We've had a Staghorn fern that's nearly as big as a VW bug for 15 years. At one point, it broke the log chain securing it to a tree and fell onto an extra-large dog crate, where it remained. After a hurricane destroyed its original tree last year, we had to use our front-end loader to move the fern under a new tree for protection. Now I would like to divide it but I don’t know how. So…

Dear Teresa:

How do I propagate new staghorn ferns?

Your Amazing Producer,

Lizzie

Dear Lizzie, that’s a huge staghorn fern! Great question. Staghorn ferns are epiphytic plants which means they get their water and nutrients from the air. They naturally grow in trees in tropical and subtropical climates in Africa, Australia, South America, and Southeast Asia. Staghorns grow beautifully in Florida.

You can propagate Staghorn ferns three ways, cuttings, division, or by spores. Dividing Staghorn ferns is the easiest way to multiply your plants. Parts of the Staghorn are the new, soft green pads are called the shield fronds. Underneath the shield fern is the basal fronds, the roots. The shield fronds mature into larger thin, brown, tissue paper-like covers that protect their root system. The shield ferns attach themselves to bark naturally or on a flat surface, such as wood slabs, boards, etc. Protruding from the shield ferns are the antler ferns. On the back of mature antler fronds, you will see soft, velvety spores, with each spore developing into a new plant.

Propagating new staghorn ferns can be accomplished in 3 ways: cutting, division, and by spores. The easiest way is by cuttings.