About
A tender, evergreen, epiphytic fern with large, upright, rounded to kidney-shaped, deeply lobed, grey-green fronds and long, pendent, wedge-shaped, forked, leathery, lime green fertile fronds.
About the genus
Platycerium are evergreen, epiphytic ferns with short rhizomes, and a tuft of rounded or heart-shaped sterile fronds, sometimes lobed on the upper margin, and erect or pendent, grey-green fertile fronds which are usually repeatedly forked
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, East-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1A
Plant details
Plant typeFerns, Houseplants
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesHouseplants
Native toAustralia (Queensland, NSW)
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a heated greenhouse or conservatory but out of direct sunlight. Grow epiphytically on bark or wood to recreate the natural environment of growing on trees, using an equal mix of coarse leaf mould, loam, and charcoal in bright filtered light and hight humidity. In growth, water freely, mist daily, and feed monthly. Do not allow roots to dry out. Benefits from occasional immersion of the entire root ball in water for several minutes and then drained. Water sparingly in winter. See Epiphytic Ferns for further advice
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by replanting plantlets or through spores
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free