I’ve debated hanging a staghorn fern in my apartment for years. Several trips to local garden shops later (to say nothing of late-night wooden crate disassembly), I came up with a foolproof system.
I’ve debated hanging a staghorn fern in my apartment for years. Several trips to local garden shops later (to say nothing of late-night wooden crate disassembly), I came up with a foolproof system.
Photography by Erin Boyle.
Photography by Erin Boyle.
The finished project—we’ll get there!
The finished project—we’ll get there!
Materials
Materials
Choose a staghorn fern that has a flat surface. Step 1: Start out with a healthy staghorn fern.
Choose a staghorn fern that has a flat surface. Step 1: Start out with a healthy staghorn fern.
Step 2: Use something round to trace a circle on your board that’s at least an inch wider than the circumference of the plant you’re hoping to mount.
Step 2: Use something round to trace a circle on your board that’s at least an inch wider than the circumference of the plant you’re hoping to mount.
Create a support system for the staghorn fern. The more nails you use, the more opportunity you have to secure your plant, so feel free to go crazy.
Create a support system for the staghorn fern. The more nails you use, the more opportunity you have to secure your plant, so feel free to go crazy.
Lay a base of soil on the board.
Lay a base of soil on the board.
Prepare the staghorn fern for mounting. Place the plant on top of the soil.
Prepare the staghorn fern for mounting. Place the plant on top of the soil.
Use sheet moss as a green backdrop.
Use sheet moss as a green backdrop.
Step 7: Tie one end of the monofilament fishing line around one of the nails and stretch the line across the base of the fern to a nail on the opposite side of the circle.
Step 7: Tie one end of the monofilament fishing line around one of the nails and stretch the line across the base of the fern to a nail on the opposite side of the circle.
Be patient when you wrap.
Be patient when you wrap.
Take the staghorn fern for a test drive before hanging it on a wall. Step 9: After the plant has been secured to the board, gently lift it vertically to make sure that it’s been properly attached.
Take the staghorn fern for a test drive before hanging it on a wall. Step 9: After the plant has been secured to the board, gently lift it vertically to make sure that it’s been properly attached.
Prettier than a picture. A nice mist in the interim will help keep it happy.
Prettier than a picture. A nice mist in the interim will help keep it happy.
