Staghorn ferns are rather easy to grow if you know a little more about their growth habit. They are epiphytes, or plants that do not live in soil, on the ground, or in pots. In their native habitat they grow in warm, humid locations on tree trunks, branches or rocks.

Staghorns can be mounted on a bark board, usually cypress, on a slab of wood, or in wire baskets. When mounting, take a few hands full of wet sphagnum moss and shape them into a circular mound, just below the center of the mounting point. Place the fern so that the shield-shaped, basal frond is in contact with the moss and wire it into place. Do not use copper wire as it can poison the fern. If you use a wire basket, the basal frond can be pushed through the side wires, from the inside of the basket, and then the basket filled with the sphagnum moss.

Most problems with staghorns are water-related…usually too much water. The medium should dry out between waterings. Usually one or two waterings per week are needed during hot weather. Hang in a shady, humid location, under a tree or under a covered lanai. Fertilize monthly during spring and summer with a water-soluble fertilizer with a 1:1:1 ratio. 

Additional Resource 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG015