Growing Elkhorn Ferns in a Cold Climate: 8 Month Survival Update

Almost a Year Later

Elkhorn ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) are often recommended for warmer climates where they generally thrive.  I wanted to see if they could adapt to my colder garden conditions.  Around eight months ago I mounted several young elkhorn ferns around my garden to see whether they could survive and grow in my cold climate.  Some arrived in excellent condition, while others were already struggling.

I was not expecting to receive these elkhorn ferns, so was rather unprepared when they arrived.  I used string to mount them on scraps of timber, and used compressed cocopeat as the backing.  

If I were mounting these again, I'd use sphagnum moss and attactive staghorn mounting boards (they come in heaps of different styles, so I would pick my favourite looking ones).  I've linked the products I recommend near the end of this article for both Australian and US readers.

I am not an expert when it comes to elkhorn ferns and staghorn ferns, but I am loving growing them.  I wrote a previous post Growing Elkhorn Ferns in cold climate when my ferns were newly mounted.  I have grown Elkhorns when I lived in the subtropics, and also experimented with growing other Platycerium ferns from spores.   

After around seven or eight months, the results with my elkhorn ferns have been mixed.  A few have grown well, some have barely changed, and one didn't survive at all.  I am in a cold climate which is not ideal for growing these ferns, and it is currently mid winter so they are suffering a little from the cold, but that is life in my garden.

I thought it would be useful to show how each fern has performed so far, what I think helped the successful ones, and what I would do differently if I were starting again.

Quick Overview

Fern	Starting Condition	8 Month Result	My Thoughts
Fern #1	Two plants mounted together	One survived and grew	Successful despite pest damage
Fern #2	Poorly attached mount	Growing well	Surprisingly resilient
Fern #3	Already struggling	Died	Too damaged to recover
Larger fern	Temporary mount	Producing new fronds	Needs proper mounting

Elkhorn Fern #1: Survived Caterpillar Damage

The first elkhorn is surviving and somewhat growing.  This was two plants together, the one on the left died and the one on the right is growing well.  

Not long after I mounted this I noticed frass, and a caterpillar was in the plant on the left.  It ate the growing point and killed that plant.  Normally I would submerge a plant like this to drown caterpillars, but as I mounted on a plank of wood this was not an option.  I used fly spray, which did the job.  

Below you can see comparison photos.

This Elkhorn Fern Survived

This is what it looked like originally

Elkhorn Fern #2: The Surprisingly Successful One

I didn't attach the second elkhorn fern very securely, yet it has turned out to be one of the strongest growers.  The shield fronds have browned off somewhat, which is normal for elkhorns in my climate at this time of year.  It has grown several new foliar fronds that look healthy, and you probably can't see in the photo it is beginning to grow a new shield frond.

This fern has convinced me that elkhorn ferns are more forgiving than their reputation suggests, provided the growing point remains healthy.

Below you will see comparison photos from when I mounted it until now.

This Elkhorn Fern Grew Well

This is what it looked like originally

One Elkhorn Fern Died

Not Every Elkhorn Fern Survived.

This was looking poorly when I mounted it.  One day we had a storm with big winds, and this little fern was snatched away.  I searched for it, but it took me a few days before I found it.  When I found it, the fern looked dry and dead.  I mounted it again just in case, but it was dead and slowly degraded until it completely fell apart.

Below is the photo when I mounted it.  

This one was struggling when I received it

An Elkhorn Fern That Is Still Hanging On

The lowest fern I am not sure about.  When I first mounted it I was confused by its shape and looking back, I think I accidentally mounted it sideways.  This isn't great for them.  

This one elkhorn is still alive, and has grown new fronds.  I am not sure if it will survive, but I have hopes if it gets through winter it might pick up and grow well in spring.  

This fern isn't looking great, but could pick up

This is what it looked like when I mounted it

My Largest Elkhorn Fern Is Growing

I also have one large elkhorn fern.  I temporarily mounted it on a piece of timber using string, and put it in my unheated greenhouse out of the wind.  This one dropped some if its fronds.  Since then it started growing new shield fronds, and new foliar fronds.

This needs to be mounted properly, the string I used is too flimsy and is only doing the job temporarily because it is out of the wind.  

