Epiphytes

Epiphytes - one of the most common plant life forms. Its name comes from the Latin words epi - over and phyton - plant. This is a special type of plant that uses as a substrate not soil, but other plants, settling on their trunks, branches and even leaves. In the latter case, they are called epiphylls. In this case, unlike plant-parasites, they do not harm those species on which they settle. Since the trees in the tropical forests are quite high, the epiphytes , which choose a habitat at different heights, differ in their needs. The most shade-tolerant and hygrophilous live close to the soil;preferring more light and not such a high level of air humidity settle in the crowns of trees, this is the most numerous group. And the branches on the very top were chosen for themselves epiphyte-dry-nosed. They chose the most difficult conditions: sudden fluctuations in daily temperature, lack of moisture, sharp gusts of the wind, increased insolation, not too rich in humus substrate. Species that inhabit the crown and the lower fork of the trunk, receive nutrients with rainwater, which rinses organic matter from branches higher up, rinses the garbage - the products of the livelihoods of animals and birds.

Epiphytes can be divided into three groups: nesting, reservoir( cistern) and staple( puff).

Some nesting epiphytes include some fern species, aroids, orchids. Falling leaves, animal and bird life products are retained by roots, and the rosette of leaves is in a kind of "nest", which retains moisture well and provides nutrition.

Reservoir epiphytes are mainly represented by bromeliads. Leaves form a rosette or tank, in which water accumulates. Under natural growth conditions in some species, the reservoirs contain up to 5 liters of water. The reservoir can be common to the whole plant or each leaf forms its "cistern", which is associated with the peculiarities of the arrangement and structure of the leaves.

The bracket or pocket epiphytes are characterized by an asymmetrical socket. All or part of the leaves adjacent to the support( tree trunk) form pockets or funnels, which in the cross-section are in the form of a brace. Such leaves are formed, for example, in ferns from genus deer horn or platitserium at a young age.

The roots of epiphytes are covered with a special cover cloth - a velaman, actively absorbing moisture from the air.

In addition to true epiphytes, there are semi-epiphytes, which for a short period of time lose their connection with the soil. This can occur at a young age, when the seeds germinate, like real epiphytes, in trees, in the sub-

stratum, which consists of rotted foliage, animal products, etc., and only afterwards the long accessory roots reach the earth and are fixedin it. In other species, the seeds germinate on the ground, then climb up the support and for some time may lose contact with the soil, but then it is restored. In some semi-epiphytes, during the germination, a special structure is formed-eocaul, resembling an elongated stem and colored in green. Eocaul provides nutrition to the sprout until the moment of transition to an independent process of photosynthesis.

In interiors epiphytes are most often grown in hanging baskets or pots. Especially spectacular in the baskets of wooden sticks( rounded or square in section) orchids. They differ quite a powerful root system, which requires a large volume.

Of course, in the indoor environment, epiphytes are often grown as ordinary terrestrial plants in pots, but they look much more impressive in hanging baskets, block culture and, of course, on "epiphytic trees."Baskets for epiphytes are "equipped" as follows: the bottom is lined with a small mosquito net, sphagnum is placed on top peat, roots of ferns, fallen birch leaves, they can be replaced by leafy earth, pine bark( 3-5 cm high).The basis of the basket is made of wire, wooden bars rounded or rectangular in cross section. Such baskets are suitable for orchids having a fairly large root system, so they do not feel too well on epiphytic trees.

The plants are planted so that the base of the stem is 1 to 2 cm below the edge of the basket. When transplanting, the plants are carefully removed from the basket, the contents are shaken out and sorted out, updating the necessary components.

Epiphytes in block cultures look no less impressive. This is an excellent technique for vertical landscaping. In blocks, you can grow almost all kinds of epiphytes, even orchids, especially if you consider that their air roots are sensitive to a lack of oxygen.

Two variants of blocks are known: open and closed. Open - on large pieces of substrate( rhizomes of ferns, bark, pressed sphagnum) wire strengthen the plant. Depending on the size of one unit, you can place 1-2 to 4-5 plants. If you want to hang a block on a wall, it is pre-attached to a solid foundation: a small plate, a plexiglass plate, a ceramic plate, etc. In case the substrate is too loose, it is placed in a fine mesh net.

In closed blocks, this problem is not significant. Large pieces of bark of larch, oak, birch, pine are fastened with a wire in such a way that the similarity of a pot turned out. Of course, the bark of cork or Amur velvet is best for this purpose, but the availability of these species is a big problem. The block is filled with a loose substrate, the roots of the epiphytes, passing through it, attach to the walls of the bark. It is quite possible to place blocks on an epiphytic tree. In recent years, overseas are producing ready-made blocks with holes in which young plant specimens can be planted.

But the greatest impression is made by the "epiphyte tree".True, it should be noted that this is the most labor-intensive way of placing epiphytes.

For an epiphyte tree, choose the snag of the original shape. The most suitable form for this is the white acacia( robinia psevdokaktsiya).The trunk differs interesting texture, the wood is soft enough, it easily strengthens the roots of epiphytes, and it is quite resistant to rot. You can also use the trunks of pears, apples, grapes. The more bizarre the shape of the chosen snag, the more spectacular the epiphytic tree looks.

The crust is strengthened in a decorative pot. On the forks or on the trunk, a typical epiphyte substrate is placed. Sometimes it makes a depression in which a thin wire and fix the plants. You can attach open block cultures to the trunk. Do not turn the epiphyte tree into a kind of New Year tree or the May pole. In this case, the well-known principle of "better is less, yes it is better" is more appropriate. The most spectacular view is best placed in the lower( 1/3 of the height) part of the driftwood, it is better to "attach" lighter and smaller plants in the forks and, below the accent look, large, "heavy" rosettes of ferns or philodendron of Wendland. The crust can be planted with a liane, hang the tailed tibia or the tiny ficus on the ends of the branches. Lately. some firms offer quite non-capricious epiphytic miniature orchids that will serve as a sticky ornament for any composition: Kingidium delisiosum and Neofinetia falcate.

Caring for plants is reduced to a daily spraying of warm, in the cold season almost hot, water. Once a month, the substrate is moistened with a solution of urea( 1-1.5 g / l) and microfertilizers.

When transplanting, the epiphytes are watered abundantly for 1-2 days, then the block or individual plants are removed and the substrate is replaced fresh. Too overgrown roots are cut, and large specimens are divided into 2-3 plants. The fault places are treated with charcoal.

However, not everyone can create an "epiphyte tree", so you can use "epiphytic shoots" - wrap a small ramming moss with moss, fasten it with wire or strong threads and plant small plants.

No less impressive is the "epiphytic rock" - to create it you will need an unusual shape of a piece of soft stone - tuff, limestone or pumice. Make small indentations in it, fill them with a suitable substrate and plant small specimens of plants.