3.8 out of 5 stars 71. This product will be easier on the plant than an oil-based product. To care for a staghorn fern, plant it in a growing medium comprised of sphagnum moss and orchid bark. A: Probably brown soft scale or hemispherical scale. Large Scale Staghorn Fern Hanging PlantFor Sale- this beautiful staghorn fern, Platycerium Bifurcatum that we raised from a pup! There are around 24 varieties referred to in texts on platyceriums. Staghorn is another kind of fern that belongs to the Polypodiaceae family. My only option now is an organo phosphate, but I have heard that they are extremely sensitive to pesticide sprays. Staghorn ferns can be prone to mealybug and scale. Get it as soon as Thu, Dec 10. Scale insects are the most common pest on a staghorn fern. Never wipe the staghorn fern's fronds with a sponge or cloth, because this can remove the plant's protective fuzz and damage the plant. Too little sun will encourage fungus, but too much direct sunlight will damage the plant. Mist the fronds with a spray bottle if they're dusty. It may require more than one application, so monitor … Provide an appropriately sized, sturdy mounting surface for the staghorn fern. Other options New Make sure your fern receives adequate sunlight. 1. Propagating fern spores is time-consuming, but it is possible to do it yourself. Avoid using oils on staghorn ferns, instead insecticidal soap can be used to destroy colonies. Scale insects are hard to control when numerous…typically you spray with horticultural oil to suffocate them. Staghorn Fern Basic Information. But since the plant is indoors, get started watching a movie on TV and pick them off with a knife blade. Pull plant out of pot and shake off all excess matter. Artificial-Plants, Green. I found that mechanical removal using a water jet was the best way to remove them (and it helps to get into the crevices near the base of the fronds). This is a fungus called rhizoctonia (see Reference 1). Alternately, hold the fern so the roots are fully submerged until fully saturated (1-2 minutes). I have 4 well established at the… Q. Indoor Staghorn Fern Care - I can't seem to find a 1:1:1 water soluble fertilizer to feed my indoor staghorn fern. The … M.H. My Stag-horn fern is infested with Scale insects. Place the plant where it will receive bright but filtered light. Staghorn fern has few pests but may become infested with scale insects or mealybugs. Isolate infested plants as soon as scales are discovered. Mount the staghorn fern where the temperatures is at least 65 degrees F. If the temperature falls below 55 degrees F, the fern's growth will be stunted. The fungus can spread rapidly and can eventually kill the staghorn if it isn't stopped early. Then spray with Cygon at about 1/2 to 3/4 strength. Insecticidal soap is relatively nontoxic and is a kind of soap especially formulated to kill soft-bodied insects. It is attached by an S-hook to make moving it easier. have an out-of-this world appearance. The only Negative regarding Fish Emulsion is its odor. This can be removed with horticultural oil on a Q-tip applied to the affected area. 6. Mist the fronds with a spray bottle if they're dusty. The brown shells on the scale insects protect the from most sprays, but the alcohol may work and if not, manual removal followed by a coating of the whole plant with a malathion spray to resist re-infestation. I have tried to remove them by hand, used a natural soap/oil spray. Staghorn plants arrive in a ponga pot. Bury the fern roots into the moss. The best way to keep a staghorn fern healthy is to replicate its natural growing conditions as closely as possible. Staghorn Fern Netherlands Playtcerium Bifurcatum Live Plant. It’s also susceptible to a fungal issue called black leaf spot, also known as Rhizoctonia. *Few pests bother the Staghorn fern, but occasional scale insects may be a problem. Take sphagnum moss and put a handful onto the mounting board, a wooden frame. 57. Vickerman 26" Staghorn Fern on Wooden Plaque. Notice the heavy-gauge link chain that comes with the hanging plant. Research has shown the products listed here are effective when properly applied at effective concentrations: Cygon, Meta-systox-R, Orthene, Furadan, Diazinon, Vydate, Temik and Enstar. Large or mature staghorns will survive and thrive with one or two applications a year of controlled-release fertilizer. Hi Frank The picture is of scale on a staghorn fern which sounds like what you may have. The plants grow outdoors in warm season locations and indoors elsewhere. You can recognize these beautiful plants by their leaves: in addition to the flat … 2. It isn't necessary to remove the fern from its current board, just attach both plant and board to a larger, sturdier board. Female