I put this in my greenhouse, and largely forgot about it.  I water it from time to time when it gets dry, and have every intention of mounting it properly.  Given it is winter, I don't want it to put on a lot of new growth until the weather warms.  In spring I plan to mount it better, and may keep it in the greenhouse as it seems to be doing well here.

My largest elkhorn fern is surviving

Elkhorn growing new shield fronds

Large elkhorn fern when I first got it

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between elkhorn and staghorn ferns?

Elkhorn and staghorn ferns are closely related, but they are different species and the common names can sometimes be confusing and often differs between countries and regions.  In Australia, elkhorn ferns (Platycerium bifurcatum) are usually smaller plants that spread by producing pups, eventually forming large clumps.

Staghorn ferns (Platycerium superbum) grow much larger, usually as a single impressive plant, and they are not known for producing pups as readily as elkhorn ferns.

Can elkhorn ferns survive cold climates?

Yes, provided they do not experience many heavy frosts.  Mine have survived down to -5C so far under cover, and I expect temperatures to drop to -10C before winter is over. 

Do elkhorn ferns lose fronds in winter?

Sometimes mine lose foliar fronds over winter, and often the shield fronds brown off.  This is normal and they should resume growing once spring comes.

Can elkhorn ferns grow on timber?

Elkhorn ferns can be mounted on live trees, or timber, or plastic, and some people mount them on stones or tree fern trunks.  

Can Elkhorn Ferns Survive Frost?

Elkhorn ferns can sometimes survive a light frost, especially larger established plants, but they are not frost tolerant.  Sustained heavy frosts, like those we experience in my garden, would likely damage or kill them.

Mine have survived temperatures below freezing so far because they are protected from frost, but I would not expect them to tolerate repeated hard frosts without protection.  Low temperature is less problematic, frost is the issue.

Tips for Growing Elkhorn Ferns in Cold Climates

• Protect from heavy frost
• Keep them sheltered from cold winds
• Mount them where they can drain freely
• Reduce watering during cold weather

What I Would Do Differently Next Time

Looking back, my biggest mistakes were using string instead of proper garden wire, and mounting them quickly on a plank of wood I had in the garage because I wasn't prepared.  If I received another batch of young elkhorn ferns, I would have proper mounting boards, sphagnum moss, and wire ready beforehand. 

Products I Wish I Had Used

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I use myself or would happily use.

If you're planning to mount your own elkhorn ferns, these are the materials I wish I had used for mine.  Had I more time and warning that I was about to receive these incredible plants, I would have bought:

For Australian readers:

Many people use sphagnum moss for mounting elkhorns.  I used coco peat because I had some in the garage at the time.  They both work for elkhorn ferns, but sphagnum moss is a better option. 

• Compressed coco peat blocks for the backing 
• Sphagnum moss for the backing 
• Staghorn mounting boards better than scraps of timber
• Plastic coated garden wire to secure the fern - far better than the string I used!
• Fish emulsion fertiliser to encourage healthy growth.

Products for US readers:

• Compressed coco peat blocks for the backing 
• Sphagnum moss for the backing 
• Staghorn mounting boards better than scraps of timber
• Plastic coated garden wire to secure the fern - far better than the string I used!
• Fish emulsion fertiliser to encourage healthy growth.

I have not heavily fertilised these yet because they are still establishing and it is winter so I do not want much growth until spring and the weather is warmer.  I plan to fertilise over the warmer months, fish emulsion is commonly used by fern growers once plants are actively growing. 

Final Thoughts

While not every fern survived, I have been pleasantly surprised by how well most of these elkhorn ferns have adapted to my colder climate.  The healthiest plants are continuing to produce new shield and foliar fronds despite winter conditions, giving me confidence that they will perform even better once spring arrives.

I'll continue updating these ferns as they mature, particularly after another winter, to see whether they become fully established outdoors.

Related Articles

If you enjoyed following this elkhorn fern experiment, you may also enjoy some of my other plant and growing experiments, where I test unusual plants, propagation methods, and growing techniques in my own garden. 

• Growing Elkhorn Ferns in Cold Climate
• Growing Staghorn Ferns From Spores - 6 month update
• African Violet Wicking Pots Experiment
• Trampoline Fern Update
• Maidenhair Fern Variety Comparison