form as brown patches on the underside of the terminal segments of fertile fronds.

Common problems

Scale insects are the main recorded pests, while genus-level care information also mentions mealybugs. Sources differ on disease occurrence, with one describing disease as generally uncommon and another recording anthracnose. Overwatering can cause root rot, insufficient water can cause brown or curling frond tips, and excess winter moisture can cause spotting on fronds; mature shield fronds turning brown is generally a normal part of their life cycle. It is sensitive to frost and low temperatures, while hot summer conditions call for attention to shade and airflow.

Identification

Platycerium bifurcatum has clearly distinct sterile shield fronds and antler-like branching fertile fronds; the shield fronds cover the root crown and collect organic debris, while the fertile fronds repeatedly fork and develop brown spore-bearing areas beneath their terminal portions.

Photos

Platycerium bifurcatum
📷 themaskedlapwing · CC0 · source
Platycerium bifurcatum
📷 Leon Perrie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Leon · CC BY · source
Platycerium bifurcatum
📷 no rights reserved, uploaded by Jean-Paul Boerekamps · CC0 · source

Sources