fern scales, Pinnaspis aspidistrae, secrete armor that is oystershell or pear shaped, flat, light brown with the crawler cast skin a paler brown.Sometimes the second stage armor is also paler than the adult armor. Top Questions About Staghorn Ferns. The plants have two types of leaves, one of which resembles the horns of a large herbivore. Although significant morbidity is encountered more often with open surgery and PNL, SWL is associated with both planned and unplanned secondary interventions. All Rights Reserved. Click on links below to jump to that question. Watch for pests such as brown and white scale, which look like a crust on the fronds, as well as mealybugs, which look like tiny pieces of cotton. Staple the fishing line to the en… She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing. If it outgrows its mounting board, move it to a new one. A common cause of rot and losing leaves is overwatering. Staghorn fern is a fascinating and unusual plant that grows wild in steamy tropical jungles, where it is found attached to the bark of large trees. If Staghorn is from a mother specimen, reach behind the plate, which is the sterile frond shield, and remove with some roots on the frond. But, if you want to keep a plant, a couple days of a fishy smell is worth it. According to the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, staghorn ferns that receive extremely low light will grow at a slow rate and are more susceptible to attack by pests and diseases. $15.99 $ 15. FREE Shipping by Amazon. The male armor is fluffy white with three ridges. Staghorn fern care relies on careful light, temperature and moisture monitoring. Staghorn Fern Overview. They are usually soft brown scale or a very small white scale. Repeated applications are needed because the soap is ineffective against scale insects protected by their covering. Scale insects are the most common pest on a staghorn fern. $6.99 shipping. Overall, the mortality rate associated with staghorn stone treatment is extremely low (SWL, 0.06%; PNL, 0.1%; PNL and SWL, 0.2%) and is typically related to cardiac dysfunction. Watch for pests such as brown and white scale, which look like a crust on the fronds, as well as mealybugs, which look like tiny pieces of cotton. Put pressure on the plate so that the plate and moss are making contact. Spraying a staghorn fern with a strong stream of water will knock many mealybugs off the plant. Washing the fronds with soapy water or dabbing mealybugs with rubbing alcohol, also kills the pests. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Some varieties have been merged over the years and considered part of the same species, just different cultivars.It’s generally assumed that, for most gardeners’ purposes, there’s actually around eighteen varieties grown commonly. Staghorn fern is a member of the Polypodiaceae family; there are presently eighteen known species, as well as many varieties and hybrids of this plant. Staghorn Fern includes 17 different species. Staghorn ferns (Platycerium spp.) Our preferred treatment is denatured alcohol applied with a fine brush directly to the insects on the undersides of the fronds. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Female armors are up to 3 / 16 inch long. 4.0 out of 5 stars 4. A mass infestation can be treated with horticultural oil sprayed throughout the plant, thoroughly rinse the fronds off two days later so the oil does not interfere with the plant’s respiration. Provide an appropriately sized, sturdy mounting surface for the staghorn fern. Generally, aphids, mealybugs and scales are effectively controlled by the same pesticides. Staghorn ferns thrive in full to partial shade; it is important to remember that even in shade, plants receive sunlight. The fungus can spread rapidly and can eventually kill the staghorn if it isn't stopped early. You can also look into insecticides that will work on this species of scale (not all do). Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Tropical Fern and Exotic Plant Society: Staghorn Ferns at a Glance, University of Florida Extension: Staghorn Ferns at a Glance. Staghorn Fern is prone to common houseplant pests, such as aphids and scale insects like mealybugs. A common problem with staghorn ferns is light deficiency. Staghorn ferns should become completely dry -- all the way through -- between waterings. If the light and air circulation is appropriate, a bathroom is an ideal place with its periodic humidity from the shower. Soak your staghorn fern in a sink or basin of water for 10-20 minutes, or until the roots are fully saturated. Signs include black spots on the guard leaves that can spread rapidly and kill the plant. 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