1 An alternative hanging method is simply to wrap the staghorn fern's root ball with chain, secure it with S-hooks and suspend it from excess chain around a tree limb, but this method tends to constrict the plant. 2  Small staghorn ferns can grow in a galvanized metal basket with chains through the container's eyelets.. Measure the circumference of the tree limb from which the plant will hang. The limb must be sturdy enough to support the weight of the growing plant; some staghorn ferns reach 300 pounds.