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Advice WantedStaghorn fern help?
My brother sent me a young staghorn fern. It's too cold where I live to have it outside, so it's in my bathroom by the window. I mounted it on a cedar board with some potting soil behind it and sphagnum moss around it, secured with fishing line.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be doing well. I try to mist it every day and sometimes (maybe once a month) I'll soak it in the sink. It has three fronds and one is currently turning brown. I don't see new growth.
I'm not sure if I'm watering it too little or too much, or if I put too much moss around it or not enough soil behind it.
Does anyone have advice? I really don't want it to die.
My first - and best thought was to get a humidifier and try that. Also, it's best not to directly mist the leaves (you know this?)
I didn't know about the leaves, but I mostly try to mist where it's up against the board. Maybe I need to pad it out with more soil so I have a better angle on watering the roots...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on5cXqJTkzg is the basal leaf turning brown?
No, it's definitely one of the longer fronds. It developed a brown spot a few weeks ago but was otherwise green and healthy until recently.
the resource i linked below has info that matches what i learned from an epiphyte expert. my first thoughts were:
what kind of water are you using? do you have a way to collect rainwater to use?
does this fern ever naturally grow on cedar? i would think the oils in cedar might inhibit growth. a mix of orchid bark and sphagnum moss are the usual go-to's.
i'm also guessing it may not the fern's typical growing season where you are.
https://www.healthyhouseplants.com/indoor-houseplants/staghorn-fern-platycerium-bifurcatum-care-growth-and-more/