Platycerium wandae 'Racib'

One of the largest staghorn ferns in cultivation, producing massive, rounded shield fronds with deeply impressed reticulate venation and lobed margins that firmly clasp the mount, and long, strap-like fertile fronds with crenate margins and prominent pinnate venation that radiate outward in a broad, horizontal fan. The combination of the expansive shield base and the sweeping fertile fronds creates an architectural statement few epiphytes can match.

• Light: Bright indirect light with 40–60% shade cloth; avoid direct sun, which can scorch the large fertile fronds and cause the shield fronds to dry out prematurely.
• Temperature: 60–79°F (16–26°C); performs best as an intermediate grower with stable temperatures, good air circulation, and protection from both frost and prolonged heat above 86°F (30°C).
• Humidity: 65–85%; high humidity is critical for this large-growing species to support the development of its expansive shield and fertile fronds.
• Watering: Soak the mount or root zone thoroughly and allow it to dry out almost completely before the next watering; the large shield fronds are prone to rot if kept consistently wet at the base.
• Growth Habit: Massive epiphytic fern that anchors to trees or large mounts via its broad, clasping shield fronds. As it matures, the fertile fronds extend dramatically outward, eventually reaching impressive lengths that demand generous vertical and horizontal space.

Additional Notes

Best mounted on a large slab of cork bark or tree fern fiber with a generous layer of sphagnum moss at the root zone; can also be grown in a very coarse, well-draining epiphytic mix in a large container. Shipped bare root, well-established.