Staghorn Fern questions

I read somewhere about putting banana peels at the base of them the nitrogen, i would suppose.My aunt had huge ones mounted on boards along the wall in her carport, she had packed moss around the base too.Sorry can't be any other help than that.

I was actually surprised to find the one I put in my mom's east facing sun room years ago, did so well since there was no supplemental humidifier in the winter there and very low humidity , though I think I may have misted it often, and it grew very quickly.  She didn't care for it unfortunately and gave it to another plant enthusiast.  Now I wouldn't mind having one once again.  Seemed whenever it needed water I'd dip the entire plant on it's tree root slab in the sink to soak for a minute or so an then let it drain before it was hung up once again.  I think in general they're much more tolerant of low humidity than most ferns in general, but do like very bright light to do well, and not so low as many ferns!  I don't recall giving it much fertilizing though at all and it seemed to do just fine?  A long time ago,though so my memory may be leaving something out on that story!

I've never had that fern, and probably never will. When it comes to worlds ugliest plants that one hits the top 5 category. I don't know anything about them cept' they are ugly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smurfboy1977 

I've never had that fern, and probably never will. When it comes to worlds ugliest plants that one hits the top 5 category. I don't know anything about them cept' they are ugly.

Now, now, ugly to you is beautiful to others.

The only one that I have seen was grown by a friend in a piece of driftwood he had pinned to a wall. No earth! He just sprayed it but I have no clue what he sprayed it with. Sorry! They're really pretty in my eyes as they do look like stag's antlers.
 

Those ferns live off rottin stuff, so they don't need soil. I haven't seen any in soil at least.

Thanks for the info. I've heard of banana peels too, but I'm not sure how I'd get them to the base... And also, I cut off most of the roots, as so much of it was just dead.... The plant had been in a pot for 30+ years I think....  My Meme almost killed it, so I took a lot of dead stuff off, but kept enough on for it to grow on... It has hardly any soil, but under it I did put an extra layer of moss.... I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm not sure where the roots really are to put banana down... We'll see! I will have to just experiment...

Thanks guys, will try to keep you posted!

Edit: Our local mega-greenhouse has a HUGE one that is held up by trailer straps and chains.... soilless, and it's HUGE. They say humidity is the key for theirs to grow... That's why the suggested moss in every crevice... But then I also heard overwatering can be bad... so I don't want to keep it too wet....

I don't see the hanging basket.  I would in this pictures state cut it by half and read cain it up for the next 20 some thing years.  Get it out of direct sun. 

Oh it's definitely not in direct sun at all... And I've already taken over half of the dead stuff off even in that picture. The reason you cant see the hanging basket is because in the photo the wires are off, and the basket is moss... The only problem about taking more dead growth off, is that it would be getting really close to the live plants... A lot that you see there is moss.

I hope it does well.  I'll take a picture of mine.  Had a really bad case of scale.  It's comming back.