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I divided my staghorn this spring - because it grew so large it broke the mounting board. I kept two thirds (pics below) and cut the other third into two plants for my mom. My plant is probably a Platycerium andinum, although it may be a Platcerium veitchii.
Wolf - I think yours is called a triangle staghorn.
Banana Peels are the best fertilizer for these.
I put a measuring tape in one picture but it is hard to see. The first plant is about 5 feet wide by 5 1/2 feet tall. The second is about 3 1/2 feet wide and 4 feet tall.
Note on male and female fronds... actually there are 'fertile' and 'non-fertile' fronds.. the fertile ones are the 'horns', the non fertile ones are the round green flat growth that the horns grow out of..
Last edited by Diane; June 20th, 2005 at 09:37 AM. Reason: additional info
test
wow very impressive. both knowledge and growing. WOW.
Ok, so Diane? I need to understand the banana peel business. You just lay a banana peel across the top, or what?
BTW, good to know about fertile and non-fertile. I always called them female and male for some reason--must have heard that somewhere.
I was told to put it on the root/dirt/whatever is behind the non-fertile leaves, and trust me BOOM lots of new happy green leaves. Mine had only 2 last year when I got it and had started to fade I thought it was dieing and it was but what it wanted was a nanner.
Absolutely, put the peel on the growing media, or if your fern gets big like mine it will have formed a cup made up of the old non - fertile fronds, and you put the peel in there. Just leave it. You can not believe the difference it makes. (ps - along the frog thread, I have several that live in the cups in my ferns, they eat the bugs attracted by the banana peel..)
That is one huge Staghorn!
Thanks for the information about the difference in the leaves, Diane. I'm glad you've joined the club, looks like we could learn a lot from you.
Also, this banana peel thing.. how often and how much? I eat a banana almost everyday... I wouldn't give it that much but the worms don't eat that much either so rather than compost bin, it could go into this right?
Cheers
Tim
About once every two or three months is what I do. With more humid conditions (faster decomp) you would do it more often, say every 4 to 6 weeks.Originally Posted by bench72
aaah I see... thanks D!Originally Posted by Diane
Course I just remembered I haven't got one of these things yet... TOH hates things hanging... but maybe this weekend will be the days I go shopping for one... or two... there are different types right
Cheers
Tim
I have a Platycerium grande. It is a 'young-en'. I came as a hitchhiker in a Gongora orchid I got awhile back. It only has round leaves, none of the horn like leaves. I keep wondering why it hasn't grown any of these, and also why it's not growing much. (See picture). I cut it out of the Gongora media, mounted it with sphag. on cork (with a miniature oncidium as well). So, a few questions...
Why hasn't it grown any "horn" leaves? Is it too young?
Could I change the growing conditions to help?
And finally, wouldn't a rotten banana peel smell up my house and attract fruit flies? (most of my plants except the cacti, sago, and rosemary stay indoors year around.)
Matt