It’s not cool mounting an actual stag or elk’s head on your wall, but it is cool to mount a staghorn or elkhorn fern. They’re coming back in a big way, so if you’ve ever wanted to grow one but didn’t know how, Charlie has all the info you’ll need as he tours a nursery that specialises in these lovely ferns. But for a pop of colour, some Bromeliads will brighten up any garden. There’s another plant at the nursery though that has captured Charlie’s attention, the uncommon bat plant. Thankfully you don’t need to be living in a cave to grow them!
There are many amazing plants you can choose for your garden that don’t actually sit in the soil. Epiphytes – or plants such as staghorn ferns (Platycerium superbum) and elkhorn ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) – happily grow in the wild on tree branches, trunks, fallen logs and rocks by drawing nutrients and water from the air.
Staghorn ferns are bigger than the elkhorn ferns. Staghorns features a large central rosette of leaves below which pendulous fertile fronds hang down. Elkhorn ferns, on the other hand, have multiple small rosettes, or nest leaves, from which slender, pendulous strap-like fronds cascade. Only elkhorns produce pups whereas stags must be propagated from spores
1. Timber wall mount
Wall-mounted staghorns and elkhorns make excellent bathroom plants, however they also look great in shaded outdoor spaces. Here’s how to hang a staghorn or elkhorn fern on a timber wall mount.
You will need
- Staghorn or elkhorn
- Horizontal slats (5) 90 x 22 x 650mm treated pine decking
- Vertical battens (2) 90 x 22 x 450mm treated pine decking
- Galvanised hooks (2)
- Galvanised chain
Note: You may need to adjust the measurements and number of the treated pine battens and slats to suit the size of your fern.
You’ll also need
- PVC-coated tie wire
- 40mm galvanised screws
- Galvanised staples
- Pruning saw
- Hammer
- Drill
- Secateurs
- Straightedge or ruler
- Bucket
- Tape measure
- Sphagnum moss
Step 1
Put vertical battens on a flat surface, about 300mm apart, making sure they’re parallel.
Step 2
Place horizontal slats on battens, leaving a 80mm overhang on each end of slats.
Step 3
Find centre of each batten. Rule a horizontal line through this point, across slats. Using line as a guide, screw slats to battens
Step 4
On middle 3 slats, mark drill holes 10-20mm in from screws on each side – this is for threading the wires so they will evenly hold the weight of the fern. If necessary, adjust spacing to suit your fern. Drill a hole through each marking, all the way through the vertical battens.
Step 5
Position fern on board. Insert 1 wire end into 1 hole and feed through enough wire to reach centre of back of board. Pull other end across fern. Trim wire, ensuring there’s enough excess to tie ends together at back. Feed this end of wire through corresponding hole at opposite end. Repeat twice.
Step 6
Holding fern in place with 1 hand, stand board upright. Pull 2 wire ends so they’re firm, then twist together to secure. Repeat for remaining wire ends. Hammer in staples to secure wire to back of board.
Step 7
If necessary, tidy up your fern by trimming off dead and browning par ts. Soak sphagnum moss in a bucket of water, then grab a handful, squeeze out excess water and use to fill gaps between board and plant. This will help the fern to retain moisture between watering.
Step 8
Standing board upright, predrill and screw galvanised hooks into vertical battens. Attach a chain and hang.
2.Wire framing
With frames made from old, galvanized steel fencing, this is an upcycling project designed to make use of what you might already have lying around. These frames can be moved around anywhere and with a light, modern look, will give the Staghorns centre stage, no matter where they are.
Gather your supplies
- Galvanised roll top wire mesh fence panel
- Metal spray paint
- Oxy-Shield flexible garden edging
- Metal screws, wafer head, 8g x 12mm
- Wire mesh panel
- Sphagnum moss
- Plastic cable ties
- Copper wire
- Staghorn fern, mounted on board
You’ll also need
- Tape measure
- Marker
- Angle grinder
- Drop sheet
- Face mask
- Safety glasses
- Drill and 3mm drill bit
- Scissors
- Wire cutters
Step 1
Measure 650mm from top of panel and 450mm across. Mark.
Step 2
Cut with angle grinder. Cut 2 panels for each frame.
Step 3
Spray-paint panels.
Step 4
Measure, mark and cut garden edging to 300-320mm. Cut 4 for each panel.
Step 5
Form a square, with base plates overlapping at corners. Drill holes through base plates at four corners.
Step 6
Drill screws through holes.
Step 7
Flip square, then cut the mesh to fit inside square.
Step 8
Soak sphagnum moss, then lay over mesh to top rim of square.
Step 9
Lay square in middle of first panel, then lay second panel on top.
Step 10
Secure with cable ties at corners. Trim ends.
Step 11
Turn over and secure mesh base to the bottom panel with copper wire.
Step 12
Cut wire tying fern to board.
Step 13
Ease fern off board, keeping growing mix intact and retaining wire.
Step 14
Lay fern over top of frame, using wire to secure to frame.
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