Platycerium bifurcatum 'Netherlands'

Origins of Platycerium bifurcatum 'Netherlands'

Platycerium bifurcatum is native to eastern Australia, Lord Howe Island and New Caledonia. It grows on trees, where the base catches organic material and the exposed fronds receive moisture from rain and humid air.

Growing Platycerium bifurcatum 'Netherlands'

• Light: Give the fern bright, filtered light. A settled plant can also take gentle sun early or late in the day.
• Water: Check the base itself. When it is nearly dry, water thoroughly and let the excess drain away. Mounted plants can be soaked until the base is moist throughout.
• Growing medium: Use a loose mix of coarse bark, sphagnum moss and other airy material around the roots.
• Humidity and airflow: Humid air supports fresh growth, while gentle airflow helps the base dry after watering.
• Shield fronds: Leave ageing shields attached as they turn tan or brown; they remain part of the fern's protective base.
• Frond surface: Keep the soft silvery layer on the antler-like fronds intact. Lift away loose debris gently.
• Temperature: A warm, steady room suits this fern, with protection from cold draughts.
• Feeding: While fresh fronds are appearing, give a weak balanced feed about once a month. Pause when growth becomes very slow.
• Repotting or remounting: Give the fern more room when roots fill the pot or the base has outgrown its mount. Keep the same loose, airy growing medium around the roots.
• Propagation: Separate a pup after it has formed its own roots, base shields and antler-like fronds.

Problems to watch on Platycerium bifurcatum 'Netherlands'

• The ends of the long fronds become crisp: The fern may be staying dry for too long between waterings, or the air may be very dry. Water a little sooner and increase humidity around it.
• The base turns dark and soft: Moisture is lingering around the roots. Let the base dry, improve airflow and check that water still drains freely from the potting mix.
• Pale tan marks appear on exposed fronds: The increase in sun was too sudden. Return the fern to filtered light and build up direct exposure slowly.
• Cottony patches or hard waxy bumps appear: Check for mealybugs or scale. Keep the fern apart from other plants, use a treatment made for the pest you find and repeat as directed on the label.

Platycerium bifurcatum ‘Netherlands’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

What does the name Platycerium bifurcatum mean?

Platycerium combines Greek words for “broad” and “horn”, referring to the spreading fertile fronds. Bifurcatum means “twice-forked” or “forked”, describing their repeated division.

Nicaise Auguste Desvaux established the genus Platycerium in 1827 in Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Paris, volume 6, page 213.

Antonio José Cavanilles first described it as Acrostichum bifurcatum in 1799 in Anales de Historia Natural, volume 1, page 105. Carl Frederik Albert Christensen later placed it in Platycerium as Platycerium bifurcatum in 1906 in Index Filicum, page 496.