How to prune andinum staghorn fern

Any time; remove only fully dead fertile fronds. Snip dead fertile fronds at their base with clean scissors. Never cut, peel, or remove the papery shield fronds regardless of their brown colour — they anchor and feed the plant.

Rarely; as needed. Andinum Staghorn Fern (Platycerium andinum) requires almost no pruning. Like all staghorns, its brown basal shield fronds are structural and must never be removed. Only trim clearly dead or completely desiccated fertile antler fronds. This South American species is slow-growing — less intervention is always better.

Snip dead fertile fronds at their base with clean scissors. Never cut, peel, or remove the papery shield fronds regardless of their brown colour — they anchor and feed the plant.