Platycerium elephantotis

elephant ear staghorn fern

Unusual for a platycerium, this plants leaves don't fork, giving it a broad elephant ear appearance. One of the largest staghorns, growing up to four feet wide! Epiphyte loves mounting.

Altura	2–6 pies
Ancho	2–4 pies
Tolera	Calor, Macetas
Riego	Cuando la superficie de la tierra esté húmeda.
Most staghorns appreciate mostly drying out between waterings, but not this one! It likes to be evenly moist so water it when the growth medium doesn't feel squishy wet, but you still some moisture in the surface layer. If you let this plant go mostly dry, or worse totally dry, it doesn't bounce back quickly as many others do.
Resiste hasta	50 °F
Exposición	Luz indirecta moderada – Luz directa parcial
Características	Epífita, Follaje vistoso, Tropical
Interior / exterior	Interior
Drenaje	Corteza para orquídeas
Origen	África tropical
Nativa de California	No
Zonas Sunset	H2

Notas de cultivo

This stag horn is epiphytic meaning that it grow on trees not in the soil. Grow them mounted over sphagnum moss or orchid bark. In pots give them fast draining cactus mix. They should not be planted in the ground.

There are two leaf forms, the 'ears' which grow the reproduction spores (though in this selection they are sterile) and the 'feet' or 'shield' that anchor the plant and collect detritus to feed the plant. By tucking banana peals or other organic matter (compost) under the 'feet' you can easily feed the plant. You can also give a mild acid fertilizer, that simulates the acidifying nature of the decomposing leaf matter this fern lives on in nature. There are also reports that a light all purpose fertilizer works fine as well.

The elephant ear staghorn does better in lower light levels than the typical Platycerium bifurcatum.

Esta información refleja las observaciones de Grubb and Nadler y de nuestra comunidad de amantes de las plantas. Siempre tomamos en cuenta las aportaciones de otros horticultores y agradecemos los comentarios de quienes tengan más información sobre el cultivo de esta planta.

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