Staghorn fern ( Platycerium spp . ) are frost - tender works aboriginal to the rain forest of the tropics . Growing upon other plants merely for support , these great - growing ferns need bright light , warm temperature , rainwater and a balanced supplying of nutrients from decaying leaf and insect bedding material that pick up in the clopping base of leaf . A popular nutritionary supplement often laud in regions where staghorn fern develop outdoors year round is the positioning of a banana skin in the fern foliage base to provide K . Banana skin do not ply all nutrient necessary for estimable industrial plant ontogeny , however .
Step 1
deplete a banana tree and hold back the Sir Robert Peel .
Step 2
thrash the total banana tree peel into the central core of the fern , into the washbowl of leafage on the top of the works bunch . Massive fern , those wider than 3 feet in diam , may profit if two peels are provided . Cut the banana Sir Robert Peel with a paring knife into smaller sized art object to well fit or nestle into the foliage drainage basin if the staghorn fern is belittled and mounted on a trunk or wood lath plaque .
Step 3
Allow the banana peel to of course decay in the staghorn fern . Natural rain or irrigation sprinkler atomizer can continue to lavish the fern as the food from the skin are take up step by step by the plant .
Step 4
append the food provided by the banana tree peel ’s degradation with a slow - release granular fertiliser that is well balanced , such as a 10 - 10 - 10 formula , with micronutrient . Consult the fertilizer product recording label for a list of micronutrients . Sprinkle 1 tsp . of the fertilizer granules into the foliage basinful of the fern . A balanced liquid fertilizer may also be used at half - forcefulness every two week to shower down the industrial plant foliage .
Tip
Place banana peels in the staghorn only if in a well - ventilated area outdoors in a mild climate . Do not inseminate staghorn fern in autumn and winter . Wait until the warmth of spring and summertime .
Warning
practice an approriately sized ladder to place banana Robert Peel in the cluster leaf bases of staghorn fern in hanging basket or put on in tropical tree limbs . The decaying banana tree peel is a decent supplement to allow alimentation to the fern in summer , but do not rely only on the peels to supply a complete , balanced supply of all essential nutrients .
