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Plant Care

Staghorn fern & mounted plant care

Every Little Leaf Market piece ships with a care card, but here's the full guide: how much light your mounted plant wants, when to water, and exactly how to soak the moss ball.

Staghorn fern care card (PDF)Mounted philodendron care card (PDF)

How to care for your staghorn fern

Staghorns are epiphytes. In the wild they grow on trees, not in soil. They love drying out between waterings and hate staying constantly wet.

Light
Hang in a spot with bright, indirect light.
When to water
Water when the moss ball feels very hard and dry. On average that's once every two weeks in winter and every 1–2 weeks in summer.
How to water
Place the moss ball under a slow-running tap and let it fully absorb water for 5–10 minutes. Remove and hold vertically so excess water drips off completely, then rehang once the dripping stops.

How to care for your mounted philodendron & pothos

Mounted plants dry out faster than potted ones, so keep an eye on the leaves. They'll tell you when your plant is thirsty.

Light
Hang in a spot with bright, indirect light.
When to water
Water when the moss ball feels hard and dry, or before the leaves begin to curl. On average, once a week.
How to water
Place the moss ball under a slow-running tap and let it fully absorb water for 8–10 minutes. Remove and hold vertically so excess water drips off completely, then rehang only after the dripping stops.
Mounting a staghorn fern by hand: wood round, moss, and a young fern in the Little Leaf Market workshop
Behind the Scenes

Mounted by hand, ready to thrive

Each fern is wired to real cedar or camphor wood over a bed of sphagnum moss, the same way it would grow on a tree in the wild. That means no soil, no pot, and a plant that's already established on its mount when it arrives.

Questions about your plant? Message us on Etsy or Instagram and we're always happy to help.