My Staghorn Fern is Losing Leaves!

It may need re-potting for one, and it's possible that you are misting too much based on what I see. I would try re-potting it in fresh soil and cut back on the misting.

Agree with Janet. It's getting too moist by misting it everyday. Re-potting it would prob be best, but you may not need to if you can allow it to dry out really well.

Please let it dry out and quit misting it daily as Janet said. These are resilient plants, and yours is trying to tell you it needs time to dry out.

Yes! It's getting way too much water.... It's true that they come from humid climates, however, they do not get direct water every day, and the water that they do get is the small amount of water that runs down the trunk of a tree that they should be attached too. I'm not sure who came up with the bright idea of bringing them inside as house plants but they do not normally do well inside a dwelling. They need the sunshine, the nutrients that get carried in the rain water that flows down the trunk of the tree from everything from bird poo to dirt. They even need the nutrients from the dead and dying insects that crawl into their base. I will even give them a banana peel once every 6 months for extra nutrition. If you decide to keep yours in the house, I would recommend that you place itin your bathroom since it is the one room of the house that has natural humidity and get some organic plant fertilizer sticks. DO NOT give it a full stick, but only maybe an eight to a quarter of a stick at a time because it will digest it VERY SLOWLY. This is one of those times where more IS NOT better. But if you are in a warm climate, or just somewhere where it is finally getting warm and staying above 60* at night, take your Stag outside and hang it on the trunk of a tree or something similar and it will love you forever!! Then once the weather changes, you can bring it inside, and follow the directions for inside care. Best of luck to you and your Stag Horn!! Jennie Herrick

North Fort Myers, Florida

Feed it old rotten bananas mashed up.

Let it dry out some and feed it banana peels weekly.it does not get potted but we have ours hanging from a chainbed that is 3 or 4 chains that meet together and make a place for the stag horn to set in. Ours hang from a tree in the front yard and is shaded but does get light .

Any thoughts on mealy bugs and how to get rid of them. I wipe them off and spray them off, but of course they come back. I have had this Stag horn for over 10 years the last 4+ with the bugs.

I agree with these comments. We live in a much dryer climate, but this was my solution. First, replace the moss with new moss from a garden center - not a hobby store. These are not heavy feeders but do like a balanced fertilizer - try a time release in the root area (it will find its food). I never misted mine at all because it lived in my bathroom. The daily showers gave it just a natural misting. I never had bugs in mine. In general, disrupt the insect's habitat and they disappear. Perhaps they are feeding off the moss and you could change it. If you are feeding it banana peels, stop.

I have 6 Staghorn fern's. They are all outside under a tree I hose them with the holes every few days and I feed them banana skins they love them

Hose not holes

I have one for the past 15 yrs...I water it once a month, a good watering...then let it dry dry dry out!! Once a month, up to 2 months...no water!!! Depending on time of year....It has grown a lot over the years....AND...Thanks for the tip about bananas!! I will give that one a try!!!!

Mine has lost all of it's leaves. Will it grow new ones or is it ready for burial?

It died. I think it was getting too much water.